Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain
5
About
Cadillac Mountain is a must-see within Acadia National Park in Maine. At 1,527 feet, it's the highest peak on the East Coast. Reach the summit on a hike through the lush pine forest, or take a leisurely drive up and park at the overlook. Once you're there, be wowed by the incredible views of Mount Desert Island and the Porcupine Islands. If you're visiting in the winter, you can catch the first sunrise in the continental U.S. from the mountain top. You'll need a pass to visit Cadillac Mountain, usually included on a tour of Acadia National Park. – Tripadvisor
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- Boopers13 contributionsNice viewsThe park controls access to the mountain top very well. Plenty of parking spaces. Which is more than I can say about the rest of Acadia which was overcrowded, parking almost non existent. We went at 1:30 in the afternoon on a clear day. Views were excellent. It's not quite what I thought it would be in terms of height, but still worth the experience. Short drive up the mountain. Expect wind and cold.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 October 2023
- Robert WCorvallis, Oregon300 contributionsThe one must do hike for Acadia NP.The iconic hike for Acadia NP is Cadillac Mountain. The view is excellent. We use the North Ridge Trail which provided a good test with rewarding results. The view of Bar Harbor and nearby islands is great. The round trip distance from the "bus stop" was around 5.5 miles with an elevation gain of 1100 feet. The "granite" was a new experience for us since we are used to the typical trails found in the Pacific NW. The trail is easily reached via one of the buses from the Visitor's Center. When hiking in the park one must remain "tick aware."Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 25 October 2023
- S4136XSdavidbTexas466 contributionsThe highlight on Acadia Natl ParkThe elevation listed is around 1500feet, but from the top it feels like you are standing on top of the world and can look across the sea to Ireland. I was unprepared for how beautiful the view was. In "season" it requires a permit to visit due to limited parking. Sunrise and/or sunset are very popular. Be aware, it can be VERY windy and very cold, but it's a "Must-do". Give yourself lots of time to park and a short walk. Make sure your camera is charged because you will want a thousand pictures.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 6 November 2023
- Discover75951220 contributionsBest view east of the Grand CanyonBest view east of the Grand Canyon. We went to the top of the mountain twice. The first day it was clear and the second day it was foggy. A totally different view each time. Off season is the best time of year to visit. No crowds. Plenty of available parking. Walked the 1/2 mile loop trail; all paved but some of the steps are uneven. You don't need to make reservations to visit until May 22nd.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 19 May 2024
- Nancy FWoodstock, Georgia2 contributionsSpectacular ViewsDrove around the mountain for a while before deciding to pay the fee ($6.00) to go up to see Cadillac Mountain. Stopped our vehicle and logged into their web site and made our appt. to go to the top. It was the very best decision we made. Nothing can compare to the view from there. Dont even think of not going. You will just miss the most wonderful views......Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 5 June 2024
- RICART75Peru, Indiana2,423 contributionsA place to experience....We came in early May, and found out that the road to the top of the mountain was closing the next day for paving (the day we had originally planned to go up). Fortunately, we were able to reach the summit, and had a couple of hours to enjoy our good luck. Being off-season, parking was plentiful, and walking/sitting around was uncrowded (and reservations were not required) The views are stunning; one of those sites of natural wonder where words don't suffice. If one is able, this is definitely a place to experience.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 June 2024
- swoodrufMuskegon, Michigan1,663 contributionsTallest Peak in the ParkWe were able to go to Cadillac Mountain and the Summit Drive twice when we were at Acadia. It is a beautiful spot with great views from the top. There is a short little hike that you can do from the top. It is an easy walk. Definitely enjoyed seeing the surrounding area from the top.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 23 July 2024
- Rob EGrimes, Iowa31 contributionsAwesome views!On the day we went it decided to rain pretty hard for a while. We waited the rain out and we're treated to some awesome views. The panoramic photos turned out impressive. The walk around the trail was solid and well marked. You must purchase a reservation to drive to the top but it is very reasonable. I would make the reservation in advance of coming g to the park.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 4 August 2024
- High Pass Treks and expeditionsKathmandu, Nepal23 contributionsTreval with ajayaI recently joined a trek organized by highpass treks and expedition companyand it exceeded my expectations. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and ensured everyone's safety throughout the journey. The itinerary was well-planned, offering a perfect mix of challenging trails and breathtaking views. Accommodations and meals were thoughtfully arranged, making the experience comfortable despite the rugged terrain. Whether you're a seasoned trekker or a beginner, Treval Company provides a seamless and memorable trekking experience. Highly recommended!Visited August 2024Travelled soloWritten 22 August 2024
- Potomac Overloo... H2 contributionsAbsolutely stunning!This was one of the main reasons we wanted to go to Acadia. The views from Cadillac Mountain are simply amazing. We were with friends that didn't hike, but we would have loved to hike here as well. We had a clear day, so we could see so far out. Just make sure you get your timed entrance to the mountain. Once there, you can stay as long as you want. Tip - the sunrise timings fill up fast!Visited August 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 27 August 2024
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egwanderlust
Hampton, NH1,971 contributions
Oct 2020
This review is based on my personal opinion only.
Cadillac Mountain is a gorgeous location located within Acadia but it was my least favorite part of the park. This is due to the amount of crowding at the summit. It took us about 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot after sunrise. I completely agree with the National Park beginning the reservation system. It would make things easier on the visitors.
Now for the sunrise. While it was gorgeous, it was overcrowded and many people were sitting in the walkways. If you decide to come after the summer season make sure to bundle up. I had on two coats, two pairs of pants, gloves, and two pairs of socks but still managed to freeze my butt off. I wouldn't write-off coming up to see the sunrise but I would recommend visiting during the summer months if you hate the cold.
Cadillac Mountain is a gorgeous location located within Acadia but it was my least favorite part of the park. This is due to the amount of crowding at the summit. It took us about 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot after sunrise. I completely agree with the National Park beginning the reservation system. It would make things easier on the visitors.
Now for the sunrise. While it was gorgeous, it was overcrowded and many people were sitting in the walkways. If you decide to come after the summer season make sure to bundle up. I had on two coats, two pairs of pants, gloves, and two pairs of socks but still managed to freeze my butt off. I wouldn't write-off coming up to see the sunrise but I would recommend visiting during the summer months if you hate the cold.
Written 29 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tazbigdog
Chandler, AZ333 contributions
Sept 2021
OK, the scenery is beautiful, glad we were here for our anniversary and had an awesome time, BUT...
Try to get a ticket for the sunrise here on Cadillac Mountain is like getting a ____ (you fill in the blank). The website said that 30% of the tickets are pre-sold up to 6 months ahead of time. the remaining tickets, 70%, are dumped at 10 AM EST 48 hours before. I tried three times, exactly at 10 AM to get tickets, and the screen allowed me to get to the next page, and then it said it was sold out. Heck, it wasn't even 10:01 AM yet.
I did this 3 days at 10 AM and unless the tour companies scored them all, or some person in another country, my sunrise ticket did not happen.
II have found other better areas to view the sunrise, and not worth all the aggravation.
Try to get a ticket for the sunrise here on Cadillac Mountain is like getting a ____ (you fill in the blank). The website said that 30% of the tickets are pre-sold up to 6 months ahead of time. the remaining tickets, 70%, are dumped at 10 AM EST 48 hours before. I tried three times, exactly at 10 AM to get tickets, and the screen allowed me to get to the next page, and then it said it was sold out. Heck, it wasn't even 10:01 AM yet.
I did this 3 days at 10 AM and unless the tour companies scored them all, or some person in another country, my sunrise ticket did not happen.
II have found other better areas to view the sunrise, and not worth all the aggravation.
Written 26 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bjt12151951
3 contributions
Sept 2020
I always love going to the top of Cadillac when I visit Acadia. On a clear day the views are awesome. Some things to be aware of: Cadillac is part of Acadia National Park and requires a park pass, which can be purchased at the gift shop on Cadillac or many other places, including online. You can get a seven day pass if you are just visiting, but I took advantage of the lifetime senior pass for all the national parks ($80). It is often windy on the top of Cadillac, so bringing a jacket or sweater is a good idea, even in summer. As of Oct. 1 , Acadia is requiring timed passes to go on the Cadillac summit road. You have to buy them online and they give you a time you can go up, after which you can stay as long as you want. recreation.org is the web site for purchasing these.
Written 30 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mandymac71
Aubrey, TX76 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
This drive takes getting online and buying a park pass before coming for $30 a week on recreation.gov. In Addition, between oct 1-18 you also need an online reservation ($2) from same website. They will allow you entry 30 min before your time. If you want to do the sandy beach drive as well, space that reservation about 1 hour to max 1.5 hours AFTER your Cadillac mountain drive. It’s beautiful and a highlight of the area. Definitely add it to your Bar Harbor to-do list.
Written 9 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ricochan
New York390 contributions
July 2021
Must visit while visiting Acadia National Park! I purchased a timed ticket ahead, and I was glad! Our reservation was at 7 PM, and we were allowed to enter at 6:30 PM. Because of the reservation requirement, parking was plentiful. We ate our packed dinner up here (and threw everything away in a trash bin afterward). We could see beautiful sunset while relaxing on a large rock.
If I were to come to Acadia again, maybe I could try sunrise! This is the highest point on the Eastern Coast.
If I were to come to Acadia again, maybe I could try sunrise! This is the highest point on the Eastern Coast.
Written 20 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CatherineG1605
Memphis, TN86 contributions
June 2021 • Friends
Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain is NOT to be missed. This truly was the highlight of our trip to Acadia national park. We had reservations, which everyone must have now, for 4AM through Recreation.gov. The reservations allows you to enter for 120 minutes up to 2 hrs before or after. We entered the park at 4:10 AM and there was already a crowd gathering as the light was already beginning. There were clouds, but we were surprised at how much those clouds added to the color of the shy. The photos posted here were taken beginning at 4:17 AM, so you can see that it was already an amazing experience. Bring a blanket or heavy jacket because the wind really blows on the mountain and the temps are cooler than in town. Rangers make sure that people stay out of the marked areas, but there is plenty of room for everyone to spread out and find their own zen as the sun rises to tough first light on the USA. It is not to be missed!
Written 9 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KayJazz
Bedford, TX385 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
FINALLY made it to Cadillac Mountain. We reserved our reservation ($6) for 8:30am (previously was scheduled at 11am and was so thankful we could modify our time slot).
The views from the vista's were simply gorgeous!!! The peace & quiet feeds the soul and let's you enjoy God's beautiful scenery.
Acadia NP is a park to behold. Our weather for the 2 days (27-28Sep21) was 64-66°.
Some leaves were just beginning to turn into their fall colors. 🍁🍂
Starting about Oct 09. 2021 I bet the leaves will be putting on a full fall showing.
No matter when you visit Cadillac Mountain & Acadia NP, just do it! ❤
The views from the vista's were simply gorgeous!!! The peace & quiet feeds the soul and let's you enjoy God's beautiful scenery.
Acadia NP is a park to behold. Our weather for the 2 days (27-28Sep21) was 64-66°.
Some leaves were just beginning to turn into their fall colors. 🍁🍂
Starting about Oct 09. 2021 I bet the leaves will be putting on a full fall showing.
No matter when you visit Cadillac Mountain & Acadia NP, just do it! ❤
Written 28 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew Z
New York369 contributions
Aug 2020
When the weather is nice and clear air, there is a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean, all the islands and bays. It is worthy to drive up, spend just a few minutes or lingered longer walking over stones from one side to another. It would be much safer if all people adhere to recommendation of wearing masks, but... there is always some who does not like that idea. Outside of that have fun, perhaps have some lunch and enjoy the view.
Written 29 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AJOhio
Cleveland, OH102 contributions
Oct 2021
Cadillac Mountain is the tallest peak at Acadia National Park and offers amazing views in all directions. It can be reached by hiking up several trails or driving up the road. Timed tickets are needed to use the road and these can be purchased online (there is a link from the Acadia National Park main page). The drive up is itself a great experience with multiple overlooks where you can stop by. At the top there is a gift shop and a few short trails. Like most of Acadia, this can get busy. I recommend going to the "true summit" near the cell phone tower which is less busy (although you don't get 360 views because of the trees).
Written 19 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tinaNtravel
San Jose, CA2,122 contributions
Sept 2021
You need reservations to drive up Cadillac Mountain. During the busy season, the best times (sunrise and sunset) sell out quickly. If you find they are sold out, check back again, 2 days before at 10am, as new tickets are released, however, they go fast. We got a reservation for approx. an hour and a half before sunset. We drove up to the top parking lot on the right, parked, walked around and then approx. a half hour before sunset, walked down to the parking lot area on the left, where we were told is the best view. This area quickly filled up with perhaps hundreds of people sitting on the rocks, some having picnics, waiting for the sunset – and it was worth the wait. It was beautiful and well worth the effort to get there.
Written 23 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judy,
We are planning to go to Acadia national park in few weeks. I have a fear of height. Your review will be a big help to me. I have a few questions for you:
Based on your experience, for the perspective of Fear Of Height, Do I need to worry about drive to Acadia national park? Driving inside the park (other than Cadillac Mountain)? Any other area i should be worry about?
Your reply will help me to make better decision.
Thank you for your support
Written 6 April 2022
Hello! I've got a pretty strong fear of heights and I had little to no issues with the park.
I would even recommend Cadillac Mountain. The road is really well done and not super close to the edge, and you can go slowly if you need to. You don't have to get anywhere near the edge to enjoy the view.
If at any time fear does start to creep up, just take a couple of careful steps back and give yourself time to reevaluate.
Written 25 April 2022
Other than sunrise and sunset, when is the best time of day to be at the top of Cadillac Mountain in June?
Is it better to hike up or drive up? (we are comfortable with moderate hikes between 2-4 miles).
Thanks!
Written 13 March 2022
Better to drive up, it's all uphill, and single lane (not much shoulder). Depending on temperatures, I would say anytime from 8 AM - 11 AM is best.
Written 14 March 2022
How long was your visit to Cadillac Mountain by driving up? How long did you stay?
Written 7 July 2021
Driving up if you don't stop is really quick--less than 10 minutes. But there are viewpoints along the way that you may want to stop at. We went during the day (not for sunrise or sunset) and spent about an hour walking the trails on the mountain. From the top you can see Bar Harbor and Bar Island and the Porcupine Islands as well as Schoodic Peninsula and the Cranberry Islands. There are signboards that tell you what you are looking at. The mountain is almost bare of vegetation which is something to see. This is more common farther north. My husband and I have visited Acadia probably about 25 times and Cadillac Mountain is our favorite! Enjoy!
Written 8 July 2021
The rec.gov website says one reservation per vehicle, but they don't ask for any vehicle information. Do you have to provide that info when you check in? I want to make a 2nd reservation because it looks like solid cloud cover the morning of our reservation. Thanks!
Written 25 June 2021
If you have a rental car you don't provide any info, but if it's your vehicle you do. You can get more than one pass.
Written 27 June 2021
As requested, I went on Recreation.gov at 10:00 2 days prior (looking for the 12th of June) and there were none available. Is there a glitch in the system? Looking for suggestions. Dates are not flexible!
Written 10 June 2021
My advice is this and it won't help you now--go on the off season and you will not have to make reservations. Also you will avoid crowds. This is what my husband and I did this spring and had the park almost to ourselves.
Written 11 June 2021
Hey folks, my and a group are looking to go early June. We don't want to take a car, is there a shuttle that takes us to the peak from downtown Bar Harbor?
Written 2 May 2021
My husband and I are planning to go on Monday. Just wondering if anyone can share their recent experience about buying a reservation ticket to access Cadillac mountain for sunrise. I saw one post about going in before 0430am to avoid paying, but just wondering too if this has changed. Thanks!
Written 8 October 2020
We saw sunrise in August. No charge. We arrived an hour before sunrise and had great parking. Tip-leave before crowd does or it may take a while to come back down.
Written 8 October 2020
I’ll be traveling to Acadia this Saturday. I just found out you need a reservation for a certain time slot to drive up to the summit. There aren’t any available for Saturday as this is news to me. However, the reservations are for 4:30a until (idk when). My plan was to arrive before 4:30a anyway. Has anyone gone since this began and did they have any issues driving to the summit without a reservation?
Written 2 October 2020
I’ll answer my own question for anyone who’s wondering as well. I ended up going this Saturday (first Saturday in October). I had no issues getting in the mountain without a reservation before 4:30a. Rangers get there at 4:00a so I’d get there earlier to avoid any questioning.
This may change is what the rangers told me, but right now they’re only enforcing reservations between 4:30-6:30, but not keeping people out outside of this time.
Written 5 October 2020
Sushruth S
Amherst, Massachusetts
Hi ,
Kindly let me know What is the location of entry point to drive up the mountain for sunrise .
Written 15 September 2020
When you enter Mt. Desert Island you will be on Eden st (Rt 3) stay on the left, from there your only going to go a few miles and look for Eagle Lake Rd on the left as you enter Bar Harbor, then take another left onto Paradise Rd. that leds to Park Loop Rd. ~ finally there is one last left to turn onto Cadillac Summit Rd. Biggest tip is get ther about an hour before sunrise~ it truly gets packed quickly and parking goes onto the 2 lane road come closer to the time of the sunrise. Good luck and have fun ~ bring a blanket!
Written 15 September 2020
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