Champlain South Ridge Trail
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 1.3 mi
- one way
- 628 ft
- climb
- 1,056 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Jun–Oct
- best months
Is Champlain South Ridge Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Acadia National Park. It doesn't name Champlain South Ridge Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Cadillac Summit Road closed to all users Nov 9-25 and Dec 1-18
Park closure covering Acadia National Park · NPS · Acadia National Park
Eastern Section of Beech Mountain Loop Trail Closed for Repairs
Park closure covering Acadia National Park · NPS · Acadia National Park
As of · Source: NPS · Acadia National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
The Champlain South Ridge Trail is a 1.3-mile point-to-point hike in Acadia National Park on the Maine coast, managed by the National Park Service. The trail rises to a high point of about 1,056 feet, with a total elevation gain of 628 feet, and it's a moderate route that starts at roughly 1,043 feet and ends a few hundred feet lower. The climb is back-loaded, with the steepest stretch near the end, where the grade reaches about 44 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July highs reach about 79°F with lows near 60°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Acadia. That station sits roughly 600 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. A fee applies, and the trail is not open to bikes or horses. The hike takes about half an hour. It starts close to the Precipice Trail and the Champlain North Ridge Trail, both about 0.1 mile away. The Precipice, also known as The South Wall, a climbing area, is about 0.3 mile off.
Local outfitters
- Atlantic Climbing School3 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Precipice TrailHikingPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.1 mi
- Champlain North Ridge TrailHikingPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.1 mi
Orange & Black PathHikingPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.2 mi
The Precipice aka The South WallRock climbingPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.3 mi
Ladder TrailHikingPhoto: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)0.6 mi- -MDI BoulderingRock climbing1.3 mi
- Acadia National ParkRock climbing1.6 mi
Upper Slab and Upper WallRock climbingPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)3.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Orange & Black PathHiking · Next doorPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Ladder TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Schiff PathHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Beachcroft PathHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Murphy LaneHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Cadillac-DorrHiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Dorr Mountain North Ridge TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- Kane PathHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Kebo Mountain TrailHiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- A Murray Young PathHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Also worth it near here
- The Precipice aka The South WallRock climbing · Next doorPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Beaver Dam PondLake fishing · ~1 min drive
The BeehiveSummit · ~2 min drivePhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Sand BeachBeach · ~3 min drivePhoto: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Best time to visit Champlain South Ridge Trail
Best months: June–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
33° / 15°
12 wet
Feb
35° / 18°
10 wet
Mar
42° / 25°
12 wet
Apr
53° / 35°
12 wet
May
65° / 45°
13 wet
Jun
74° / 54°
12 wet
Jul
79° / 60°
11 wet
Aug
78° / 60°
10 wet
Sep
71° / 53°
11 wet
Oct
58° / 43°
12 wet
Nov
48° / 33°
12 wet
Dec
38° / 22°
13 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Acadia Np, ME, 3.6 mi away at 470 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Route details
- Distance
- 1.3 mi
- Climbing
- About 628 ft
- Summit
- 1,056 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- About 0.5 hours
Other routes up Champlain Mountain
Questions about this route
How long is the Champlain South Ridge Trail on Champlain Mountain?
About 1.3 mi.
How much elevation gain is on the Champlain South Ridge Trail?
About 628 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Champlain South Ridge Trail?
It is rated moderate.
How long does the Champlain South Ridge Trail take?
About 0.5 hours round trip.
How many routes go up Champlain Mountain?
4: Precipice Trail, Champlain North Ridge Trail, Beachcroft Path and Champlain South Ridge Trail.
Conditions and forecast on Champlain Mountain
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
