Acadia National Park Sights

What to See In Acadia NP

Cadillac Mountain is the highest coastal point on the East Coast ofthe United States, at 1,532 feet. It is located near Bar Harbor, Maine,within Acadia National Park. Before renaming in 1918, the mountain had been called Green Mountain.

There are various hiking trails to the summit, some more challenging than others. There is also a paved road to the top.

Cadillac may be the first United States location to see the sun rise each day. This is disputed by some who believe the sun first shines in Lubec, Maine, the easternmost town in the United States. However, thousands still ascend by car to the mountain's summit to see what they believe is the nation's first sunrise (Actually, this is only the case from October to March).

On a clear day, it is possible to see Mount Katahdin, Maine's highest mountain to the north and the Canadian province of Nova Scotia to the southeast, both over 100 miles away.

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Mount Desert Island, in Hancock County, Maine, is one of the larger islands in the United States, being the third largest in the East after Long Island and Martha's Vineyard.

Some natives stress the second syllable (de-ZERT), in the French fashion, although many others pronounce it in a fashion similar to the English name of a landscape devoid of vegetation (DEH-zert) in keeping with the French explorer Champlain's observation that the summits of the island's mountains were free of vegetation as seen from the sea. It has a permanent population of about 10,000 although it is estimated that about four million tourists a year visit the Acadia National Park on the island. The island is home to numerous well-known summer colonies such as Northeast Harbor and Bar Harbor; long-time residents have included the French novelist, Marguerite Yourcenar, the first female chosen for the French Academy; stage and screen actress Barbara Bel Geddes; Reagan Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger. Current residents include David Rockefeller, Martha Stewart, and Brooke Astor.

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Park Loop Road

The 27-mile Park Loop Road system offers outstanding views of the park's ocean shoreline, coastal forests, and mountain silhouettes. This historic road system is open from April 15 through November 30, weather permitting (small portions remain open all year).

Sieur de Monts Spring Area

The Sieur de Monts Spring area is the heart of the park. Facilities include the Nature Center, the Abbe Museum, and Wild Gardens of Acadia which contain twelve of Acadia's plant communities: mixed woods, roadside, meadow, mountain, heath, seaside, brookside, bird thicket, coniferous woods, bog, marsh, and pond.

This is also a great place to set out on one of the many historic hiking trails located in the area. There is more hiking information located in out activities section.

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Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is the only lighthouse on Mount Desert Island. Currently a private residence for the commander of the local Coast Guard unit, the lighthouse has short trails on either side that provide spectacular views. The lighthouse is located along Route 102A in Bass Harbor, on the west side of Mount Desert Island.

Islesford Historical Museum

Visit the maritime past at the Islesford Historical Museum on Little Cranberry Island. The Town of Cranberry Isles and its people are chronicled in the exhibits which include: Artifacts, ship models, dolls and toys, photographs, and tools. See NPS Acadia site for more.

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Carriage Roads

Winding through the heart of the park, the carriage roads have crushed rock surfaces perfect for bicycling. Cyclists share the carriage roads with horses and pedestrians. Bicycling is not permitted on hiking trails or on privately owned carriage roads. A carriage road map (pdf - 644kb) is available.

Get around

The free Island Explorer Buses, Phone: (207) 667-5796, can take you through the park, stopping at points of interest. There are bicycle racks on the front of each bus if you'd like to combine transport methods as you explore.

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