Not to be climbed in the rain, OR right after the rain stops!
As the most dangerous trail in Acadia, I remained skeptical of its difficulty. In reality, this is more like a sustained class 4 scramble made increasingly more difficult by excessive water features that were filtering down through the granite after pretty consistent rain for a day leading up to my climb. Rained all day Saturday, let up by about 1pm sunday, got to the trailhead by 2:30 and started up. Myself and the several other eager parties on the route were literally climbing up through active waterfalls - granite gets slippery when wet, so do metal ladder rungs. This climb would have been a total blast if dry, but definitive class 2 fun in the moment (not fun to do at the time, fun to remember after). Ended up taking the ridge trail down and wound up on the opposite side of the mountain hitchhiked around to the proper trailhead. About 3 hours for the full experience - also encountered wet, moss covered, and slippery slab granite on the down climb of the ridge.
Of note: the blue spray paint along with the rock cairns mark all of the trails in this area - it's difficult to tell them apart resulting in my going down the wrong way
Kef2782 - May 13, 2017 6:12 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2014
Love this route
Took this trail to the top and then hiked along and crossed downed via the Bee Hive trail
nannerbots - Oct 25, 2016 11:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2013
Lots of fun
Probably my favorite trail in Acadia
Jimmy Rivers - Jan 12, 2014 9:32 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2012
Scary trail up the cliff
What a fun trail, yet scary at points! Climbed up the iron rungs and ladders bolted into the cliff, up the vertical face to the top of Champlain! Don't take this trail if you have any remote fear of heights. Also, test out the ladders, as they seemed old and beat up. Lots of fun though, highly recommended!
THalky - Jan 31, 2013 7:59 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2012
Lots of fun on the ladders
A fun quick hike with rock wall climbing on built in ladders.
Good scramble up the mountain. It's funny how few people hike this gem when at Acadia. Most people I saw just stopped at the parking lot, got out of their cars for a little spell to look up at the Precipice, and then get back in their car and drive on. One of my favorite trails at Acadia.
I Loved this hike/climb. Just challenging enough for me. The views are incredible at every point and only get better as you go up. The hike back down is quite a bit easier.I wouldn't bring young kids on this trail.
Late October when I hiked/climbed up the Precipice. There were still lots of tourists around though.
desainme - Jun 20, 2011 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 1988
Good Bar Harbor Fun
Entertaining trail Did the Beehive that year too.
Hotoven - Apr 20, 2009 12:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 1998
Jr. Rock Climbing
I did this when I was 10 years old with my family. It was loads of fun being a kid and scrambling up rock, and hiking on cliff faces. Its still one of my favorite hikes of all time! Great view of the Atlantic Sea from the top.
mmcguigan - May 12, 2008 7:45 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 1979
JLuthanen - Sep 30, 2021 8:30 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2021
Not to be climbed in the rain, OR right after the rain stops!As the most dangerous trail in Acadia, I remained skeptical of its difficulty. In reality, this is more like a sustained class 4 scramble made increasingly more difficult by excessive water features that were filtering down through the granite after pretty consistent rain for a day leading up to my climb. Rained all day Saturday, let up by about 1pm sunday, got to the trailhead by 2:30 and started up. Myself and the several other eager parties on the route were literally climbing up through active waterfalls - granite gets slippery when wet, so do metal ladder rungs. This climb would have been a total blast if dry, but definitive class 2 fun in the moment (not fun to do at the time, fun to remember after). Ended up taking the ridge trail down and wound up on the opposite side of the mountain hitchhiked around to the proper trailhead. About 3 hours for the full experience - also encountered wet, moss covered, and slippery slab granite on the down climb of the ridge.
Of note: the blue spray paint along with the rock cairns mark all of the trails in this area - it's difficult to tell them apart resulting in my going down the wrong way
Kef2782 - May 13, 2017 6:12 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2014
Love this routeTook this trail to the top and then hiked along and crossed downed via the Bee Hive trail
nannerbots - Oct 25, 2016 11:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2013
Lots of funProbably my favorite trail in Acadia
Jimmy Rivers - Jan 12, 2014 9:32 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2012
Scary trail up the cliffWhat a fun trail, yet scary at points! Climbed up the iron rungs and ladders bolted into the cliff, up the vertical face to the top of Champlain! Don't take this trail if you have any remote fear of heights. Also, test out the ladders, as they seemed old and beat up. Lots of fun though, highly recommended!
THalky - Jan 31, 2013 7:59 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2012
Lots of fun on the laddersA fun quick hike with rock wall climbing on built in ladders.
Ibswoha - Apr 21, 2012 2:43 pm
Bah HawbahGood scramble up the mountain. It's funny how few people hike this gem when at Acadia. Most people I saw just stopped at the parking lot, got out of their cars for a little spell to look up at the Precipice, and then get back in their car and drive on. One of my favorite trails at Acadia.
SecondWind - Mar 15, 2012 1:28 am
Can't Wait to Do it AgainI Loved this hike/climb. Just challenging enough for me. The views are incredible at every point and only get better as you go up. The hike back down is quite a bit easier.I wouldn't bring young kids on this trail.
eric-griz - Nov 28, 2011 12:56 pm
Nice fall colorsLate October when I hiked/climbed up the Precipice. There were still lots of tourists around though.
desainme - Jun 20, 2011 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 1988
Good Bar Harbor FunEntertaining trail Did the Beehive that year too.
Hotoven - Apr 20, 2009 12:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 1998
Jr. Rock ClimbingI did this when I was 10 years old with my family. It was loads of fun being a kid and scrambling up rock, and hiking on cliff faces. Its still one of my favorite hikes of all time! Great view of the Atlantic Sea from the top.
mmcguigan - May 12, 2008 7:45 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 1979
Great FunClimbed this with my spouse on our honeymoon.
MattGreene - Dec 1, 2007 10:36 pm
Jungle-gym!Most fun trail in Acadia, in my book.