We got dropped off at the "Cadillac North Ridge" stop (just before the one-way Loop Road), which is really the trailhead for the Kebo Srream Trail. A short walk to the one-way section of the Loop Road brings you to the real North Ridge trailhead.
The trail was ok, although too narrow in many place to walk two abreast. It gets pretty strenuous in sections and there are great views back to Bar Harbor. However, you finish the trail skirting around the road to the summit, so you lose the isolation/remoteness you get on most trails.
At the top, we started down the South Ridge Trail, soon turning down the West Face Trail. This might be a good trail to climb up on a dry day, but we were going down on a wet day. This took quite a while and was very slippery/dangerous.
We finished at the Bubble Pond parking lot, where we picked up another shuttle to take us back. I liked the benefit of taking shuttles - no parking worries and you don't have to start & finish the hike in the sane place. If we were to do this again, I would just reverse it, going up the West Face Trail and down the North Ridge. This would let you enjoy the challenge of the West Face and the views of Bar Harbor coming down the North Ridge.
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