Hike to a Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain

Bar Harbor, Maine

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Distance

0.3 miles

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Added by Sammy Silver

Cadillac Mountain is easily accessible from the Park Loop Road in Acadia National ParkThe parking lot is right by the overlook, which makes for easy access early in the morning to see the sunriseShort, easy trail (aprox. .3 miles, .5 km)Offers panoramic views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay and out islandsFamily-friendlyHot-spot for professional photographers looking to photograph sunrises and the night sky

At 1, 530 feet (466) meters), Cadillac is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard. It is also the first place to view the sunrise in the United States! From the summit, you will see stunning views of Eagle Lake, Western Bay, and further inland on the northwestern side. To the south, you will see the Cranberry Islands. To the northeast lies Bar Harbor, the Porcupine Islands, Bar Island, and in the distance, Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland.

The summit is easily accessed by a short .3 mile (.5 km) trail from the parking lot. The summit road GPS coordinates are: Latitude 44.368891; Longitude -68.238506 (this road veers off from Park Loop Road, which is the main loop road that takes you around the national park). Make sure to check the time for sunrise and give yourself plenty of time to get up the mountain. It takes about 20 minutes from the village of Bar Harbor.

An important tip: The color of a sunrise is far more short-lived than a sunset; the sky washes out in 30 to 45 seconds after the sun is up--so make sure you get up there with plenty of time to spare so you don't miss anything!

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