Hiding throughout Maine are tons of beautiful sights to see. From coastal waters to inland forests, there’s something undiscovered hiding behind every rock, trail and hill. But, one of the best natural wonders is this one hiding along the Appalachian Trail! The trail is moderately easy and accessible by anyone who can handle a short uphill walk, followed by a smooth, flat path.

Piazza Rock is one of the most impressive (and strange!) rock formations you'll find in Maine.
srice13 / Flickr
It appears to be a flat rock precariously hanging in midair, high above the ground.
Evan Hafford / Alltrails.com
While that description is certainly accurate, there's more of a scientific reason for its existence.
pavdw / Flickr
The rock is located near Saddleback Mountain, which is actually jointed together in huge blocks of rock. In the case of Piazza Rock, one has come out of place from its mountainside home. Rather than breaking off completely and sliding down the mountain as most others have done, it stayed where it was balanced across another rock. This has created one-half of a "bridge," which exists as Piazza Rock.
To find this mountainside oddity, you'll head to Route 4 in Sandy River Plantation where the Appalachian Trail crosses a fairly busy road.
Google Maps / mainebyfoot.com

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You'll want to park just west of the highway, walk cross Route 4 (look both ways!) and walk north on the A.T.
Evan Hafford / Alltrails.com
The route is 1.8 miles and the first portion has an elevation gain of about 450 feet.
Evan Hafford / Alltrails.com
After that, the path is flat and offers a great introduction to the Appalachian Trail for hikers of all levels.
travelingotter / Flickr
You'll soon come to the rock which is fun to see and to climb to the top of.
Mark Phillips / Alltrails.com
You can keep for about a quarter of a mile to find some cool caves, but always be careful hiking in this region no matter how experienced you are.
John Albert / Alltrails.com

This hike is an out and back trail, meaning you’ll be repeating some of it to get out. Be sure to have appropriate footwear and don’t go into any small areas that make you nervous. Always hike with a buddy, or let people know where you’re planning to go before you leave. This hike is a beautiful way to experience Western Maine and you’ll love sharing the photos of the rock that seems to defy gravity.

To learn about a few more beautiful natural wonders in Maine, click here.

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