Precipice Trail
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.7 mi
- one way
- 888 ft
- climb
- 1,053 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Jun–Oct
- best months
Is Precipice Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Acadia National Park. It doesn't name Precipice 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.
Precipice Trail is a 0.67-mile, expert-rated hike in Acadia National Park in Maine, managed by the National Park Service. The trail starts at about 1,043 feet and climbs to roughly 1,053 feet, with a total gain of 888 feet and a steep stretch of about 41% grade around the 0.27-mile mark. The trail is a short, steep route, and the climb works in both directions, so plan for a total gain of about 900 feet if you're going one way. Dogs, bikes and horses are not allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs of about 74°F in June to 79°F in July, with September easing to around 71°F. That station sits several hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. Champlain South Ridge Trail and Champlain North Ridge Trail both start about 0.1 mile away, and the Orange & Black Path is about 0.2 mile off. Precipice, also known as The South Wall, a climbing area, is about 0.3 mile away.
Local outfitters
- Atlantic Climbing School3 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Oct
Best time to visit Precipice 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.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Orange & Black Path
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Photo: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Beachcroft Path
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Photo: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Murphy Lane
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0.32-mile point-to-point trail in Maine with 40 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Cadillac-Dorr
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Photo: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Kane Path
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Photo: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Kebo Mountain Trail
~3 min drive
0.84-mile point-to-point trail in Maine with 208 ft gain, managed by the National Park Service
Photo: Klieg, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)A Murray Young Path
~2 min drive
1.19-mile point-to-point trail in Maine with 859 ft gain
Also worth it near here
Route details
- Distance
- 0.7 mi
- Climbing
- About 888 ft
- Summit
- 1,056 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 0.5 hours
Other routes up Champlain Mountain
Questions about this route
How long is the Precipice Trail on Champlain Mountain?
About 0.7 mi.
How much elevation gain is on the Precipice Trail?
About 888 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Precipice Trail?
It is rated easy.
How long does the Precipice 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
