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Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail

4.7 (63 reviews)

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"Desert sky, dream beneath a desert sky.." Cadillac Mountain,  Acadia National Park
Penelope M.

Europe has her beautiful architecture, but Americas have incredible National Parks, well preserved and well maintained. Cadillac Mountain and the whole of Acadia National Park is one of such. I always marvel at their beauty, always in awe of how they came to be. Nature is meant to be explored, admired and respected. I feel blessed at every encounter and immensely grateful to share the experience among loved ones. Now, Cadillac Mountain is accessible by car. There's a parking lot at the summit. You need to reserve online for a timed entry to be able to park at the summit and a different permit per car to enter Cadillac Mountain.

This is a map of the Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail at Cadillac Mountain.  Photo taken October 2, 2019.
Drew P.

Cadillac Mountain is a part of Acadia National Park. What beautiful sights to see from the summit of Cadillac Mountain. This review is based on the visit to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. My visit here was with a tour on October 2, 2019. We were in Bar Harbor for the day sailing on the Disney Magic. With our tour, we had about 15 minutes to visit this area. The time of day was 11:30 to 11:45 am. The weather wasn't as nice this day, as it was overcast and cool, temperatures in the 50s, and windy. A cold front passed through the area earlier that morning. The weather conditions didn't stop me though. One of the nice things is that there were several signs that had information about that area of the park. Even though it wasn't a clear day, the views were still great to see at Cadillac Mountain. I was able to take in the views of Frenchman Bay, which is where the Disney Magic was anchored for the day as well. There were some fall colors in the trees, but was a bit early for the peak season views of the fall colors. Even with the limited time we had, this was still a great place to visit. I would love to come back and stay several days, allowing to come and see the sunrises and sunsets at Cadillac Mountain, along with other areas of the park. The natural beauty of this place is breathtaking. If you come visit Acadia National Park, this place must be on your list to visit.

James R.

Cadillac Mountain offers amazing views of coastal Maine. It is very close to downtown Bar Harbor so you can make it up to the top quickly (at least in a vehicle). Parking can be a challenge and it is often crowded by the top is a large area so there is plenty of room to distance.

Riddhika J.

BEAUTIFUL SPOT FOR SUNRISE! We were told by so many people to experience the sunrise from Cadillac mountain and I am glad we decided to because this was one of our highlights during the Acadia National Park trip. HOT TO GET THERE: We drove here and let me warn you that traffic on this single lane road is horrible so please provide minimum 30 mins cushion so you have enough time to get here before the sunrise. No pain no gain, right? From the main parking loop at Cadillac Mountain it's a short walk to the viewing area. THE SUNRISE: You will definitely forget everything as soon as you see the view. The sunrise is spectacular and the little islands shine like diamonds as the sun starts shinning on them. The sky is all covered in various hues of red and purple and the entire scene looks picture perfect. I would highly recommend checking this place out!

Sanjay G.

"Astounding view around you with calm atmosphere" You reach here and you come to know why Acadia national park is 2nd most visited park in USA. so, scenic beauties and view... 10 mins' trail. you can spot so many island from here. Sunrise or sunset. Both offers breathtaking view... in evening or sep onwards it is breezy so get your warm clothes. of course, you will have camera. But sometimes we think we are becoming too materialistic. You can spend 2-3 hours easily.

Lauren C.

Probably the most well known spot to get beautiful views of Acadia National Park. We made our way up here to see what all the talk was about. Even on a cloudy day the views were beautiful. Near the overlook there is plenty of parking and a gift shop. The gift shop has trinkets to take home, snacks, and blueberry sodas for sale. Near the shop there are restrooms as well. From the main parking loop at Cadillac Mountain it's a short walk to the views. The walk is mainly on rocks, but there are some flat areas. It isn't a challenging walk. Once out on the rocks you'll get completely unobstructed views of the area. It's a beautiful open area. This is the spot to take photos of both the scenery and your travel companions.

Waiting for a summer sunrise
Cynthia L.

The first daily and most beautiful sunrise in the United States! Known for sharing its natural beauty for having the first sunrise in the east coast of United States, it is no surprise that many locals and visitors will gather here to watch that moment. Arriving just an hour before sunrise, there is a dark blue color across the skies where the stars are still twinkling. Far East side, there are glimpses of orange and pink lights slowly taking over the skies. The strong orange and red colors will conquer the skies almost immediately as the sun is peeking and making its way up the sky for a sunrise. For great photos to capture the moments, make your way to the summit and the most East side to capture it (the side where it is brightest). In preparation for the sunrise, one may have to sacrifice sleep the night before to ensure that one stays awake. Dress warmly like a heavy hoodie or jacket, it gets very cold even on a summer night. The mountains are barely lite up, drive with caution. Phone services may not work so well, so have a back up map. Bring some snacks and some drinks. Sit back and relax. It may sound a little tedious but it is totally worth it!

Terry T.

We drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain several times during our time in Acadia National Park. At 1527 feet Cadillac Mountain is the highest elevation on the Eastern Seaboard and affords truly spectacular views of the surrounding area. Sunrises and sunsets are amazing here. Get up early to watch the sunrise because when we were there it occurred around 4:45. At certain times of the year this is the site of the first sunrise in the United States. Sunsets are brilliant as well and even star gazing after dark is fabulous. There are hiking trails to the top if that's how you want to reach the summit but there is a nice paved road all the way to the top as well. Allow about 15 minutes or so to drive it. Do be careful while you drive because there a lot of bends and turns in this winding road.

Bar harbor and islands
Wild Yeti '.

This is a semi-strenuous hiking trail, through forest and over Rocky landscape. The trail is 4.4 miles to the top of Cadillac mountain. The trail markers are blue lines on either rocks or trees. On the rock landscape, rock statues will guide you. The thrill of this hike/ climb is the view of Bar Harbor. it becomes more spectacular the higher you hike up.

Mickey 7.

Weather dependent and heavy with fog with a narrow single lane road. So plan on carpooling and allowing a lot of time in addition to what mapping service app you may use. Very weather dependent but nice. The road is well paved and maintained. Traffic is horrendous here as the single lane road does not afford much in many stretches any - room for cyclist and walkers. The Park personnel are friendly and knowledgeable. Parking on the shoulder of the road is absolutely prohibited and towing is swift.

Cadillac Mountain
Chris T.

I would say the best area in Acadia National Park with views looking down. It's worth checking out the sunset and view both look outs to see both sides of the mountain. Can't beat the photos!

Abigail M.

If you have the time, and are in decent health, this is a very enjoyable trail. Parking is either at the top of Cadillac mountain, or at the bottom of the trail on the one way section of park loop road. It's about 4 hours of hiking if you go up and back down. Do not attempt this with out 3 bottles of water per person. The trail its6is kept quite clear and has good footing throughout. The rise and fall of the trail height is gradual. This trail offer spectacular views.

Views ...
Raquel M.

Nothing short of amazing. Cadillac was our favorite part of the road trip (while in the East Coast). The drive was gorgeous. The air was crisp. There were not too many people around. (There was a wedding about to take place - I mean, who would not want this as their back drop!) we enjoyed the wonderful, God-given beauty of Acadia.

Looking towards Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail.

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Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail

Is this trail scary for someone afraid of heights?

I am afraid of heights and yes, this is a scary drive if you fear heights. The first time I drove which made a huge difference. The second time I rode in the back so I could avoid looking out the window.

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Review Highlights - Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail

We drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain several times during our time in Acadia National Park.

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Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park

4.8
(620 reviews)
2.3 km

I'm no stranger to parks and beautiful natural places, but Acadia is like a dreamscape. There's…read morestunning ocean views from crumbling gorgeous cliff sides. There are lakes, streams, ponds, scenic lighthouses, boats, bikes, trails, gardens, crazy hikes with vertical iron rungs, rolling forest hikes, lighthouses, and more! The main issue you'll run into is crowds.. lots of people want to come here, especially in July and August. Best thing to do, go in as early as possible, do some things, take a break, go back again after 3. If you're early, you can get a parking spot then work from there. If you are flexible on time, take advantage of the shuttles, but be warned, they may be full, and they don't run every 10-15 minutes, so plan accordingly. I would be in the park by 7, have plans maybe on a tour in Bar Harbor late morning or early afternoon, then head back after 4, and I got to all the must-do's, ie hiked the Beehive, the Bubbles, Cadillac Mountain sunrise and sunset (reserve this early as spots sell out, I booked mine 3 months in advance the minute they released and they were sold out shortly later, especially sunrise tickets), Jordan Pond and popovers, Bass Harbor Lighthouse, as well as some boat tours in the area, including very successful whale and puffin watching. For more hints and tips, I watched some YouTube videos, there's great info out there, especially the videos from Ash, a former park ranger, who has loads of helpful tips to get around and not spend your trip sitting in traffic or waiting in a parking spot.

Did we go in a wrong entrance or something?!…read more I was underwhelmed for sure. We walked a few trails and took some photos but ??? Im very glad we hit Cadillac Mountain - that's where it's at!!!

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Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park
Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park
Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park

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Acadia National Park
Bar Island

Bar Island

4.9
(15 reviews)
2.4 km

Despite having done some research in advance, I had not been aware of this particular opportunity…read more There are many small islands in the region, but this one is notable for having a gravel walkway that sits above the tide for only a few hours a day. An appropriately timed hike yields an array of fantastic views that beggar belief. And this is despite the fact that walking to the end of the trail on the island from downtown, Bar Harbor takes maybe half an hour. Signage warns people not to get trapped on the island when the tide rises as getting a boat is expensive. I could imagine that if the weather is rough one could get into a bit of trouble here, but as long as you're smart about it, this is a fantastic place to visit.

Bar Island is a tidal island connected to Bar Harbor by a gravel and sand bar that is exposed at…read morelow tide and submerged at high tide. So interesting to be able to cross from Bar Harbor by foot and then hike to the top of the island for a view of historic Bar Harbor. The city of Gouldsboro still maintains jurisdiction over the island based on its 1798 articles of incorporation. Many families have tried to build a bridge to the island from Bar Harbor, however John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased the half of the island that has the sandbar which stopped the bridge from being constructed. Today, the island is part of Acadia National Park. If you visit, mind the times for the tides. People have been stranded and apparently cars have been washed away back in the days when they parked on the sandbar. Once high tide comes in, you will need to wait approximately nine hours for low tide or pay a hefty fine for being stranded on Bar Island. A unique experience in Acadia National Park.

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Bar Island
Bar Island
Bar Island

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The Natural History Center

The Natural History Center

5.0
(8 reviews)
2.4 km

Very nice narrative of the area, history and some "fun facts". It was neat to see Acadia from the…read morewater after visiting from land the day before.

Rich took our family on a full day tour of Bar Harbor/Acadia. The kids are ages 7 and 9 and he…read moreadjusted the content of the tour based on the likes and dislikes of my kids that I described to him over the phone prior to arriving. We started the morning on 1+ hour hike through a spruce forest to arrive at the edge of a cove. Seals were in the water and birds in the distance. We literally didn't see a single other person on the hike which is incredible given that it was high season (August). It was a testament to Rich's knowledge of the island. We did visit Sieur de Monts Spring and did a flat loop walk on the long boardwalk trail which was also fairly deserted given its proximity to the tour buses pouring tourists out in front of the nature museum there. Lastly, we made a visit to a tidal pool where we spent a solid 2 hours in the water looking under every rock for starfish, crabs, sea anemones, sea urchins and snails galore. Rich knew each species and explained the good and the bad (green crabs -- invasive, not good; Jonah crabs - native, good) Rich did all of the driving and it made for a relaxing exposure to Bar Harbor/Acadia that we would've never been able to do as quickly on our own. Well worth the money.

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Atlantic Puffins.
Atlantic Puffins.
Atlantic Puffins seen on a recent tour.
Atlantic Puffins seen on a recent tour.
Laughing Gull

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Laughing Gull

Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail - hiking - Updated July 2026

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