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
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
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
