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When doing research before we even started our adventure journey, I did a ton of research (as many of you know). There were several hikes and locations that I got really excited about, these hikes were on that list. They definitely lived up to the hype! Gorgeous views and difficult trail made these hikes a fun and rewarding challenge.
Part of what got me so excited about these particular hikes, is the iron rungs. I’ve done plenty of strenuous hikes in Hawaii, but I have never done hikes with iron rungs before. It was so cool to be climbing a rock face on my way to the top of the mountain using them.
With the amount of time that we had in Acadia National Park, I knew I needed to make the most out of my hikes. So I decided to conquer both hikes in one day! It took less time than I had originally estimated, which was nice, but the following day my legs were killing me. Here is the route that I went:
Precipice Hike
I started at the Precipice Hike trailhead at 7:30 AM, which was perfect timing for multiple reasons. Top reason was that there was hardly anyone on the hike, so it was a very peaceful time. The temperature was also perfect, it was so cool with a light breeze that it made it feel less difficult.
At the beginning of the hike, it wasn’t super clear on which direction we should go due to mainly the boulders (yes, there was a group of people trying to figure it out). Thankfully, I had my AllTrails App that helped guide me and the group to the base of the climb. Hiking up was definitely one of the more strenuous hikes that I’ve ever done.
The climb up was both tough and rewarding. There were moment’s where I looked up and thought to myself, “I’m going to climb that?” But I did and it was worth it because at nearly every switchback, I would stop and enjoy the amazing view.
The Precipice Hike was also rewarding in one very unique way, I did it fast. By hiking solo, I was able to set my own pace and I pushed myself to test my boundaries. Being a mid-30 year old, it was extremely rewarding to pass some mid-to-late 20 year old couples on the way up. It’s nice to know that I am able to keep up, so to speak.
Once I got to the top, the view was amazing! Looking out over Mt Desert Narrows and seeing all the little islands was so fulfilling. At the top of Champlain Mountain, there was a US Survey mark. Not sure how many people notice it, but it sure was a neat find!
Champlain South Ridge Trail
This was the easy and relaxing part of the hike, since it was all down hill from the top of Champlain Mountain. The tricky part of this section was making sure that you stayed on the trail. Since most of the trail wasn’t shady, the sprayed markers were worn and faded in most spots. Thankfully the Bates cairns were mostly pointed in the right direction.
Note to all hikers – don’t mess with these rocks as they aren’t artistic pieces or fun ways to stack rocks. These rocks help guide hikers along the trail.
Beehive Hike
As you may notice from my route, there is a loop near the Beehive hike section. This was because it was recommended to go down and around, then up the trail. This made it easier vs going against traffic of hikers trying to come up. If you want to do both hikes at the same time, I highly recommend going the route I did instead of following the suggested AllTrails route!
By the time I got to the Beehive hike portion, it was later in the morning so it was hotter and there were a lot more hikers on the trail. This made the pace substantially slower, but also allowed more time to enjoy the views from the cliffs edge. Unfortunately, one of the main reasons for the slow pace on this day was because one hiker was terrified of heights and spent a long time trying to get up the trail so there was some long wait times in between safe passing zones on the way up.
If you are a person who is seriously afraid of heights, please don’t go on these trails! There is no reason to go through the stress to try and test your boundaries. You will feel rushed with other hikers behind you and you won’t give yourself the time needed to do the hike safely. There are several other Acadia National Park hikes with gorgeous views without the cliff’s edge being so close to the trail.
In my opinion, the Beehive hike was beautiful looking out over Sand Beach. But the Precipice Hike was hands down the winner of this hiking experience. If you only have time for one of these hikes and you’re not afraid of heights, I highly recommend challenging yourself to hike the Precipice trail.
