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A light fog and mist shrouded some of the view ahead of us as we took our first steps down the trail. Not wanting to waste time on our early morning hike, we kept up the pace, but couldn't help stealing glances up at what was in front of us.
Pausing for a moment, we stopped to look straight up and see exactly what we'd be attempting.
Through the crowns of brightly colored trees, tiny figures were silhouetted against the granite, scaling ladders on what looked to be a completely vertical rock face almost 1,000 feet above us.
Another couple also stood there, gaping. "Is that where we're going?!" one of them asked.
We all had a chuckle. Continued to stare for a minute. And then we continued on.
Yup. That's where we were going. The hardest hike in Acadia lay ahead of us. A three-quarter mile trek to the top of Champlain Mountain that involves scrambling over boulders and climbing up vertical cliffs.
If you've heard of Acadia's legendary Precipice Trail you may be wondering whether you can do it.
We did. And we're here to tell you that you probably can as well.
It's not your run-of-the-mill hike, and shouldn't be taken lightly, but it is one of our favorite hikes in New England.
With a healthy dose of caution and some (mostly mental) preparation, you can check this one off your bucket list. In our guide to the Precipice Trail we'll give you all the info and tips you need to prepare, based on our own experience. We've covered when the trail is open, how to get there, what the hike itself is like and, just in case you decide it's not for you, another great alternative close by.
Quick Overview
Length | 2.1 mile loop
Elevation | 1,059 feet
Difficulty | Hard (steep, with rock scrambles and iron rungs)
A Guide to Hiking The Precipice Trail
How Difficult Is It?
While widely considered the most difficult hike in Acadia National Park, the Precipice Trail is still doable by most physically fit hikers, especially if you come prepared.
It's a non-technical trail, so no additional gear is required. On some sections you may have a sense that you're almost rock climbing, but not quite. There's no need to bring a harness, ropes, helmet, etc.
What you will need to pack is a sense of adventure, along with some decent hiking boots, and a stomach for heights.
Make no mistake, the Precipice Trail isn't for everyone.
There have been cases of people falling and either dying or being seriously injured here.
If you have a severe fear of heights or aren't physically in shape enough to pull your own body weight up rough terrain, you pose a danger to yourself and any first responders who have to come attempt a rescue.
A rescue operation in 2018 required a hiker be carried for four hours across a scree field. In 2012 a woman died from a fall. It took almost six hours before she could be flown to the hospital. Both operations involved dozens of rescue workers.
If you're a bit anxious just from reading this, continue down to the next section and consider the Beehive Trail, a less intimidating cousin of Precipice that's still a thrilling way to see Acadia.
Precipice Trail vs Beehive Trail
The Beehive Trail still involves some iron rungs and ladders, along with its fair share of steep drops. But Precipice is undoubtedly more difficult than Beehive.
On the Beehive Trail you'll face half the elevation gain and a shorter hike.
If you're considering one, but concerned about your ability to do Precipice, we'd recommend trying Beehive first.
That's what we did.
After completing it without any problems, it gave us a confidence boost to move on to Precipice.
If you have the time, we can definitely recommend doing both of them.
Starting the Hike
Right from the start, the trail wastes no time going uphill. It begins with a series of rock steps carved into the hillside.
Tree cover is thick at the beginning, but if you look up through gaps in the canopy, you'll see the granite cliffs towering right above you.
Rock Scramble
The rocks forming a natural staircase quickly give way to a much less organized boulder scramble. It can be easy to confuse the exact route in this section, but keep an eye out for painted blue blazes, which will tell you you're heading in the right direction.
You'll have to go over and under some of these boulders. The scrambling is fun, albeit a little physically challenging, since you have to lift your own bodyweight up and the terrain is steep.
Rungs & Ladders
Your first encounter with the exposed cliffs begins when you reach the wooden bridge over a small gap, leading to some narrow ledges.
This is a good place to test your nerves and determine if you'd definitely like to continue the hike.
These ledges are small, with sheer drops, but they're not quite as difficult or steep as the ones coming just around the bend.
If you decide to go no further, you can easily continue straight on the Orange and Black Path, take it down to Park Loop Road, and then return to your vehicle.
Turning left and heading uphill keeps you on the Precipice Loop. This is where the fun really begins.
Completing the remaining 0.4 miles up to the summit will require climbs up vertical rock faces, using the iron rungs and ladders anchored into the mountain. You'll be traversing more narrow ledges, some of which are sloped, rocky surfaces. Here, more iron bars have been installed to give you a hand and foothold.
Take your time with each step and reach, being sure that you have a solid footing or grasp on the rocks and bars. This is also a terrific part of the trail to slow your pace a bit and just take in the views.
Looking out to the north, you'll be able to see across Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands to Schoodic Peninsula. The scenery here in the fall is especially beautiful, with the hillside you've just come from bursting with orange, yellow, and red, in contrast to the deep blue ocean.
Reaching the Summit of Champlain Mountain
From the top, it's time to take a breather and celebrate your accomplishment.
The reward: panoramic views of Acadia National Park. And snacks.
Here, on the 7th highest peak in the park, the town of Bar Harbor comes into view just over the treetops. Some days you might even see a cruise ship making its way in or out of the bay.
Once we reached the summit we chose a patch of bare granite as a seat, cracked open our favorite trail snacks, and took it all in.
The Hike Down
When you're ready to make your way down, follow the sign and rock cairns for the Champlain North Ridge Trail.
It swiftly descends down the mountain, through a patchwork of trees and shrubs until you meet with the Orange and Black Path.
From here you can continue on to complete the loop (the route shown on AllTrails). The descent starts out more gradual, but you'll need to go back through the boulder field again.
We recommend following the trail signs toward Park Loop Road. It's just a short 0.2 miles downhill. It's very flat and there's a bit of a footpath on either side of the road where you can walk. The right hand lane of the one-way road is also used as parking, giving you an extra buffer against passing cars.
Before You Go
If you arrive in Acadia during the spring or summer, you may find yourself asking why the Precipice Trail is closed.
Every year, between March and (usually) mid-August, peregrine falcons nest in a few areas throughout the park, including the eastern face of Champlain Mountain. The National Park Service closes trail access to protect the nesting birds and their chicks.
For that reason, the best time to hike the Precipice Trail is during September or October. The trail is open, the busy summer months have passed, meaning thinner crowds, and the fall colors make the views even better. Win, win, win!
Now feels like a great time to drop in a quick note about respecting the trail, nature, and practicing Leave No Trace principles. When hiking, that means staying on the trail and stepping on durable surfaces, packing out anything you pack in, leaving plants and other elements of nature as you find them, being mindful of other hikers and, of course, obeying rules like temporary trail closures that protect wildlife.
Some other considerations before you take on the Precipice:
You need good weather | Don't attempt the hike if there's rain or snow on the trail, has been recently, or if it's in the forecast. Both the rock surfaces and the metal rungs become very slippery when wet, making it exceptionally dangerous during those conditions.
Arrive early | Parking spaces fill up and the trail can get crowded, which isn't ideal when you're navigating narrow ledges and climbing ladders. The best time to do the hike is early in the morning. It's also one of the best places in Acadia for a sunrise hike.
Do it clockwise | This way you're heading up the vertical portions of the trail, instead of trying to climb down the rungs and ladders, which is much more difficult and dangerous. Additionally, everyone else will be going clockwise. Trying to go against the flow will slow the hike to a halt for you and them.
There's a fee to enter Acadia National Park | The standard day pass for a vehicle is $35, but the best value if you're visiting for more than one day, or you plan to see multiple parks in the next year, is the $80 America the Beautiful Pass. It gives you annual access to national parks and federal lands throughout the country.
Dress for changing conditions | Since the trail is only open or accessible during cooler months, you'll want to wear layers. It can also be very windy at the top, so consider bringing a light rain jacket and a hat and gloves. You'll definitely need sturdy hiking boots with good traction. Don't overlook the sunscreen either, since most of the upper trail is exposed. Oh, and don't forget that summit snack.
Download info before you go | Cell phone service inside the park is spotty and unreliable. Remember to download offline Google maps, a copy of the trail map, and any other information you need.
Getting There
The Precipice Trailhead is located right along Park Loop Road, on the east side of Mount Desert Island. It's just a 10 minute drive from the center of Bar Harbor and 15 minutes from Hulls Cove Visitor Center.
Parking
The lot at the trailhead has room for about 20 vehicles, but parking is allowed in the right hand lane of Park Loop Road. So, even when the lot is full you should have no trouble parking, you'll just need to walk a little further.
There's no restroom at the trailhead or anywhere along the trail.
Other Things to do in Acadia National Park
No matter the time of year you visit, there are always plenty of ways to enjoy Acadia and the Bar Harbor area. From soaking up the sun along Mount Desert Island's coastline, to riding bikes down historic carriage roads, savoring freshly caught seafood at a lobster pound, or venturing out on a whale watching tour.
We recommend browsing through the top things to do around Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor to round out your trip.
Here are a couple of our personal favorites on Mount Desert Island, close to the Precipice Trail:
Driving Park Loop Road
Since you'll be on Park Loop Road to get to the trailhead, you might as well take it all the way around the island and stop at the various points of interest. It's a very scenic drive that can take around two to four hours, depending on how many sights you want to visit.
To gain a lot more insight on the park and what you'll be seeing along the drive, consider downloading a self-guided driving tour. You'll get detailed info on almost two dozen points of interest. It's more affordable than booking a private tour, you can go at your own pace, and the app is easy to use.
Cadillac Mountain
No visit to Acadia is complete without a drive up to Cadillac Mountain. Better yet, a sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, which is the first place in the US to see the sun six months out of the year.
Keep in mind that you'll need to book a vehicle reservation for the day you drive up.
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