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Cadillac Mountain & Blue Hill Overlook – Acadia National Park

Overview

Go for sunrise! It’s worth getting up that early and then going around other ares when it’s not too crowded. You can drive to the top. It will be cold so bring a bunch of layers and a hat / scarf. Be at the mountain a solid 30 min before sunrise to get a relatively good parking spot (make sure to face your car downhill, will be easier to get out) and I would recommend walking down past the groups of people to get good pictures for sunrise without getting any people in your shot.

Quick Facts

Time Spent4 hours or 30 minutes if driving
Best Time to Visit?Sunrise and/or Sunset
Distance6.7 Miles (Roundtrip)
Type of TrailThere & Back
Bathroom Available?No
Cost for EntryFree
Worth It?Must Go
Hiking DifficultyHard
Seasonal?Spring - Fall

 Note: Always check trail status and weather conditions before visiting

Attraction Tips

Go for sunrise

There is a reason crowds of people get up early and hike or drive up to the top of Cadillac mountain to see the sunrise. It’s absolutely breathtaking.

You can drive to the top

Unlike many other hikes at Acadia, this is one where you can drive to the peak instead of needing to hike up. This does mean there is a larger crowd at the top and parking can get tight the closer you get to sunrise, but there is plenty of space to spread out once you’re there.

How to Get There & Parking

Address:

Cadillac Mountain
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
 

Parking: Free

What To Bring

Water Bottle(s) / Snacks

Waterproof Jacket / Pants (Rain Gear)

Waterproof Hiking Shoes (Sneakers or Boots)

Waterproof Backpack

Attraction Details

Cadillac Mountain is a very popular hiking trail and viewpoint in the United States. Is is the first place in the on the East Coast to see the sunrise for most of the year and for good reason – the view is breathtaking. Due to the mountain’s draw, we would highly recommend getting there about 30-45 minutes early to find a decent parking spot. The car park fills up quickly and can be tough to find a spot!

A quick 5-10 minute walk from the Cadillac Mountain side, take some time and post up for a nice spot about 30 minutes before sunset over Eagle Lake. This is one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen and you have about a 270 degree view surrounding you. I’d also recommend sticking around about 20 minutes or so after the sun actually sets because the afterglow is quite something to see.

Related Attractions

Acadia National Park

North Bubble Trail

Jordan Pond Path

Flying Mountain

Cadillac Mountain & Blue Hill Overlook are featured in the following itineraries:

The Best Hiking Trails at Acadia National Park

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