Re-Stackable Bates Cairn, Acadia National Park Trail Marker Style, Lake Superior Stone Keepsake, Hiking Gift, 5.5" Tall
$46.00
A re-stackable Bates cairn made from natural Lake Superior beach stones, inspired by the distinctive historic trail markers of Acadia National Park in Maine. This simple, functional stone arrangement is a reminder of hiking trails, the outdoors, and the history of the people who helped make those trails accessible.
Unlike my more sculptural stone cairns, this piece is intentionally plain and practical. Its purpose is to represent the recognizable Bates cairn design rather than to be an elaborate work of decorative stone art. The arrangement consists of four stones forming the two-legged base, a bridge or lintel stone resting across them, and a directional pointer stone on top. The top stone has attractive natural epidote veining.
The Bates cairn takes its name from Waldron Bates, an early trail builder on Mount Desert Island in Maine. In 1896, Bates helped author a comprehensive map of the island's trails and developed standards for trail construction, including this distinctive style of stone marker. The design was used to guide hikers across Acadia's rocky, often exposed terrain. Its pointer stone indicates the direction of the trail, making it a practical navigational marker rather than simply a pile of stones.
Today, Bates cairns remain an iconic part of Acadia National Park's hiking history. The National Park Service has worked to restore this historic style on trails where it was once used.
Although Acadia National Park is on the coast of Maine, far from Michigan's Lake Superior shoreline, this piece brings the historic Bates design together with stones from the Great Lakes. The stones were collected along Lake Superior, from Copper Harbor to Whitefish Point. It is a contemporary representation of this traditional trail marker style, and a fitting reminder of Acadia hiking adventures, favorite trails, and the tradition of using stone markers to find the way.
The cairn is completely re-stackable and very simple to assemble. It can be enjoyed as an interactive desk cairn, or kept assembled as a non-bonded display piece on a shelf, table, or other suitable surface. A photograph of the completed arrangement is included as a reference.
Product Details:
- Inspired by the historic Bates cairn trail markers of Acadia National Park
- Made from Lake Superior beach stones collected from Copper Harbor to Whitefish Point
- Four stones form the two-legged base, with a bridge stone and directional topper
- Natural epidote veining in the top directional stone
- Approximate assembled size: 5.5" tall × 7" wide × 3.5" deep
- Total stone weight: a little over 3 pounds
- Re-stackable, with no adhesive or rods
- Simple to assemble; photograph of the completed cairn included
- Cairn shown wet and naturally dry in photos
- Comes with a velvet storage bag and a cairn information card
A distinctive gift for hikers, Acadia National Park visitors, trail enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates the history of hiking trail markers. It is also a meaningful keepsake for someone who has walked Acadia's trails or enjoys the rugged shoreline and stone landscapes of Lake Superior.
A functional piece of trail history, recreated with stones from the Great Lakes.
Shipping from United States
Processing time
1-2 business days
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Returns & exchanges accepted within 7 days
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.
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Michael Wilson, 1105 Bryant Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 USA
Frequently Asked Questions
Custom and personalized orders
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