Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park - Champlain Mountain

by Kathi, Sarah, & Jenn
(Boise, ID & Austin, TX)

We had always wanted to do the Precipice Trail ever since our first visit to Acadia.

We'd read about it in all the Acadia NP guide books and Acadia hiking trail books we bought. And, of course, since it's right off the Park Loop Road, we'd seen it.

But every year, when we came in the early summer, it was closed as the peregrine falcons (an endangered species) were nesting. We understood, but we were disappointed.

In 2000, we came in mid-August and thought sure we'd bag it that time, but no, not to happen. Finally, in 2004, we DID it! And it was everything we'd been led to believe. Challenging, steep, and lots of iron ladders and perilous scrabbling along cliffs... just what we love.

I was worried I'd have trouble with it, since I'm under 5 feet tall, but it wasn't a problem. We girls all loved it! And highly recommend it if you like thrills and chills. (Though, truthfully, it wasn't really all that scary.)