Precipice Trail Acadia National Park

Precipice Trail at Acadia National Park is not your average hiking trail. If you are looking to do something a bit more adventurous (and you’re not afraid of heights), this would be one of the National Parks trails to put on your list. Precipice Trail has a nearly 1,000 foot vertical climb in less than a mile which entails bouldering, using rungs & ladders and making your way across narrow exposed ledges with steep drop-offs. You know you are getting yourself into something a bit more strenuous than a regular hike when the sign at the Precipice Trail reads:

Caution. The Precipice is maintained as a non-technical climbing route, not a hiking trail. Attempt this route only if you are physically fit, wearing proper footwear, and have experience in climbing near exposed cliffs and heights. Allow three hours for a round-trip climb. Avoid this route during inclement weather or darkness. Stay on the trail and do not throw or dislodge rocks onto hikers below. Persons have received serious injuries and others have died on this mountainside!

You will see how true this is with the video below (it will get your heart beat up just watching)

As the video and warning sign make clear, you definitely want to check the weather forecast before attempting to climb Precipice Trail. It’s also pretty obvious that you need proper footwear as non sturdy hiking shoes would not only make the climb uncomfortable, it would also make it quite dangerous. This is also a hike that looks to be much safer with a partner than alone.

Precipice Trail is definitely on my “to do” list when I manage to get to Acadia National Park. Be sure to check whether or not Precipice Trail is open because it does close temporarily during peregrine falcon nesting season from March 15 – August 15 (Precipice Trail may be opened earlier if the peregrine falcons are not nesting on the cliff, as determined by the park wildlife biologist). While the trail looks like a challenge, the reward is a beautiful view (photo courtesy of scudsone)

The view from the summit of Precipice Trail at Acadia National Park

and a climbing story that you will surely enjoy telling to your friends and family.

Zion National Park Drop-In Volunteer Program

Zion National Park will begin offering its weekly drop-in volunteer program tomorrow, June 10, 2011 and will continue every Friday through the end of November. Volunteers are the unsung heroes of National Parks. If you love visiting National Parks, consider volunteering to help out in any way that you can.

View of Zion National Park

The Zion National Park drop-in volunteer program is open to all. Anyone visiting Zion, as well as local residents, will have the opportunity to help with the many projects which help keep the park clean and beautiful. It’s a wonderful way to show your support for and to help preserve Zion National Park.

Those that are interested in volunteering should gather at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Shuttle Stop at 9:00 a.m. each Friday. The volunteer projects will last approximately two to three hours and do not require prior knowledge or training. Examples of volunteer projects would include litter removal, minor trail maintenance, and the management of invasive plants. If you decide to volunteer, be sure to bring water, a hat, sunscreen and good walking shoes. You do not need to bring tools. Both gloves and tools will be supplied if necessary.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the Zion drop-in volunteer program. There is no registration required for individuals — just show up on time. For groups larger than 10 people who would like to volunteer, you do need to pre-register. Minors under the age of 18 must be joined by an adult. For any questions, more information or to pre-register a group, contact the Zion volunteer coordinator at 435-772-0184.

You may also be interested in other Zion Volunteer Programs

Agate House Petrified Forest National Park

When you live in an area that has limited building materials, you use those materials that are around. That is exactly what the Pueblo Indians did when they built Agate House out of petrified wood blocks. Located on top of a small hill within the Rainbow Forest at Petrified Forest National Park, the original house was eight rooms with the petrified wood blocks laid in a clay mortar. Agate House was partially reconstructed in the 1930s.

To get to Agate House, you can take the Agate House Trail which has its trail head across the street from the Rainbow Forest Museum parking lot and down about 100 feet on the main road. The trail is approximately 1 mile long. You used to be able to drive closer, but the road has been closed and is now sprouting weeds and other vegetation. There is a shade shelter about half way along Agate House Trail, but otherwise there isn’t much sun protection.

While there are only a few rooms still left at Agate House, it’s an amazing structure to walk around:

Agate House at Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified wood house at Petrified Forest National Park

It’s especially fun to look at the amazing colors in the petrified wood that was used to build Agate House:

Petrified wood used in building Agate House at Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified wood used to build Agate House at Petrified Forest National Park