Bar Harbor, Maine
Precipice Trail
Acadia's most exposed iron-rung climb up Champlain Mountain's east face.
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Length
- 2.1 mi
- Elevation Gain
- 1,000 ft
- Duration
- 2–3
- Best Season
- Aug–Oct
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Features
- Iron rungs, Cliff exposure
About the trail
The Precipice Trail is a non-technical climb up the sheer east face of Champlain Mountain using iron rungs, ladders, and railings bolted into the granite. Despite being only 2.1 miles round trip, it gains 1,000 feet on near-vertical terrain with severe exposure. The summit yields unmatched views of Frenchman Bay, the Porcupine Islands, and the Atlantic.
Trailhead map & directions
Trailhead: 44.3477, -68.1875Get directions →
Turn-by-turn route
- Drive the Park Loop Road one-way south past Sand Beach.
- Park at the Precipice Trailhead pullout.
- Ascend the trail using iron rungs and ladders.
- Summit Champlain Mountain.
- Descend via the Champlain North Ridge Trail (do not descend the Precipice).
- Return to the lot via the Orange & Black Path.
Parking
Precipice Trailhead pullout on Park Loop Road. Fills by 9 AM.
Tips from the trail
- Closed mid-March through mid-August for peregrine falcon nesting.
- Not safe in rain — granite becomes slick.
- Not suitable for children under 12 or anyone with fear of heights.
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