Hike Perpendicular and Razorback Loop
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The granite steps become dangerously slick when wet — after rain or morning dew, the polished stone offers almost no grip. Traction-soled boots are essential, and trekking poles earn their weight on the descent.
Despite the 'pets allowed' designation, this trail is a poor choice for dogs. The stone steps are tall and uneven, and the Razorback section has steep, narrow passages that will stress most four-legged hikers.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Run this loop counterclockwise — ascending the Perpendicular Trail is far more enjoyable than descending it, since the massive stone steps are easier to climb than to navigate downward on tired knees.
Park at the Long Pond pumping station lot off Seal Cove Road on the west side of the island. It's a smaller lot that fills up later than anything on the east side, but mid-morning arrivals on summer weekends will still find it tight.
Pause halfway up the stone staircase to study the CCC masonry — the crews fitted moss-covered boulders and planted ferns into the gaps, and ninety years later the work looks like it grew there naturally. It's one of the best examples of Depression-era trail engineering in the entire park system.
Photos
NPS
