Champlain Mountain, Acadia National Park

This is a delightful mountain and a wonderful place to watch the sunrise. It is right on the sea, and has an open summit, with panoramic views over Bar Harbor, Jackson Laboratory, the ocean and ocean, and Cadillac and Dorr Mountains.

There are several ways up! Of course. The 1.2-mile Beachcroft Trail weaves up the northern side, with switchbacks almost the whole way, very effective at reducing the strain from the steep ascent. Closer to the top of the mountain, you’ll confront fairly steep and smooth rock face — I recommend you have good tread on your boots to increase your grip on what can be a slippery surface, especially when wet!

The Champlain North Ridge Trail, 1.1 miles, is gorgeous. If you hike down, you’ll have a picturesque descent looking out over Frenchman and Eastern Bay and their little islands. You also get a good look at the large campus of Jackson Labs. This path, while steep, is a bit easier going than Beachcroft, with fewer smooth rock faces to navigate (or slide down).

Another great, but longer way up is to start at the large parking lot by Sand Beach and to climb up Beehive and continue along the lovely ridge via the Champlain South Ridge Trail, with views much of the way. This route is about 2.5 miles, according to my GPS.

Finally, on the ocean-side of this mountain are the thrilling Precipice Trail and the tamer Orange and Black Path. The Precipice Trail and parts of Orange and Black are closed every spring and summer to let the peregrine falcons nest in peace. So the best time to hike them is mid-September through early November, after the falcons have gone and before the ice makes the Precipice Trail more perilous.

I have only hiked the lower half of Precipice, the first 0.4-mile. As someone very afraid of heights, I found this section quite manageable, even fun. You will make your way over a boulder field and have to crouch under huge boulders twice, as well as climb a few rungs and hug the side of a cliff when the path narrows (but this part is not too scary). I can’t vouch for the upper portion of Precipice Trail, the top half mile, but a fellow hiker told me there are many more rungs. Orange and Black is a normal trail for Acadia, so no need to fear this one!

Directions: There are several trail heads. You can park and start your hike at the lot just south of the Sieur du Monts driveway. You can also park at the very large Sand Lot and do a longer hike up Beehive and over to Champlain via the South Ridge Trail. When the Park Loop Road is open, you can also park at the base of Champlain North Ridge Trail and Precipice Trail. (And are there small lots off Schooner Head Road, too?)