With so many parks and trails to choose from, sometimes finding a day hike can be too overwhelming. You can end up spending the whole day researching, never actually get out of the house. In lieu of simply closing your eyes and pointing to a spot on the map, we would like to make a suggestion for a classic day hike along the Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park. If you’re a serious hiker and looking for a challenge, this is the hike for you.
The Precipice Trail footbridge is just one of many exhilarating obstacles you’ll have to tackle on your day hike.
Classic Day Hike
The Precipice Trail is located in Acadia National Park. The hike will take you to the top of the Champlain Mountain, the 6th tallest peak in the park. This day hike is physical and strenuous. Hiking up impressive cliffs, using the many ladders, handrails, iron rungs, and wooden bridges to get to the top is not for the faint of heart. This classic day hike is more like an extreme climb where you have to navigate several obstacles along the trail.
Serious Hikers Only
This hike will take you to the precipice, offering incredible views of the cliffs, particularly along the east face of the mountain. Get up close and personal with various fault lines and shelf systems, crossing over boulder fields and gaining about 850 ft of elevation to the summit. This hike is great for serious hikers only, and not suited for a family outing. If heights and steep drops make you a little light-headed, the Precipice Trail is probably too much. You need to have steady feet and a cool head to tackle the obstacles and hike along the edge of the cliffs.
Preparing for Precipice Trail
The Precipice Trail will close for the Peregrine Falcon Nesting season from March 15th to August 15th.
Taking the complete loop hike of about 2.6 miles, plan to be gone for about 3.5 to 4 hours. The 1-mile hike to the summit is roughly 1.5-2.5 hours, depending on how often you stop to take in the views of the oceans, cliffsides, and mountains or to catch your breath before starting on your final climb to the summit.
Peregrine Falcon Nesting
If you feel ready to take on this classic day hike, be sure to go sometime before March 15th. Precipice Trail usually closes to give the Peregrine Falcon peace and quiet during their nesting period. So, expect the Precipice Trail to be closed between March 15th and August 15th.
Rent backpacks and hiking gear from Outdoors Geek in Denver before heading out on a day hike to Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park.
