Acadia National Park · Maine

Razorback Trail

1.0 mi of trail, end to end · Hike Perpendicular and Razorback Loop: 2.7 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 900 ft of climbing · 187 ft–907 ft · earth surface

187 ft 820 ft · 0.7 mi high 820 ft

Hike Perpendicular and Razorback Loop 2.7 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

1-2 Hours · no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall

Start Long Pond, Mansell Mountain

Rocky steps through a forested area

The Perpendicular and Razorback Loop features a steep hike up to the summit of Mansell Mountain on the west side of Mount Desert Island. Although the trail and summit are mostly wooded, it is a quieter, strenuous hiking opportunity. The Perpendicular Trail was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from 1933 to 1934. Flat boulders were laid end-to-end to form an easier walking path over the talus slope and rock steps were also added. The crew covered stones with moss and planted ferns to help them blend with their natural surroundings.

Distance: 2.7 miles round trip

Terrain: Forested paths, granite staircase, rocky trails, and rooted paths

NOTE: Pets are prohibited on the Perpendicular Trail (Mansell Mountain) since there are many steep sections, stairs, iron rungs, and a ladder.

Hike Description

The hike starts on the Long Pond Trail, located at the far end of the parking lot.

Walk .2 miles before reaching the junction of the Perpendicular Trail.

Over 300 cut granite steps, a few iron rungs and a small ladder allows hikers to ascend steep slope of Mansell Mountain. There are a few views of Long Pond between the trees.

Just before the trail turns away from the face, there is a short spur trail to an overlook of Beech Mountain, Long Pond and the outlying islands.

The trail levels off in the woods before reaching the summit of Mansell Mountain. There are no views from the summit.

Descend past the junction for the Mansell Mountain Trail before ending at the Razorback Trail.

Turn left (south) on the Razorback Trail. The trail provides great views as it steeply descends along the ridge before entering the forest and ending at the Gilley Trail.

Turn left on the Cold Brook Trail and continue onto the Long Pond Trail before ending at the parking lot.

Pets Pets are prohibited on Perpendicular Trail (Mansell Mountain) since there are many steep sections, stairs, iron rungs, and a ladder.

Accessibility The Perpendicular and Razorback Loop is not accessible. The trails have uneven footing and hundreds of granite stairs. There are no accessible restrooms at the trailhead.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

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About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.