Start early for less traffic and better parking. If going oct 1-15, this area is just outside where reservations are required, soignore the signs to turn back without reservations, you can still exit right at the check point. Wear shoes with GOOD tread, bring water, avoid if raining or scared of heights. This is an Exciting climb over huge boulders, vertical walls with iron rings, and narrow paths along steep sheer cliffs. Blue paint dots help mark the trail, which is good because their map at trail head is horrid. We went just over 600 feet high to the marker saying “Orange and Black Trail.” We diverted into the orange and black at that point, but you can continue up the rings further on the Precipice trail for a much longer and more difficult hike that goes to North ridge hike. I’m healthy, but not in any amazing shape, my short reach definitely appreciated my husbands hand on the first set of iron rings, but from here on to orange and black trail I was fine. We went very slow, very sure footed, and took time for pictures. The 2.3 mile hike took us just under 2 hours, with the last 1/4 mile having you walk on road back to car. I would use all trails map, or at least some app like map my run so you can see your return point. I saw just a few approx 12 year olds under parents care, but this is definitely NOT for kids or those clueless or immature in understanding that danger exist and one careless step could end in tragedy. All in all, It’s probably one of my most memorable hikes. If you have time, give it a go.

Great, challenging trail. Lots of iron bars to climb and exposed cliffs. Definitely not meant for someone scared of heights. Highly recommend wearing trail shoes as you are climbing on rocks. Would not recommend for beginners or small children. Definitely do this trail with proper lighting and weather.

I chose this trail because I saw it “Intermediate” on the trail app but it was actually “Difficult”. Be sure to go there with someone with right shoes. I went there alone in November without knowing anything and thought this could be the end of my life..A lot of iron bars on the cliff(so exciting!) I loved this trail but definitely not for children and people who afraid of heights. Will be best trail for the experienced!!

An amazing hike. Fun and a little challenging. Definitely not for you if you dont like heights. Great views. Get there early

This was the best and toughest trail in the park. Very fun. Should do twice to enjoy and slow it down the 2nd time.

Great place to go hiking great views. It was a hike then turned more in to a climb which I loved.

Very difficult climb both mentally and physically but you will feel a great sense of accomplishment once you reach the summit! Overcoming acrophobia is required for this climb

Breathtaking on a clear sunny day!As the name suggests, if you are afraid of heights this is not the trail for you; Most high ledges have steel bar ladders to lead you up to the next pitch. The most narrow ledges are about 2ft wide.Personally would not attempt this climb in rainy or wet conditions - even less the descent.

One of my best hike ! View wonderfull Trail hard but short️ It is crowded around 11am️ No shade

Really exciting hike, definitely my personal favorite out of the hikes offered in Acadia! Don’t go Unless your shoes have grip!

A must-do hike in Acadia! One of my favorite hikes Ive ever done!!It starts out with stairs leading up to the trail. The first iron rung problem is a good pre-test for whats about to come. If you cannot make it past that Id advise to turn around while you can. The trail includes several vertical climbs with iron rungs to help you out. Precipice is not for anyone severely scared of heights. The view at the top is incredible though. Worth every terrifying moment! Most say this is the most rewarding hike; Id say its a tie between Precipice and Beehive.Oh- and make sure you know which trail youre taking on the way down! We took Champlain North Ridge to Orange and Black and walked up the road back to our car. If we werent in a rush to check out we wouldve tried to loop Precipice. Both work.

Great trail and a good work out! Beautiful views.

What an awesome hike!! Its a 4 mile loop in total. The bulk of the excitement is in the first mile as the Precipice trail climbs steeply up to the Chamberlain Mountain summit. This part is challenging and involves navigating large rocks, boulders, and iron runged ladders. Definitely not for the novice hiker but those in good physical condition should easily be able to summit within an hour. The views at the top are spectacular as Cadillac Mountain looms large to the west and the majestic Acadia shoreline is to the east. From the top the loop continues to the north in a gradual descent on the North Ridge trail. Then via the Orange and Black trail you can loop back to the Precipice trail midpoint and return to your car.

Most adventurous trail in the park, a must if you like climbing/scaling and a nice view.

Most beautiful and serene trail you can imagine. On top of that it is very strenuous and exhilarating. Make sure you have quality hiking books before you attempt this trail!

What a fantastic trail. Make sure you are prepared with the proper footwear and plenty of water. Its better to do this trail with another person because of the danger. Challenging but well worth the hike. Follow the blue mark and youll be fine. This is more challenging that the Beehive trail, so do this one first.

This trail is challenging but also rewarding. There are many points along the way that will test your fear of heights. I did not take the trail down. Only up. Used a different trail to come down (highly recommended)

Awesome hike worthy of anyone who is visiting Acadia. The first metal bars are a good test case for the rest of the trail as they are much harder than anything afterwards. We did the Champlain South ridge trail back to the bowl trail which spit us out at Sandy Beach. From here it was about a mile back to the Precipice trail parking area. Overall, highly worth the effort for the amazing views and challenging experience!

Greatest hike in all of Maine! VERY strenuous with much climbing. You get a great view of the coast the entire way up as you scale the cliff.

My favorite! Not for the faint of heart but if you want to go straight up and dont mind heights make the time to do it. Parking is full all day but I went and parked at 6:00am and had the trail to myself all morning. Never saw a soul and the view was worth the climb!!!

Amazing hike that isnt very long. It has its tricky parts because its quite the steep hike. If youre not a fan of heights make sure you do your research. The ocean views at the summit are tremendous!

Short but challenging hike. Would not recommend if you are scared of heights. Very different from other hikes I have done. Would totally recommend to anyone who is up for the challenge though!

Not as hard as I thought but hard. Im not the biggest fan of heights but was able to do this trail with no problem. loved it!

It’s basically a must do if you’re in Acadia and have the time. It’s pretty difficult, and depending on your height tolerance it may be scary for some folks. But it’s a great hike with spectacular views and a rewarding payoff at the top. We’ve seen a few people do it in the dark for sunrise before as well so if they can do it in the dark you can probably do it during the day. Try around dinner time for a cooler temp and less crowds during the summer.

Awesome. I am afraid of heights but I challenged myself with this hike. The view was totally rewarding!

Amazing somewhat technical trail! One of the trail I enjoyed the most while hiking my way through Acadia National Park. Wake up early if you want to guarantee yourself a parking spot & witness the sunrise of our incredible sun on the North Atlantic Ocean!!! Wooowww!!!

Best trail I did in Acadia. The climbing parts on the way up are so unique! Just know that the way down takes awhile

Cool trail. Views are amazing, plus you feel like you earned them rather than driving up.

Awesome trail, VERY challenging but manageable. Mixture of slight upgrades, challenging climbs over boulders and technical scalingThe view at the top is completely worth the trek!

Scared the hell out of me but gorgeous views, ultimately fun, and overall very fulfilling. If you can make it passed the first set of metal rungs you should be equipped enough to make it to the top. Go slowly and enjoy.

Best hike in the park. Dont be scared if you can climb a ladder and hike a few miles you can do this. Totally worth it just be careful of wet weather. Also do the loop so you dont hike down the dangerous part.

Fun and somewhat dangerous hike. It took us about 3 hours total. The rock scramble and immediate elevation changes were thrilling and challenging. Luckily, there is an easier route to get down most of the trail. Great views of the ocean.

Not for the faint of heart. Had no idea how difficult it was, especially going down... Loved it!!

2nd time hiking this. I like that it’s fairly short in distance but can be somewhat intense, especially with all the rock scrambling, boulders, and climbs with rails.

If you have acrophobia like I do this trail is terrifying. However I made it

Our favorite hike on the east coast.

Hard but satisfying.

Dangerous trail, should prepare before it. Some spot wet and slippery and require the climb. Need to have good shoes. However very rewarding with accomplishing it.

Not the longest hiking trail but very scenic and a great challenge. Only for strong hikers since a large majority of the trail is Boulder scrambling and ladder climbing.

This trail is fantastic when it is open! They typically close it in the spring for Perigen falcon nesting – the hikers apparently disturb the birds. The trail is relatively short but it is nice challenge! It makes you feel like you were mountain climbing. It is very fun and has an element of danger that makes it a unique trail to go! Go if you can!

Its only like a little more than mile to too, 1000 feet elevation. But this is not an ordinary trial to the loop, lots of climbing, hanging to metal bars. Not for faint hearts, stay away if u are scared of heights.

Must visit. Awesome place.

Amazingly unique trail in Acadia. Most of the trail is straight vertical climb or intense rock scramble. There are lots of rungs and ladders to help in the climb. The views along the way and at the top are absolutely incredible. Exciting and intense hike. The actual length of the climb is not very long. We summited in less than an hour. There were not a ton of people doing the hike mid-week in summer which was also nice. I think the height risk turns many people away. But I think this is a must do for Acadia. I do have a (very) slight fear of heights but I still was able to safely climb as well.

Most unique, fun and challenging hike Ive been to! Definitely not for small children and definitely not accessible for dogs, as specified by the park (you need to climb ladders, large rocks and balance on very precarious ledges close to a quite deadly drop).

Really cool and challenging trail. A lot of bouldering, ladders and rails along the cliffs. Definitely a great hike!

What a stunning and diverse trail! While precipice is shorter than most of the other trails, beside beehive, it is full of action and suspense. That being said, please do not let anyone or any blog post convince you that this trail is dangerous. Yes, one person fell after trying to climb it during a rain storm. Lesson learned: dont climb rocks during a rain storm. Got it, now go an enjoy this wonderful trail and the beautiful vistas it has to offer.

Probably the toughest hike in the park. Not for those with a fear of heights or kids. Test your brass on the Beehive. If you can do that without any psychological issues, move on to Precipice.

One of the most exciting trails I’ve hiked. The rings and well-placed and the views from the cliffs are incredible.

Thrilling hike with amazing views.

Fantastic trail. Challenging hike up for all ages with fantastic views from the top!

Beautiful hike with great views along the ocean. Took us about an hour to reach the summit. Not for the faint of heart

Great trail, tried but failed. Trying to overcome my fear of heights. Didnt work. Gonna try it again another time! Update: went the next day and did it!! Amazing trail. So many more bars and ladders than expected but such a sense of accomplishment! A must do!!

This is a tough and not to be underestimated trail by any means! However I have found.this to be my favorite trail Ive ever done. If your ever in Acadia National Park definitely dont pass this one up. (If your up to the challenge that is!) This trail requires three points of contact at all times. There are alternate routes however they have challenges too. Please just prepare yourself and turn around if it before it becomes too much because its not easy to go down the same way.

More tiring but less scary than beehive. The intimidator obstacle near the beginning almost had a few people in our group go another route, but we powered through. Great climbing trail!

Beautiful views the entire way up, definitely not a beginner hike but very recommended if you feel up to the task (and you aren’t afraid of heights.)

Challenging but rewarding hike! Would definitely come back.

My favorite ever hiking trail, loved the challenge loved the view

Amazing trail. Very changing and interesting all the way, with great views

Fairly challenging but a real highlight of our Acadia trip.Make sure to have real hiking gear (boots, moveable pants etc) and a decent amount of experience and physical conditioning.We probably saw 20% of the people on the trail back out early, which gets tough to do. Not a good trail to get in over your head with.Side notes:1. Parking isnt great but its doable.2. After you reach the summit you will take a different trail down (orange and black to get back towards the Precipice parking lot.3. I made the mistake of using a multi-day frame backpack to carry water and a few other (unneeded) items. You will need to be hands-free for climbing but a small day pack is sufficient.Enjoy and be safe.

Absolutely the most fun trail ever!

Awesome hike! Definitely avoid if youre afraid of hikes.

Awesome trail. Great views, very exciting. Not for little kids

The most amazing hike Ive ever done.

An absolutely beautiful trail. My friend and I hiked it just after peak foliage, but the views were still great. A fairly strenuous climb though- were both fairly fit and we stopped a number of times after an almost vertical climb up a rock face or some boulders. Not for those afraid of heights, and not for folks who have any sort of physical disabilities. If youre up for the climb though, the view up top is completely worth it!

Amazing! Best hike ive done so far! If your really scared of heights then i dont advise if ypur kinda but not to bad you will be fine just take your time and enjoy when you get to wide spots!

This was one of the more challenging hikes Ive ever done but also very rewarding. I knew a little bit about it but hadnt looked it up enough to know what I should expect. Needless to say, I was not expecting the steep, cliffside wall climb that resulted but I enjoyed it nonetheless. While I started the climb with blue skies we were unfortunately greated at the top with a wall of fog but it was still worth the time. I would not recommend doing this hike if you are afraid of heights or have doubts about your upper arm strength. Itll require hanging onto iron rungs over steep ledges at multiple points in the climb.

It was awesome to see and hear the peregrine falcons didnt know they were over here wish I had a better camera going back to Acadia today

Very dangerus wich makes it super fun! This was the best hike I have ever done!

I was very lucky the trail was open last week of July. I only knew from reading reviews. A very fun trail, a lot of climbing. At 4pm, I only had about 6 people pass by me on the trail. There were no crowds which mean no need to rush at all which made it easier.

One of the best trails i have ever done

A challenging and rewarding hike with great views.

So fun. Be prepared with sturdy shoes. not a long trail but it is a lot of up climbing. Climb up iron ladders, rock stairs and over boulders. Some places are a bit slick because of the sheer amount of people hiking it so take your time and wear sticky shoes. Ive hiked harder for sure but this is more of a mental game. Be prepared for amazing views and some high perches.(not for the feint of heart)

Awesome! Totally scary high and exposed! Not for anyone with even a slight fear of heights.

Excellent trail and one of the highlights in a park except we wondered in a wrong way. After climbing on a big boulders we continued straight, found sets of iron bars, then stone stairs that ends at the wall. It took us a while to find a way back to real trail. Wish there were some signs indicating that it’s a wrong trail

Great trail with awesome views. Not for the faint of heart or those unable to climb ladders. Highly discourage others to this trail during winter as it is icy and snow covered.

It was beautiful. Difficult and it felt like it was never going to end. But after going to almost ten national parks this year, the trails in Acadia were very unique compared to a lot of the other parks.

So hard and nerve wracking, but totally worth it! I felt so good after finishing it!

Best trail ever. Give around 2 to 3 hours to complete. Dont try if you need to carry a child/dog, you will be climbing the equivalent of ladders around 10 feet high.

Awesome trail! We hiked the steep part that has a near vertical cliff face. Metal rungs and hand rails will help. No special climbing gear needed, but be in good shape and have grippy shoes. We went down the back side which is very easy, nice hike. HOWEVER, beware, if you get on loop road, it is one way and the park service will change you $30! Its basically a trap. They let you in and dont warn you that there is any charge until you cant turn back... Not even a sign. I paid the $30, but felt misled and trapped. I might have done something different in the Bar Harbor area with that money. Just keep that in mind...shady practices by Acadia National Park.

Great hike! Only a mile to the top but nearly vertical for about half the hike. Like another reviewer said, if you can make it past the first set of rungs then you should be fine. Talked my wife into doing it and she loved it. Nice physical challenge with awesome views.

Worth every step of the hike

Such a fun and exhilarating experience. Believe in yourself and keep going, you wont regret it!

The best hike of the handful we went on over the course of a few days. It is pretty difficult for the average person considering you will start going up quickly, climbing often, and most of the ascent is custom ladders and bars bolted into the rock. It also has narrow walkways with sharp descents, so not also for the faint hearted. They recommend that you dont try to go down the same way you come up so it is a fun and scary climb. Yes, most of it is climbing to some degree or another. If you are a thrill seeker do it, I did it twice nearly back to back and loved it all over again.

An awesome hike in the beautiful Acadia National Park. Be advised that is is the most complex and difficult in the park, and requires the climber/hiker to be athletic and not afraid of heights. Very rewarding, and beautiful views.

This trail is actually classified as a Non-technical Climbing Route and isnt for the faint of heart or those not in reasonably good physical condition. It gains 850 feet of elevation in about 3/4 of a mile using iron rung ladders some of the time in order to scale the very exposed cliffs. The views afforded by the exposed cliffs of Frenchmans Bay and the rocky shores are simply magnificent. If you can do it you really ought to give it a go. Bear in mind though that the trail is 1-way, up. Youll have to take a different trail down, but there are a couple of choices, all great trails.

FUN trail! Not for anyone whos afraid of heights! Go late August when the trail is open.

The experience is one of a kind. Rocky trails. Many rungs on the surface of rocks to help you ascend. My 10-year old was very uncomfortable at the beginning, but made it through. I saw other boys and girls made it. It was mid August, we picked a lot of blueberries on top of the Champlain Mountain. The taste is way better than the ones we got from a local supermarket.

This is the type of trail that ruins normal hiking for me. Great exposure, creative route finding and lots of elevation gain and views without the slogging. I was lucky enough to get on this trail just after it opened in August, and I would certainly do it again.

A difficult trail but it is worth it!

This can be very dangerous and is not for the out of shape or inexperienced. Id happily return just to redo this trail next season. Its a fantastically special challenge

This was one of the most fun hikes Ive done in my entire life.

An amazing trail! Not for those with a fear of heights. The trail requires you to pull yourself up the side of the mountain via near vertical switchbacks, iron rungs/ladders, bouldering, and giant steps made from whatever rocks could be wedged into place. The signs posted by the park warn of the dangers. No pets, small children, and they recommend not climbing from the top down. Check the weather as rain will make this trail considerably more dangerous. Wear good boots/hiking shoes. You will need all the foot grip available.

This trail is closed parts of the year because of nesting peregrine Falcons. These Falcons also next on skyscrapers in cities. Combine the name of this trail with that info and you have an idea what terrain this trail is on. That said, this is not a technical climb, just not a hike for those who fear Heights.Spectacular views!Come down on a different route.

Challenging and not for the beginner hiker. Fun trail!

Awesome trial!

An amazing hike!

Interesting climb with iron bars and ladders imbeded in the rock.

More exposure than expected (e.g. falls would be fatal). Very fun climb with great views the whole way! Its not that hard, mostly a mental challenge - youll be fine if somewhat in shape. Would highly recommend giving the Precipice trail a go, especially since its one of the only Via Ferratas in the US.

This is actually a technical climb and not a hike. I affectionately renamed the trial precipiss my pants trail. Definitely need to be stable on your feet for this one. We hiked on a dry, sunny day. I wouldnt do this if it was wet at all. Cant beat the views.

One of the best trails Ive ever been on. Would visit Maine again just for this trail.