Cadillac Mountain Reviews

The more adventurous climb to the top of Cadillac Mountain...most of us drive to the top. On the day of our visit the skies were crystal clear and the view from the top was sensational. We were very fortunate. Once on the top, we took in the views; we visited the gift shop; and hit the rest room. There are lots of flat rocks that make for easy walking to vantage points; and blueberry bushes everywhere. In August, you could snack your way to the top!

I highly recommend making it to the top of Cadillac Mountain. Enjoy!

I was aware that the Cadillac Summit Road sunrise experience requires a reservation. I waited until the window of opportunity opened three months in advance. I booked a 5 AM reservation so we would have plenty of time on the summit. The parking lot was fairly full at the top when we arrived, but parking was not difficult. The weather was outstanding; cool (September 11th) but clear, and very breezy. The sky was dark, but with increasing light to the East. We could see stars and planets which added to the experience. The sun rose above a band of clouds, and it was very dramatic. We spent some time on top walking the path (concrete) to see the view all around. We could clearly see the Bar island sandbar exposed as the tide was out. We had done the walk a few days earlier; make sure to do it.
Overall the experience was fantastic! 10/10!

As the highest point on the Eastern US coast, Cadillac Mountain is a must see location. You can opt for a sunrise time to go up, but in July, that was just too early for us. You will need to reserve a half hour time slot and we went up at 7:30 AM. Cost is six dollars. Unfortunately, there was still some fog that hadn’t yet burned off, but we still enjoyed the half mile loop hike around the summit. Be advised that it does get crowded later in the day and even with the ticket to go up, parking can be a challenge.

We decided to do sunrise at Cadillac Mountain. We got up at 3:30am to be there in plenty of time to have a parking place. It was very crowded when it got close to sunrise. This was amazing sight to see. One side note, you have to get a vehicle pass in addition to the park pass to drive the road for sunrise.

Well worth making a reservation for, such a spectacular view and ideal place to photograph. The park rangers are helpful and there are restroom facilities.

If you are going to visit Acadia National Park, you need to go to the top of Cadillac Mountain.

We made our reservation well in advance and had no problem gaining entry. Some people don't care for the reservation system, but it is the way to guarantee a parking place and the opportunity to enjoy the view.

Sunrise was around 6:20 when we were there. We arrived a little before 6 and found a spot on a rock. We sat in the cold, dark, wind and were rewarded with a gorgeous sunrise.

After the sunrise we left pretty quickly. In hindsight, I wish we would have stayed longer and did a little more exploring. I guess that is a reason to go back to Maine.

We did take advantage of being in the park early to drive the loop road and enjoy some of the sites without having to deal with crowd.

Loved the 360 scenic views. The rocks, hills, valleys, ocean views, lake views, were all amazing. It was an overcast day but was still beautiful.

We loved watching the sun rise! Very fun to sit and look out over the water and see all the color changes.
Get there about an hour before sunrise, bring a blanket or two to sit on and bundle up. Bring your warmest clothes and settle in!
You need a park entrance pass and a Cadillac Mountain sunrise reservation.

This is a lovely place to walk around with the family. Reservations for parking made in the morning before the crowds can in…lovely views of Bar Harbor and the surrounding islands.

Beautiful views, not too crowded when we were there. Awesome for sunrise, but great anytime. Well worth the trip, especially in the summertime.

Totally awesome feeling up there, seeing all the water and islands and vistas. Clambering over the large 'colored' rock surfaces is great. A must-do.

A note regarding the reservation system. We got to the Cadillac road entrance about 50 minutes ahead of our late morning slot, but the ranger woman in the booth said she would let us proceed. Thanks!

Beautiful sunset views. Don’t forget to make reservations before going, not sure how many cars are allowed each night. Worth the drive. Scenery is beautiful. Luckily we were there on a somewhat clear night. Enjoyed the experience.

Make your vehicle’s reservation online, which costs $6, to climb Cadillac Mountain Road before you head to Maine. Purchase your Acadia National Park pass for seven days at $30 per vehicle if you are not in possession of a senior (65 and above) US National Parks lifetime pass.

Times available on specific dates are listed on the website. Sunrise and sunset times are quite popular.

Without fog, blue skies and sunshine, the vistas are magnificent! Overlooks along the road before reaching the summit treat visitors to equally beautiful scenery.

Negotiating the rocks all the way to as far as you feel safe to go is an exercise.

We weren’t able to get a reservation to arrive for sunrise, but arrived a few minutes later and was still stunning with the sun still low in the sky and beautiful reflections off the sea and harbor. We then did a 13-14km hike down, around and back up the mountain.

Must make the effort to go. The scenery is beautiful. You feel like you’re close to heaven! Do get your ticket early just in case they sell out

Easy drive with sweeping views of the valley. The reservation system in place insures you will have parking at the top. Pack a lunch or snack since the options at the top are severely limited. Path at the top is easy to hike with very well mark points of interest.

we got sunrise tickets. I'm personally a fan of the NPS reservation systems. It's not perfect but if it's what's needed to keep these high demand parks manageable then I'm all for it. We got to the ticket gate about 90 minutes to sunrise, no lines at ticket gate. Drove up the mountain and parked (drive up takes about 20 minutes as it's winding). At this point there were only a handful of cars. We followed the little trail a ways off and found a nice spot to sit. About 20 minutes after that is when the crowds started coming in but it never really felt "crowded" as there is plenty of room up there.

We were there during the recent heat wave so a small jacket was all that was needed. But it was SUPER windy so hold on to your stuff. The morning wasn't foggy but there was a cloud cover so we managed to watch the clouds light up the different colors as the sun came up but didn't actually see sunrise. Oh well these things happen. We left about 15 minutes after official sun up with just a few people pulling out at that time.

I will say this if you are getting up there for sunrise please be thoughtful about what lights you use (personally we thought the predawn light was plenty to see by and used no flashlights) the number of people that kept blinding us with flashlights and especially headlamps was crazy. Red lights people. You can still see and you don't blind everyone around you!

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."

Cadillac Mountain is more of a large hill in a real mountain. But in Acadia national park everything is in miniature and the top offers great views, both inland and over the archipelago and the Atlantic Ocean. Also, you should be glad that you can drive all the way up to the top, which is fairly rare for most mountains.

You need a ticket for a designated 30 minute window to access the road to the top of the mountain. PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL or you will be disappointed

Go ONLINE to Recreation.gov to get your $6 vehicle admission ticket ... no ticket - no access. Ticket will be accessible on your phone, pad, or you can print it.

You may be able to get your ticket 2-3 days in advance.

We saw many unsuspecting cars turned around and denied access to the road because they were not prepared or aware.

As all park rangers will tell you ... plan ahead for your visit ... an ecclectic visit doesn't always work in a national park

Lastly, very good view from the top

So so pretty 😍. Pay to get tickets here. It’s totally worth it!! You can see all of Bar Harbor at the top. I only wish we had gone at sunset to take it in then.

This is an awesome national park to visit. We chose to do the Loop Road on this trip. We saw many hikers and bikers along the roadway! It definitely is for the more experienced biker as there a many hills. Thunder Hole wasn’t as active as it could be as it wasn’t high tide when we were there but the ocean scenery & “rock bound coast” were beyond magnificent. The views are amazing and for those not “faint of heart” on heights, Cadillac Mountain shouldn’t be missed. All in all, amazing!

Cadillac Mountain has great vehicle access, nice walking trails, and beautiful vistas in every direction. A trip to Bar Harbor without a visit to the mountain is your loss.

Going to the highest mountain in Acadia will take you to a panoramic view on top. Overlooking areas of the Acadia National Park. This is a go to site for most visitors wanting to catch an early morning sunrise. An online reservation is needed to enter. Catching sunrise is the most popular, reserve a head of time for at least 2 days or more to avoid ticket closure. There is a gift shop on top but limited food offerings. I believed coffee and some chips only. They regulate the parking situation so you must reserve your ticket and time to go and drive up. The other way to avoid the fee is to hike up if you wish. There is a restroom located by the gift shop.

Very expansive views of the ocean, Bar Harbor and the little islands. You have to make reservation and it cost $6 in addition to the entrance fee to the park. It is super crowded.

This was an excellent experience! The view from the top of the mountain was astounding! There was some cloud cover but it would break up and the sky would come thru, I can not say enough how spectacular it was!

We went 2 miles out on the South Trail from the peak and then 2 miles back. Parts of the trail are challenging so you have to be mobile. The trails are well-marked when on them but not at the very start.

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.

We went during the day and did not do the sunrise times. You have to get a pass to go to the summit between May and October. Expansive, beautiful views. Trail leads around the East summit giving different views around Bar Harbor and the coastline. Very crowded.

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.

We took a tour the first day we were in Bar Harbor and he took us to the top of Cadillac Mountain. It was breathtaking. But nothing was more beautiful than when we came back for the Sunrise. It's worth getting up early for and was the highlight of our trip. We weren't able to get our tickets until 2 days before. You will need a ticket to get into the park and a ticket for the Sunrise. My husband wanted to wait until the last minute to get there. We were there about 20 min before sunrise and we were one of the last people there. It was already dawn and I honestly thought we had missed it until we saw a bright orange line in the horizon. The sun!!! It was visible the minute the weather app said it was the time for the sunrise and for the next 5 minutes, it was just breathtaking watching the sun rise. If you have the chance, don't miss this. It's just exquisite.

Perfect location to see sunset and sunrise!
Get ti summit by 5am to see sunrise from start to finish, absolutely beautiful!

Best 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.

Yep, we dragged ourselves out of bed at 4:30 a.m. to join the hundred-plus people watching the sunrise—and it was worth every yawn. Then again, the sun looks spectacular rising just about anywhere in Maine.

The gates open at 5 a.m., and tickets are hard to come by since they limit entry mainly due to parking. It’s dark, so bring a flashlight. One of us joined the crowd at the summit and swears by that view. Two of us wandered down the concrete path and found a quieter, more secluded spot—and we swear by that one. The last of us got lost, tried a few different vantage points, and still preferred the peaceful lower-path view.

Beautiful spot but what a terrible park ranger. I had had a reservatiok for sunset the night before and was shooting milky way pictures. I stayed overnivht shooting and was threatened by this massive jerk of a Park Ranger to call law enforcement when I was trying to explain to him that I was waiting for sunrise. He claimed that as I have left and come back, mind you this was before in between and before booths were open) then I couldnt stay even if I went away for 20 min at most. As a girl and alone around 2 am I decided to go to the bathrooms in the beach instead of the ones at the gist shop. I was the only car the night before and the morning of but there were plenty of people. Im sure if I would have been white he would have thretened me to call the law enforcement within a minute of pur interaction. I wasnt rude or talk to him with attitude either. What a terrible experience, I would be looking for his name to add here, definitely on a power trip.

AH-Maz_ing. Go. It reminds you that the universe is big and you are small. So beautiful. Get a pass in advance in recreation.gov or similar

Beautiful views. Make reservations early if you're driving up. The new reservation system helps ensure you'll have parking and keeps the road safe. Don't forget the sunscreen

This is a MUST DO attraction for Acadia National Park whether you get the sunrise tickets or not. We could not get sunrise, but we did visit on the afternoon or our second day when the skies were clear. In every direction you look the views are amazing and strongly suggest you walk to different angles. However, for me, the best view was looking over Bar Harbour. We could even see the bar under the water as well as a cruise ship in Frenchman's Bay.

The entire drive up is beautiful with several turnouts. However, it is best when you get to the top. While they say the sunrises are amazing, it is the tallest mountain on the Maine coast, so the views are incredible at any time. This is really something you will want to see if you come all this way to Acadia. Make sure you get a reservation at Recreation.gov before you come, it is well worth it.

Our experience would have been a lot better if the weather wasn't so bad! We reserved a spot to watch the sunrise one morning on our visit. At the time, the weather looked like it was going to be okay but due to the nature of the system and how the reservations work (2 days ahead of time and RIGHT at 10am or they'll sell out), you just have to take the risk. Well, it ended up being very cloudy that morning and we felt jilted, but again- nothing anyone could have done about it! We did see a peek of the sunrise on the horizon.

Rangers were there directing parking during the sunrise time and that was very helpful. Bring your headlamp- it's very dark before the sun comes up and you want to climb over some rocks to get the best view. It's also pretty chilly, even in the summer months so make sure you bring layers and a blanket to sit on.

Overall, we felt the price for the reservation ($6) was worth the experience!

I am not sure how much more I can add that hasn’t been already said by previous reviews. So I’ll say - coastal Maine is definitely a National Treasure! Also - loved that Acadia National Park is so pet friendly. “Our Girls” enjoyed seeing Cadillac Mountain too!

We weren’t crazy about having to make a reservation and pay $6 (on top of the usual National Park entrance fee) but it does help to manage the crowds, and hopefully that extra money goes directly to the park service to support upkeep). We saw a tip on here to either print the reservation or take a screenshot of the code, and that was a great tip, because cell service is almost nonexistent in the park. (Which makes sense - I wouldn’t want ugly cell towers screwing up all the beautiful views, and besides, it’s vacation - time to unplug!). One thing I was not expecting was the wind. It was crazy windy at the summit! Even so, we walked a lot of the trails and saw the gorgeous views from all sides. Bring your walking sticks if you want to venture out in the rocks. No view was disappointing. We were glad we went in the early evening, as most mornings were foggy while we we in the area. If seeing a sunrise is your thing, you may want to visit in the spring or early fall, instead, but if you prefer sunsets, you will be golden (pun intended).

Very easy drive up, incredible view of sunrise at 5:24am in early May. Quite a few people already during this off-season, so I can imagine it will only get more crowded.

Well worth the hype. It’s actually great that you have to make a reservation so it Durant get too crowded. Probably the easiest parking we found in Acadia. Great views and we even did a little hardcore hiking.

We had an early entrance ticket. It was drizzling, but we could see some sun peeking out. There are several hikes. The two we chose were excellent; one was to the highest point marker. There’s an eco gift store which had coffee and gifts. We had a grand time even in the rain.

Learned a lot about the area and the scenery was absolutely beautiful. The tour guide was fun and interesting. We were able to make a few stops to get good views and pictures.

We drove to the top since we were able to get a reservation. I didn't feel like hiking a lot, but the walk around the top was incredible.

We could not reserve a spot for the sunrise, so we went for the next best thing and reserved a spot later in the day. The goal was to hike around, then observe the sunset. Not seeing the sunrise is the only regret I have.

Interesting, but not much of a mountain, nor were the views all that wonderful. It’s only 1500’ and the crowds can be very tough to navigate with limited parking. We arrived 45 min prior to out timed entry ticket (noon on a Sunday) and were waived through. Had i have known, would not have gone through hassle.

Beautiful views of the area. We were blessed with a pleasant and clear day, and could see all around for miles.

We drove to the summit, and because we visited in the off-season we didn't have to reserve a time-slot for our vehicle to ascend. The summit is easily accessible by car off of the Park Loop Road within Acadia National Park. There is also a little gift shop and restrooms, and a small parking lot.

The trail at the summit loops around, and is an easy, wide hike. This was perfect for us with our baby in the carrier.

Views were great on way up and down yesterday but we were a little disappointed that the top was fogged in obscuring any views until we started back down. We had bought tickets for sunset and it rained all day yesterday until about an hour before sunset so we were able to see some sun set after driving from the summit. Great set up the way they limit cars by requiring reservations.

If you are planning a trip to Acadia National Park don’t miss sunset at Cadillac Mountain. The views are beautiful!

Majestic and magnificent, the view is a must see to experience it and soak it all in, from the landscape and fauna around you to the ocean to the East. Nothing else compares to it.

The views from the top are amazing. Walking the loop was fun and gives you time to soak it all up and enjoy the experience. You will definitely have plenty of picture opportunities.

What a beautiful way to see all sides of Bar Harbor, Maine easy drive up make sure you book your pass at recreation.gov and get your parking pass to go into the park. It’s a beautiful drive and a beautiful walk around Cadillac mountain.

We went on October 24th Sunday morning to see the sunrise. It was gorgeous, traffic is crazy , so please get there 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise . It’s cold , so please bundle up layers and a huge blanket . It’s worth the hassle

Drive if you must, bike if you can! We rode up the mountain on e bikes and it was fantastic. Ate our packed lunch at the top and took in all the fantastic views. Don’t fall for all the sunrise hype, it’s gorgeous anytime!

**NPS Passport Fans** There is a stamp in the gift shop at the top of the mountain.

Utterly stunning experience. We did sunrise and with the sea fog the colours were just amazing. The tickets for sunrise sell out within 3 minutes so set a reminder on your phone and be ready!

We also hung around and did the Hawk Watch for a bit which was really interesting.

The 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.

It was exceptionally hard for me to get us tickets for sunrise, but by the grace of god I scored a pass when they released them 48h beforehand. I’m sorry but this is a non-negotiable must see. It was awe-inspiring. 🌄 we got to the base of the summit road at 3:45am for the 5am sunrise. We were about 15th in line to go up. They opened the gates around 4am. It was a quick 10 min drive up, obviously being there early helped because we had plenty of parking at the top. Restrooms and water fountains up there as well. The shop doesn’t open til 9.

The real star of the show in my opinion was actually first light - right before sunrise.

Absolutely stunning!! Drove up here to see the sunset. I believe my son had to book a parking space ahead. The views were immense, looking out across the ocean. We returned the same night, after dark, to stare up at the thousands of twinkling stars and the Milky Way in the blackened sky. We've never seen anything like it! We also saw several shooting stars. Simply out of this world!!

We had our pass and our reservation and drove up one cloudy afternoon to see the view. Thunderstorm threatened from the west and a strong wind came up, so our visit was short and sweet. Pretty trip up and down and a quick walk to the view site is about all we saw.

5 stars for this beloved National treasure filling one with awe of the natural beauty and rare vistas from this part of the country. Plan ahead, arrive early, and consider taking the shuttle buses which go to specific places. One star for - BEWARE - Bring lunch, snacks, and drinks. One star for - BEWARE - Parking is very limited everywhere but importantly at view sites and hiking trail heads. The busier the park, the more challenging it is. One star for - BEWARE - This beloved National Park is crowded. One star for - BEWARE - Bathrooms are scarce. Bar Harbor is close by as an option for food, and it can be crowded as well.

When the alarm clock went off we were seriously rethinking this reservation, but drove up and hunkered down with blankets and watched the sunrise at 5:01 am. Yes, it's early, it's cold, it's dark up there but then: it's beautiful! Totally worth it. Even the teenagers agreed.

The reservation system actually makes it a bit nicer, the summit isn't crowded and parking is organized and easy. The NPS Rangers are super-friendly at 4 am- don't know how they are awake and smiling at that hour. Must find out where they get their coffee!

Go online now and reserve your pass (only available May to mid-October) to access Cadillac mountain - would have provided you the link here, but Trip Advisor rejected my review when I added in the link.

Despite the fog, high winds, and hail we experienced thanks to Hurricane Fiona off the coast, this trip was still worth it. Short paved 1/2 mile path and more rustic trails make the summit very accessible to a variety of visitors. Nice little shop and decent restrooms are up there as well.

we did the sunrise drive, arriving at 430 was perfect timing for minimal traffic, easy parking and getting a good spot. first light was 455am and by 445 the parking lot was packed. you need to reserve a pass ahead of time from recreation.gov (it opens 90 days in advance). $6 and have your park pass. they'll check your drivers license against the reservation. once at the parking lot then walk about 50 yards to the top. you can sit on the rocks and watch the rise or bring folding chairs, blankets, food...etc. also pet friendly. there's a .5mi paved path at the top that starts/end at the parking lot and a trail that heads down towards bar harbor. on the way down there are a few pullouts to stop for photos and a view

My wife and I had previously done pretty much every hike on the quiet side and decided to do THE hike.

We parked at the south ridge trailhead, walked through the Blackwoods campground, then there is a small path that connects to park loop road where you can catch the island shuttle bus at stop 65. We then rode the bus to the north ridge trailhead. It took about 2 hours to hike up to Cadillac mountain. We then spent an hour at the top, walked around the summit, visited the gift shop, found the summit marker, and then headed down the south ridge trail, which took about 3 hours.

The hikes up and down were enjoyable. There were more people than we were used to obviously, but the views are good throughout and worth doing once. The same can be said of the summit. We are happy we did it, but I would not be interested in doing it again. The sheer number of people, most of which just drove up, takes away from the experience for us. We had similar good views at other hikes, like Acadia Mountain and the fire tower on Beech Mountain, that while technically aren't as high, still look as good. I think the only difference with Cadillac mountain was that it was the only time we could see Bar Harbor.

Overall, happy we did it the once, but don't think I would do it again.

I was going to be stopping at Acadia NP while on a road trip and saw that you need to book a timeslot to drive to the mountain. I'm so glad I booked one. It was a beautiful drive and the views from the top were absolutely awesome. I spent about an hour up here enjoying the scenery. There is a giftshop at the top, but it is run by a different company then what runs the National Park Service giftshop at the Visitor Center. You're probably better off to check out the items at the Visitor Center giftshop first before you head up to the mountain. If you only have limited time at the park like I did, you definitely should do this.

Fortunately, we had an absolutely perfect day for going up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Sunny, clear, about 70 degrees. Not really very crowded. Found a parking spot right away. A "must see and experience" destination when in the Bar Harbor area. But be sure to make a reservtion early as it will be hard to get a reservation to go up to the summit if you wait until you arrive at the check-point.

We made a reservation for 5:30pm to see the sunset as we were unable to obtain sunrise tickets because they sell out so quickly. We were able to obtain parking in the west lost but it is a small parking lot. It seemed most people parked in the bigger east lot and walked over to the west lot. We took blankets to sit on had a good time watching the sunset. We also took jackets as it was a little chilly.

I give it 5 stars because I know it's a beautiful place and we made some great memories despite the less than ideal conditions. We made a reservation on recreation.gov a couple days before. We arrived to the base just before 4 am. We showed the park ranger our reservation and park pass and he warned us: "You aren't going to see squat!" He was not wrong. It was cold, rainy, windy, and very foggy at the top! We still had a great time and are glad we did it. Hopefully we'll get a chance to go back on a clear day some time.

Unfortunately it was very foggy on the day we went so we were unable to see the view. But a definite must see if visiting Acadia State Park.

We went up to Cadillac mountain at 5am to see the sunrise. It was so worth it. When we got there, it was still very dark and we were about to see stars in the sky. Make sure you are prepared -bring winter jackets, blankets and headlights. Reservation is not hard to get as long as you set a reminder for the release date. Highlight of our trip!

Cadillac mountain is the highlight of Acadia. You must have reservations to drive your car up. We booked a time that would allow us to stay for sunset and were able to book reservation for sunrise. Both provided beautiful views. For sunrise I was surprised to see park service directing people where to park cars. Was a smooth operation.

We did Cadillac Mountain a few ways. First we drove up to see the sunset. We were there on the last day that you didn’t need to make a reservation. Sunset was just after 8:00 so we drove up around 7:00ish. We read that Blue Hill Overlook was the place to watch from. It was not marked (that we saw) so we ended up driving to the top and then back down to the next parking place…. But it was filled up. So we headed back down the mountain and found a pullout area to park. We walked across the street, sat on the rocks with very few other people and watched a beautiful sunset. Honestly I think anywhere along the road would be a good place to see sunset- I wouldn’t stress over where along the road you are.
The next day was supposed to be clear (and it was) so we drove up just to see the daytime views and go to the gift store. We made an on the spot reservation as we were driving the Park Loop, but it was hard to get internet in the park and actually couldn’t get internet service until we were at the turn for Cadillac Mountain. We made an immediate reservation and headed up. It was absolutely clear up top and the views were awesome!
The next day we hiked to the top. We did the Gorge Trail on the way up and the North Rim trail on the way down. There was parking at 9:45. There are about 12 spots in the north rim trailhead parking lot and about 4 spots at the Gorge trailhead. The way up (about 2.5 miles) was a real puffer. We were sweating! Lots of mosquitos so bring spray. It was mainly a rock staircase for the first 2 miles and then a rock scramble for the last half mile. Very enjoyable. The way down on the North Rim Trail was good with nice ocean views, but not terribly interesting. We are both 50 years old, In good shape and it was a great hike for us! It’s the week before Memorial Day and there aren’t any big crowds to speak of- great time to visit!

Beautiful sunrise. A must see during your visit to Acadia. We booked the sunrise pass 4 months in advance. We got lucky that morning as it was party cloudy but still a gorgeous sunrise. We had some pretty dense fog a few mornings of our trip. Don’t know how much we would have seen those mornings. We got there about 45 mins prior to sunrise and that was perfect timing:)
There was ample parking with staff directing the cars. And plenty of places to sit/ view the scenery.

Spectacular views from all over the top of the mountain. Needing a reservation was a very good thing. It was crowded, but very manageable.

I’m arriving tonight, 6/25. I have been under impression the tickets released 24 hours in advance, for the sunrise. It’s 48 hrs!! I missed it. I’m almost in tears. This was to be a highlight of my trip. How can I fetch a ride with someone? Can I park on road beforehand and pray I can go up with someone?

Reservations are required but it is well worth it to go up to the mountains and see the vistas. Because the crowds are limited, the experience is pleasant. Be sure to take plenty of pictures.

We went at 4pm. It was not busy at all. A little cloudy but the views were stunning. No issues with parking at all! This was a great time of day to go!

The view was spectacular… ease of hike around the summit. Picturesque from all sides. Must get a permit a few days before your visit from National park service to drive to the summit. This gift shop is one of the best on the park.

Beautiful views. Our reservation was for 5:00 pm. The summit was almost full but we found parking. Breathtaking views. We came prepared, and on our way down we parked at a designated spot and had a wonderful picnic

if you visit there in peak season (summer), you need to book a pass to drive up to the mountain, the sunrise time slot is the most popular one, but you can book sunset or other time slot, we saw the sunset there, still beautiful.

View was spectacular. Hated, hated, hated trying to get tickets. Silly to open it at 10am when you want to be outside doing other things, plus it gets overloaded and locks you out, so we didn't get to see a sunrise, but we did stay for a sunset. Added stress to the vacation.

If you’re wondering if this is worth the timed entry drive slot the answer is YES! We didn’t do it at sun up or sun down, just at 9 am but it was breath taking and a not to miss spot in Acadia.

eazy drive to the top. ** MUST HAVE RESERVATION** I got mine same day 5 mins before on recreation.gov, they had plenty of open spots on a saturday in July.

We tried to do sunrise on Cadillac Mountain but there was quite a bit of cloud cover that morning. Either way the views were nice. We got there pretty early to get parking but I think we would have been fine. Plenty of room to spread out from people. Lots of wind! Have to buy tickets ahead of time.

Unless the weather is perfect and clear, it’s a waste of time. You won’t see anything. That’s hard to plan around since an advanced reservation is required.

We were able to get our tickets 2 days ahead. I went on the website, registered ahead of time and waited patiently for 10 am. It was amazing!

The views are amazing! So beautiful! We were lucky to have gone on a sunny day because the next day was rainy and foggy and we would not have seen nearly as much. Be sure to purchase your Acadia National Park pass and Cadillac Mountain reservation; you need both. Tip: Be certain to purchase your Cadillac Mtn. reservation in advance to be certain you can go the day you want. You must choose a day and time. There are overlooks along the drive. At the top, there are places to walk and several interpretive signs. Tip: When looking for the true summit, you must walk up behind the gift shop to find the medallion in the rock. Also, if hiking is your thing, check to see if you can hike to the top.

Booked a sunset, it was spectacular! Road was in great shape, plenty of parking and Mother Nature did not disappoint! Drive to the summit took about 15 minutes. We’ll worth the trip!

This was a beautiful place to see. However, they don’t tell you that you have to walk a very short distance up a hill next to the store to see the true summit of Cadillac Mountain. It’s only about a 5 min walk from where you park. There is a plaque at the top.

If you’re trying to visit the mountain you need to have a computer go online set up an account wait for a email confirmation then try to purchase your ticket and you will need also a six dollar pass to access the mountain. My friends and I try to do this but it’s very difficult so we went to Cadillac Mountain visitor center to try to buy can access pass and purchase a ticket to drive up the mountain and they do not sell them there and the government has outsourced the buying of tickets to a third-party which is ridiculous.

Very frustrating and a disappointment

We visited twice during our week long trip, and would have gone a third time for sunrise, but it was so foggy it wouldn’t have been worth it. I would suggest going multiple times just to see how the light is different.

Seeing the sunset on Cadillac Mountain was just gorgeous! Entry to Cadillac requires a pass. We purchased the daytime pass for 4:30 allowing us time to view the landscape below. This time slot also helped us to be at the top to find a parking spot for sunset. It was perfect timing for us. Tickets can be purchased 90 days before your visit and sell out fast. Go to Acadia National Park website.

You need a reservation for your vehicle; a great tip was to make 2 (only 1 per day allowed) to ensure you get a nice weather day. The overcast morning was actually quite an experience - the fog gave you a feeling you were walking above the clouds. The sunset was a nice clear night.

We had a daytime reservation for the morning but arrived early and was let in. We were told it gets busier between 9 a.m. and noon. After heading to the summit, we found a parking spot and entered on the path closest to the parking lot. Views were incredible and we continued on the trail until it exited, still near the parking lot. Along the way there are several scenic stops for great views and pics. Highly recommend!

A must do on a New England bucket list and a November trip allows you to avoid all the crowds!! Yes, the leaf color is not at its best but the views are still spectacular and the trade off is well worth it. We actually were alone at the top of Cadillac Mountain on a Saturday morning solely because we went after peak season.....loved it!!

We had a beautiful few hours spent at the summit, trying to take on all angles, as everywhere you looked you got a different view. The gift store at the summit was excellent and had a stamp for my National Park Passport. Totally recommend either hiking to the summit, or driving up Cadillac Mountain Summit Road to the top.

I almost intentionally omitted a trip up Cadillac Mountain from our visit to Acadia because I feared it would be one of those heart-stopping rides up the edge of a winding mountain road, but it was not. I almost missed one of the most beautiful parts of the Acadia experience! The road is well protected at all the spots that it should be, and the road surface looks brand new. Even though Cadillac Mountain is not a high mountain, the views are gorgeous, and the overlooks are in all the right places. Needing to be online at specific times to insure getting a reservation was a bit nerve racking, but it was well worth it.

Beautiful and accessible. A soul touching place. Recommend that you do NOT drive up the mountain at dawn in your own car--Even in October the lot was full and there was a line of cars part way down the mountain! I recommend using Cadillac Mt Summit Shuttle who were on time and helpful in every way.

We took the trolley tour up here and got to spend 30 minutes enjoying the views. Absolutely beautiful views and a must see location!

We opted for the sunset experience and arrived at 6:30 pm with our reservation. We wanted to park in the West Lot. When we got there the lot was already full. We managed to get the last spot on the grass. The sunset was lovely though the sky was hazy. It was a pleasant experience and the ride down was beautiful as well.

We had booked in advance and already had a lifetime national park card and the trip to Cadillac Mountain was amazing. We went there on a day that had slight haze and could see the valley views almost all the way to the top. Once at the summit parking area we were unable to see the valley views due to fog rolling in, but we were able to see a couple hundred feet in front of us at all times so all was good. We found the true summit marker point up by the communications tower and took pictures. Also saw the foundation for the hotel that was there about 100 years ago. Very interesting area with lots of history as revealed by our guide on the Carriage ride pulled by Horses of Aciada. We also drove the one way loop and found the Thunder Hole, and Jordan Pond.

One of the most amazing views I have ever seen. What a stunning special place this is.

We were gutted to not get a sunrise pass even though we were on the site at 10 on the dot. We took our chances and went for a 7am slot instead and was thrilled that we did.

Some menacing cloud and mist soon burned off and we were treated to the most beautiful panoramic views of islands, sea.

So don’t be too disheartened if you miss the sunrise, it really was great to go so early and then have the rest of the day to enjoy the park. The Bubbles being a real highlight too.

I’m Order to drive to Cadillac Mountain you must reserve at time with a minimal fee but boy is it worth it! Would do it again! It’s a steep straight over the side drive up but I tell you it’s so worth it!

Get there in the early morning before the crowds arrive- That means before 9am. You will be glad you did because by the time you are leaving, after walking/exploring for an hour or two- the lot will be filled up. locate the elevation medallion (1130 feet above sea level). that is anchored to a boulder up behind the goodie hut. Views from here are 360 degrees and one is better than the next- plenty of trails to roam around on. If you are adventurous- come back for the sun set- hope for clear skies- it is worth the effort.

So sunrise ticket on website says 90 minute window. However the day window is 30 minutes. Had to leave. Ranger said can buy pass over again no reception Drive to bar harbor. Turns out only can buy one per car. Total bust.

I was here several times. The best time to go is at sunrise but you must get there at least an hour before sunrise to get a parking spot. Also, if it's during the season, you must have a reservation. We went after season and the place was still packed but so worth the view, even when it was cloudy.

Seeing the sun rise before anyone else is absolutely AMAZING. You have to get up really early but it is worth it. Bring something warm to wear.

The sunrise on Cadillac mountain was magnificent! We woke up at 3:00 am to shower and get the gift shop parking right next to the overlook. It was totally worth it. We got lucky it was a clear day. It needed us to book a Sunrise pass 2 days in advance and a vehicle pass as well FYI. The Sunrise passes sell out in few minutes. This was my #1 thing to do in Acadia national park. I absolutely loved it!

Top of Cadillac mountain was gorgeous! Parking was easy as well. The colors were absolutely amazing. We were there in a windy day however it didn’t spoil the beauty.

We recently visited Maine and Bar Harbor. We received a great tip during a ferry ride that I thought I would share. Getting a pass to Cadillac Mountain, especially for sunrise can be difficult so some chose to hike in and out. (It's about a 7 mile hike out and back and can be strenuous going up.) We chose to park our car off main road right outside Blackwoods Campground. We then had a taxi pick us up and take us up to Cadillac Mountain (only a $25 fee). They do NOT need a pass to drive up Cadillac Mt., we enjoyed the views as well as the hike down and the trail ends right where we parked our car. It was a great way to experience this. We then drove ourselves for the sunset, which was also great. I'd suggest getting their early for sunset and maybe packing a snack or picnic dinner.

Highest peak on eastern seaboard - reservations required. We had planned to do sunrise and I expect it is spectacular on the right day. We could only get daytime reservations and went up midafternoon. Nice views - certainly a relief to be able to actually park and enjoy the scenery. However, having been to the Smokies and western mountains the 1525-foot elevation is nice, but not breathtaking. If you are going to Acadia, making a reservation and taking the drive up is well worth doing. It certainly is not a destination (with the possible exception of sunset or sunrise on which I cannot comment). The color and views of Jordan Pond, Ocean and (I think) Somes Sound were very nice.

The views are gorgeous. But you can see many of the views as well as other more incredible views from other places in the park. I wish someone had told us this ahead of time after sooooo much research!! Anywhere in Acadia is going to be incredible!

You can’t drive up this mountain unless you reserve a time. We weren’t aware and couldn’t do it. We were leaving the area the next day so could not get a reservation. If you like huge crowds of people, Cadillac mtn is your place!

Very windy, even in the middle of July during the day! Bring layers!!! View was gorgeous - was very spread out so I never felt stepped out. BOOK permit early - we wanted a sunrise but it was booked out months in advance, just be mindful :)

Any visit to Acadia NPS has to include this trip to the top of the highest mountain in the north east. There is a Cadillac summit loop trail that shows outstanding views of the area. There is nothing I've seen that can compare to it. It was very windy, but the sky was blue with white fluffy clouds, gorgeous.

Don't forget to get your reservation beforehand to drive up to the top, and have your park reservation handy too. But once up there with the controlled attendance the experience is delightful.

We went for the sunrise. You have to book the ticket for the car two days in advance. Sunrise time was 6.45, we were there at 5.45 itself. We were probably third car or so. No need to go that early since the parking is already reserved and to see the sunrise you will be in the mountain where there is plenty of space.
Unfortunately, it was cloudy so we couldn't see the sun rise. But after a while, it was bright enough to see the entire beautiful view.

Stunning views and great place to watch the sunset. I loved down the mountain at night. This is a must if you come to Maine.

You can't appreciate all the beauty of Acadia Park without going to the top of Cadillac Mountain. You have to register and there is a small fee but it is worth it. Plus the road is beautiful and accessible to everyone unlike Mount Washington.

We drove up at the last minute to see the sunset. You can't drive up without a reservation, but it was easy to make one quickly online. It's a beautiful place with 360-degree views of the surrounding area. You can see Bar Island and many other islands. The paths are cemented pebbles and were very easy to walk on. There are also many slabs of rock you can sit on. This site also has a gift shop, a water fountain, and restrooms.

Cadillac Mountain requires a reservation. I enrolled with recreation.gov and found the sight/app to be easily navigable. Popular times are sunrise and sunset. Rec.gov releases time spots 30 days out. However, I never saw any sunrise spots become available or released. We chose a 7:30 am time. My advice would be to go later in the afternoon or try for sunset. This particular day Cadillac Mtn. was fogged in most of the morning. We couldn’t see a thing. So glad we hadn’t been able to get that sunrise time! I’ve seen pics of sunrise and it is beautiful but you run the risk of inclement weather unless you can try for a last minute reservation time.

We 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.

We opted to view the sunset on Cadillac Mountain instead of the early morning sunrise …. it was a great decision. You need to reserve an entry time in advance. We arrived at 4:30 and spent time walking around the summit. Then an hour before sunset we drive about halfway down the mountain and pulled off to watch the sun set in the west. It was a beautiful evening and a great experience!

We visited here in mid June. You can't visit unless you use the new reservation system which costs about $6.00. You will also need a ticket to get into the park. I booked a sunrise visit a few months beforehand. By the week before, I saw that the weather wasn't going to be good that day. Two days beforehand, they release more tickets. I went on at 10 am 2 days before and I tried to change the tickets. Because I was in a spot with bad cell service, I couldn't do it. Instead, I booked new tickets for another day at 12:30 pm. Later in the day I got better cell service and rebooked my sunrise tix. On the day of our sunrise tix, the sun was due to come up at 4:48 AM. You really need to be there before the sunrise time to see first light. Our ticket time was 3:30 - 5:30 am. We arrived at the gate at 3:25 am and there were already about 6 -10 cars in line waiting. It takes about 10-15 minutes to get up the hill at that time because it is extremely dark and you have to drive slow. We then had to use our phones as flashights in order to see to find a good spot on the rocks for viewing. We dressed in layers and brought our beach towels to use a blankets because it was cold. We did see some of the sunrise but then clouds moved in and we didn't see too much. We went home at 5:30 and took a nap. Then we came back up for the 12:30 pm reservation. The view at that time was just beautiful. It was a clear day and we really had a nice time walking down the path a bit and enjoying the beautiful view and a snack on the rocks! We ended up staying there for about 2 hours. There are bathrooms and a gift shop up there too. If you are trying to decide whether or not to take the effort and get up for the sunrise up here, my opinion is to skip it. I am SO glad that we went up there later in the day because it was beautiful.

This is a must go to on a trip to Acadia! Remember to buy your tickets ahead of time and if possible go and see the sunrise. It truly is worth it Magnificent!

This scenery you see from top of Cadillac Mt is great ! You can see the Town of Bar Harbor .Also you can see where the Cat leaves from on its trip to Nova Scotia .Also you can see the Golf Course which was built in 1888..You do need a pass to come up to Cadillac Mt and a pass for Acadia National Park.

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! ❤

Having to pay extra to go up Cadillac mountain. When you already have a lifetime pass is just wrong. The view is good if the weather is good. It’s a waste of time if the weather
Is bad. Sandbeach was full of dogs running around. No park personal at the beach.
Just a mess.

Our trip up Cadillac was tons of fun. The kids loved taking pics and exploring the rocks off the beaten path a bit. The views and horizons are amazing - even on a day that wasn't ideal from a photo perspective. If you are visiting Acadia, hiking or driving up Cadillac is a most. And don't forget to get your permit if you are driving!

There is a reason this is the number one attraction in Acadia. Super long views in almost every direction. Parking is limited and if you have mobility issues there is a lot of walking.

If there is one place you can visit in the Park I would suggest Cadillac Mountain. From here you can view all of the scattered islands and coastline. On a beautiful day we spent about a half hour at top for all the photos you can imagine.

In the past, access to Cadillac Mountain was included with your park pass, now they require that you book a reservation and pay additional fees. Also, it shows reservations ending at 8pm. Not sure if that means the mountain is closed to astrophotographers or not. The process to get the reservation was a major pain since we were already there and I needed a wifi signal to go online to book. I had to open an account and email verify, then add a credit card. Pain in the B.

Highly recommend a trip to Cadillac Mountain. Come early as this fills up fast. We also booked the sunrise slot which was amazing!!

Was absolutely beautiful. Would highly recommend. Get there early. Went with family of nine. Bring blankets because it’s chilly

Best view in Acadia, definitely worth the timed entry and $6 for a reservation. Parking was tight but not as bad as we expected. Lots of visitors around but there’s tons of space to roam.

Due to its popularity you have to schedule your visit to go up and with everything to do it is tough to know your 60 minute window. We tried to get tickets for the sunrise as they went on sale the day before at 10 AM. I was hitting refresh at 9:59. At 10 it refreshed and was sold out. The road to get up there can send up the blood pressure a little, but the view is worth it.

Lovely (moderate) 2.2 mile hike up, and another back down. Not too steep but a couple of rocks are needed to be climbed over. Trail heads were well marked with the color blue. Difficult to tell which peak was actually the top. We’d stop and think we’re at the top only to realize the hike kept going. We went on a sunny 70s day in July and the weather was perfect. A little foggy at the top but the cool breeze was very much needed.

Stunning! Get your tickets on recreation.gov to enjoy. Anyone can visit. There are overlooks, restrooms, a gift shop and trails. Because it it is timed admission it is not crowded. One of my favorite experiences at Acadia.

This is a must do when visiting Mount Desert Island! A timed reservation is currently required and you’re allowed to arrive up to a half hour after your time slot. The drive up the mountain is beautiful with numerous overlooks to stop at. At the summit, there is a path for those in a scooter/wheelchair so they can also enjoy the view. Their path ends but another path continues around the summit which is beautiful. Bathrooms available and a gift shop which closes at 5pm. Sunrise is a popular time, but we also got a sunset ticket. Only one ticket can be reserved at a time. Dogs are welcomed and my kids were amazed!

Beautiful, stunning...scenery to die for. What more can I say other than get yourself to Acadia and enjoy a lovely time in the outdoors

Be sure to have a reservation to drive up the mountain. You will also need a National Park pass. Luckily we bought our lifetime senior pass a few years ago for $10. It was a beautiful day with spectacular views.

From May - October, cars must purchase a timed ticket to drive up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain on recreation .gov (in addition to your park pass!) I was able to purchase same-day tickets on two different days of my visit. Sunrise tickets are available separately, and those are more difficult to get. I went on two different days at two times (morning vs. afternoon) to see how the view would be different, and I was glad I did! You can also hike to the top (there are two separate routes), which I did not do on this trip but would like to accomplish on my next visit. Incredible views of Mount Desert Island and Bar Harbor.

We couldn't get a reservation for the sunrise, bound and determined, we decided to hike it. It said 33 minutes, an hour later we weren't even halfway! We missed the sunrise so we just saw it from the trail and found our way to the road and overlook. Amazing view but not a good experience. We drove up later and our visit was cloudy every day so we didn't get the colors everyone else posts about, but it was still breathtaking.

Cadillac Mountain views were beautiful! It is worth the time of making a reservation to drive to the top. The Park Store on the mountain is the best shopping we found in the park - Lots of items to choose from.

Fantastic view from he top,lots of different areas to walk.
Read some reviews about driving up but would have driven myself as it looked ok from bus window.

I am 60 and was reluctant to hike this adventure, but my wife encouraged me to try...Happy Wife Happy Life. It was better than I thought. We were dropped off by family at the North Ridge Trail Head on Park Loop and started our ascent. I had been lent hiking poles which helped a lot and was wearing my Keen hiking boots. The trail is rocky and uneven and up hill most of the way. We did it in about 1 hour and 50 minutes with a couple of pauses for water and snacks.

The top has a gift shop and a water refill and restrooms. We enjoyed the view from the peak, walked a bit up there then began out descent along the South Ridge Trail. That took us about 2 hours and 20 minutes with snack and water breaks. The first part of the descent felt steep to me, glad I had the hiking poles. My feet began tohurt so I popped some Tylenol. It flattened out a bit after the first half-hour or so. Great workout because you are constantly looking for good places to step down.

I am glad I did it and felt a sense of accomplishment. We walked over to the entrance to Blackwood Campsite and waited for the shuttle to pick us up. It eventually took us to Village Green in Bar Harbor where we joined back with our ride.

Amazing views! Worth the hike! Cadillac Mountain is the highest point in Acadia and is worth it. Most of the way up is driving, with a small hike at the top. There isn’t much people at the summit, as it is peaceful and beautiful. The views are incredible, and I highly recommend!

Watching the sunset at Acadia and the views were awesome! Weather was exceptional for our trip and the tourists were so friendly. Must get a pass to visit Cadillac Mountain in advance (as the parking is limited)

Awesome view no matter where you were. Reservations are required. We went near sunset. You could see everything for miles around. Could look down on Bar Harbor and see all the islands. Just beautiful. It was very windy went we went up so bring jackets. On the way down the mountain had a beautiful view of sunset.

They have made a change that you need a reservation ($6) to drive up Cadillac Summit road--finally!! I've been going to the park for 30 years and parking and crowds are always a disaster up at the summit. It's a great way to manage the crowds and have a much more enjoyable experience at the top. This was the first time in 10 years that I was able to shoot photography without someone's head in the picture. You can reserve ahead of time and they also have plenty of day-of times available on the reservation website. Now, they just need that same management tool for Jordan Pond!!

I am really glad that the park has instituted the reservation system. I can only imagine how crowded it would be without that in place. We had a reservation for 8 one morning. It was a bit foggy, but still beautiful. We had a reservation for 7:30 the following evening. We were able to see the sunset. It was beautiful! It was also quite chilly and windy, so dress accordingly (even in July).

This was our second visit to Acadia National Park and have enjoyed it both times. If you want to see a breathtaking and unforgettable experience, you must see the view from the top of Cadillac Mountain. If you want to see the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, you will have to make reservations. There is a $6 fee per car to drive up Cadillac Mountain. Reservations must be made on line.

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.

You need a reservation to drive to the top of the mountain, so plan in advance, as the spots do get filled up. Of course, the view is weather dependent, but, it’s a chance you have to take…the ticket is only $6.00, so if the fog has rolled you, you won’t lose a lot of money. There are lots of people biking to the top of the mountain, both on electric bikes and on their own leg power. The walk at the top is about a half mile loop, but you can scamper on the rocks to the edge if you like. The view is spectacular, with lots of surrounding islands in the distance. Back when Acadia National Park was being developed, there was a train to the top, and also a few hotels, which either burned down or were destroyed by hurricanes.

Breathtaking! Worth the trip to go see the Views! It won’t disappoint! Parking will definitely be a
challenge during certain times of the day.

You have to purchase a timed ticket to go up the mountain online in advance in addition to your park pass. Once up you can stay as long as you want until its closed.

Stunning views. We went up in the evening in the middle of a torrential rain. We waited about 5 minutes until the rain stopped. The wind was whipping and pushed the clouds out fast. You could see where it was sunny and bright and where the rain was pelting below the clouds. It looked like a straight line between the two. We got to see a rainbow as the clouds started lifting and the sun came through. We walked the trails and took in the almost 360 degree view. Bar Harbor is much prettier from the mountain.

On the way up, we saw a group headed up the mountain on foot with their dog. Not sure if they'd walked down a bit from their vehicle or what happened. Do people hike it? They had to be wet, miserable, and freezing. Our vehicle was full so we couldn't offer them any assistance and an umbrella would have been swept away. We were glad to see they made it up the mountain. If you have only one rainy day to take in Acadia, please don't hike the mountain.

Highly recommend this for a Sunset or Sunrise event. There's also plenty of hiking trails for great views.

We enjoyed our time at Cadillac mountain. We were not able to go for sunrise so drove up during the day. The views are wonderful!

Cadillac Mountain the place where I experienced the best sunrise experience till date. The landscape is extravagant and just magical really. If you want to see it make sure to wake up early and calculate travel time to the park and the destination inside the park. You will definitely be competing with others for parking. This is one of the few experiences that are not overrated. I understand why people willingly sacrifice their sleep time for the show the sun provides Acadia with.

We booked a 4:30 am first light sunrise shuttle with Cadillac Mountain Sunrise Shuttle. It was an easy, affordable way to get to experience the sunrise without stressing about finding our way. (You will need a park pass) We enjoyed a narrated ride on the way up and down. We lucked out with clear weather and not too cold. We live on the NC coast so see our fair share of beautiful sunrises and this one was worth the hype.

We could not get tickets for sunrise but it is still worth a trip up there during the day. A nice little trail and get great views in all directions. If going up in the Fall, make sure it’s a sunny day and bundle up! It gets windy and the sun warms you up!

Great price, easy parking, and amazing views!! Making a reservation was super easy. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the many views and walking trails.

Although you have to make a reservation to go to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the views are worth the hassle. We really wanted to see sunrise or sunset, but I couldn't get either of those time slots even though I was on the website at the exact time those slots were released. We ended up going at 3:30 and it was still very beautiful. There are many places that are very easy hikes after you park. Make sure to also have a park pass in addition to your reservation for the Cadillac. Both are 6.00.

Great experience! We went at 8:00 am (no traffic), showed our ticket at the gate & proceeded up the mountain. We walked the loop trail. Beautiful views in every direction. They have a small gift shop & restrooms at the top.

We did the sunrise hike to the peak. 2 adults, a 9 and 12 year old. Absolutely gorgeous and special. A few things to know 1) Get there EARLY. We pulled in at 2:40 am and there were only 3 parking spots left 2) Use a headlamp. There are no scrambles but there are definitely places where footing is uneven and it will be good to have your hands free 3) Bring layers - it’s cold at the top! 4) Don’t worry about getting up there too early - the light is beautiful well before sunrise. 5) Trail is very well marked - do not leave the trail - take it from the family that accidentally did ! 6) This is a moderate hike - not easy - there’s a lot of uneven footing; slippery when wet, and a lot of granite

Enjoy the stunning sunrise and beautiful views!! on the way down!

Beautiful views from the top depending on clear skies.
Temp gets cooler and quite windy. Sunset drive was pretty but some clouds obscured the sunset.
Must book tickets online or no entry. Sunrise tickets very hard to get.

Hiking or strolling, relaxing or photographing, Cadillac Mountain is worth visiting. It affords beautiful views over the area.

Our favorite part was the fabulous views of nature. The experience is highly recommended. We spent the whole day there ending with the sunset.

We went to the NPS.org website to make a reservation for the park. We paid our 6$ fee for the reservation and downloaded the QR code. We are seniors so we already had our National Park passes so those were no charge. You must pay a $30 fee to gain entrance and down load that as well. Check this since this may change. Entering the park was simple and we drove to the summit. There were several turn off areas for viewing on the way up. Make sure you are in these areas and not just on the side of the road. Once reaching the summit there is a small visitor center and restrooms. The view is excellent but remember to stay on the approved pathways. There are several hiking trails through out the park for all ability levels. Make sure to bring water and good shoes. It was a very enjoyable day.

Though we didn't plan as early as we should have to have better choice of times, we still were able to get tickets online the same day. We enjoyed the limited crowds. The views were nice.

We went up to the Cadillac Moutain and also drove thru the park. Beautiful scenery and had great picture opportunity to see many sites, even with the fog rolling in.

We were with a 2.5 hour bus tour. The driver was really great. . Was a extra clear day.Could see for miles! Was a stunning view. Well worth the trip

We made reservations for 6:00 pm to view the sunset. We we running a little behind, so we arrived at 6:15 pm, which was still within our timeframe. We had to rush from the parking area to find a good spot - recommend allowing plenty of time to park. It was lovely!

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.

Absolutely gorgeous views. We had great weather to go to the Cadillac mountain. Any great hiking trails. A must see but require to book a pass in advance to go to the top.

We ended up going up to Cadillac Mountain twice in one week - first time there was fog cover so we could not see a thing! So glad we went up again - the views are outstanding - do not miss this part of the park!!

We had reservations for 9:30 am that we had made well in advance. This particular morning it was very cloudy and the Ranger told us that there were white out conditions on the drive up. We were unable to change our reservation time at that point. We made that drive up which was slightly anxiety provoking. The top of Cadillac mountain was foggy and windy. There was nothing for us to see, but we can say that we were there!

Went early in the morning to avoid the crowds. It was nice that you could hike away from the crowds as many just wanted to take a picture and then leave. It was awesome to have an hour of quiet and just watching nature. It was pretty crowded by late morning when we got back to the parking lot.

Very fortunate to have had the opportunity to ascend Cadillac Mountain to take in the panoramic views. Likely the only place on the US East Coast where you will be able to capture the sight of a large cruise ship in a harbor with a stunningly beautiful glacier-formed background.

This is a controlled drive, so get tickets online ahead of time. Parking is limited, so they only allow a certain number of ticket hold to go up each hour. The views at the top are wonderful. On a clear day, you can see the ocean, bays, forests, fall color, etc. There are short hikes at the top and a gift shop.

Took our kids (aged 6 and 10) here first on a tour bus then again on our own. Absolutely loved it. If you’re adventurous you can climb the rocks over a wide range. Stunning views.

Beautiful scenery. You must have a reservation to drive up Cadillac mountain
Scenery is awesome. Cost is only $6 per car. Loop road is free

Limited access by tourists ensure that you can enjoy the scenic vista without fighting a crowd for a parking space or glimpse of the harbor.

We went up for sunset and we’re not disappointed. We purchased a pass as soon as it opened in May for our Mid-August visit, and although it was cloudy all day, the sky opened up for a beautiful sunset. We did have to park in the East lot and walk but that wasn’t a problem. Would definitely do this again!

First thing to know is to get a reservation to drive up as early as you can plan it! Awesome views, and not too crowded because of the required reservation.

You need to reserve an entry time to ascend the mountain with the Park Service at reservation.org
Worth it! Loved the views and would definitely include this the next time I come.

Going to the top of Cadillac Mountain is absolutely worth the extra $6 ticket. This glorious mountain provides a panoramic view of the entire region and is completely gorgeous. After entering at the guard station, we drove all the way up to the top, stopping occasionally on the side of the road to take extra pictures (there's space to do that). Once you get to the top, there are two parking lots, but they fill up very quickly - we had to do a couple of loops around the parking lot before a spot opened.
The schlep is worth it, though, as the views are breathtaking. Trees, water, valleys, rocky outgrowths; you can see everything in minute detail. This is a stunning way to watch the sunrise, but passes for that sell out quickly. We were fortunate to have a clear day, so we had wonderful views of the entire area, with the sun reflecting off the water. It can get chilly, so remember to bring extra layers in case you get cold.

The drive up the mountain is a bit precipitous, as it's very windy and doesn't have guardrails, so be careful when coming and going, especially if it's raining.

Our tickets for the summit were on a very wet, gray day and by the time we drove up at six p.m., the entire summit was engulfed in a heavy fog. I would still recommend it! The atmosphere was a bit spooky, but the twisting road and the short walk around the summit were both very cool even though visibility was limited to roughly 50 feet. While it wasn't the panoramic vista I had envisioned, it was a unique and memorable experience. (If you want, you can change the day/time of your reservation very easily on the go--a lot more daytime spots became available a day or two before our arrival. That may not be the case if your heart is set on sunrise, though.)

Car excursion not to be missed when visiting the park of Acadia. You can enjoy a beautiful view even if you do not go to sunset. To be booked in advance.

We loved going to the summit of Cadillac Mountain in the evening. The views are spectacular! After walking the summit, we drove down halfway and pulled off to the side of the road and walked 100 ft down to view the sunset. We viewed it from the North Ridge trail close to the road. It was freezing so bring a jacket and or a blanket. Still very worth going.... simply stunning! The reason I only gave 4 stars is because I tried to get sunrise tickets for 5 days straight and never got them. The sold out every time in seconds. I had them in my cart one time and lost them. Super frustrating.

What a magnificent view from Cadillac Mountain! Some complain about the new reservations system, but the crowd was held to the right amount to allow parking with a little patient wait. Great circle path around the top. Our group of 7, ages 2 to 62, walked with no struggle. Allow 45-60 minutes total.

We hiked the North side trail. Very scenic and great view at the top. Trail is well marked but I don’t think it would be a good one to do to hike to top for sunrise

The 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.

Cadillac Mountain is part of Acadia National Park and currently requires you to make a reservation to visit. Few things to know about this reservation- you have a half hour time slot to arrive at the check in station, you’ll need your National Park Pass and your Cadillac Mountain Reservation pass to enter the base of the mountain. (Sunrise passes allow more than half hour entrances time). You are only allowed one reservation for every 7 days. Check National Park website for passes and more info. Tip > don’t be like me and miss the whole opportunity by wanting to see the sunrise (I had a 7:00 AM reservation), weather is unpredictable in the mountain top and I missed the view because of dense fog. Choose an afternoon or evening time so you’ll have better chances of actually seeing the view. Also, don’t forget to take the small hike to see the elevation marker. It’s located on the first trail to the right after the visitor center, by the South Ridge Trail map sign. Parking available, visitors center, and restrooms too. Tip > if there is fog on your journey up or down the mountain and you want a certain picture, stop and get it then, the fog settles in and disappears in an unusual manner so the picture opportunity might not be there on the journey back. ***the pictures attached show a view of the lake that was about half way up the mountain and visible despite the fog that morning, notice how much fog covered the lake on my way back down.

Get up for the sunrise! It's worth it! You must have a pass, can be purchased on nps.gov. We weren't sure it was worth getting up at 4A, but it definitely was! Rangers are in the parking lot helping you park, so the whole experience is easy and the views are incredible!

We visited the mountain for the sunrise. It was really cold so go dressed warm. Wear layers and bring a blanket. It is worth getting up early to see this spectacular sunrise.

I wish the weather would have been better as I’m sure the views are outstanding. After we came down the road some we were able to see some of the islands and water. East drive up. Make sure to get your entertainment time/ticket. I had scheduled our day for today, but we arrived early yesterday so were able to go the Loop. Weather higher up was cloudy then too.

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).

After an amazing day in Arcadia National Park this was the perfect spot to watch the sun go down. Bring your picnic and a blanket or a warm jacket and enjoy the tranquility of the amazing nature. Watch out for scavenging seagull, though

We drove up to Cadillac Mountain summit to see the sunrise! We had to get online to book a spot 48 hours prior. It was difficult to get connected and we were booted off the first day we tried. The second time we tried, we had two people on phones at the same time and were thankfully able to get a reservation!
The views were beautiful!! Aww inspiring views of the night sky turning into so many vibrant colors as the sun came up over the horizon!! Definitely worth getting up at 3:30a.m.!!

I 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!

Well worth getting a ticket to go up and view. The drive up to the summit was stunning and once you got there. Amazing.. Amazing.. Amazing. Beautiful views 360 degrees around. I would suggest going early as traffic and people really increase during the day..

Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain was amazing! Definitely worth waking up at 4am! Even with the presence of some clouds, experience itself was worth the trip.

We came from Virginia to Bar Harbor to explore the beauty of Cadillac Mountain. We loved every minute while we were in the park. We experienced sunrise at Thunder Hole and had the famous popovers at Jordon Pond. We weren't able to get to see sunrise at the summit, although we tried for a week. That was disappointing but we made the best of it and went during the day. Even in the afternoon, the views were breathtaking! The Jordan Pond trail was beautiful as well as Otter Cliff, Otter Cove, Sand Beach and the Bubbles. The island explorer is a great way to see the park as it was super busy and crowded when we were there. We tried to do and see as much as we could and would love to go back in the future. It is absolutely beautiful and I'm so glad we got to hike and explore the park. A must see!!

I was planning trip to Acadia and I was reading some of the travel info on Bar Harbor and did not realize that you needed a separate vehicle pass to travel the road to Cadillac Mountain. It took a little while for me to figure this out. So I reserved my park pass and the Cadillac vehicle pass on the National Parks Service website called recreation.gov. The park pass is for 1 week and you can purchased at visitor center but much easier to do online. You search for a day and time slot and reserve you pass to the summit. Of course weather can be hit or miss but we lucked out. It was cloudy in morning and we had booked a 3 Pm slot and weather cleared up and we had great views. It is worth a trip up and would do it again. With a little pre planning it will make it easy.

This is a must do if you're in Acadia, particularly if you like Sunrise or Sunset. It's one of high points in the area (perhaps the highest) giving you fantastic 360 degree views of all the neighboring islands.
Note: You need separate vehicle reservations ~$6 & there are 2 options a Day pass and a Sunrise pass.

While we had an overcast morning (we were not there for sunrise), Cadillac Mountain was well worth seeing. The scenery of the multitude of tiny islands scattered throughout the sea, the mountains in the distance and the sheer volume of rock you are walking over on Cadillac is spectacular. Sunset, Sunrise or whenever is a good time to go.

of course clouds rolled in the afternoon before so we couldn't see much but it was great being up there and even experiencing the fog. The moisture was dripping off of us.

Fantastic trip, Acadia exceeded all expectations ! We went in early June ie before US schools were out for the summer - so much quieter, even Bar Harbour wasn’t too busy.

Lots of trails, well worth getting away from the hotspots like Jordan’s Pond (though that is stunning).

Cadillac Mountain was the icing on the cake, we went up late morning, fab views and well worth the effort. Sunset would have been stunning!

Easy to book time of entry. Showed ranger the eticket and we were on our way. Great views. Great gift store at top. Wonderful experience

Loved going up on Cadillac Mountain. The views were spectacular and the trails around the summit did not disappoint. I am so happy that I got a reservation to drive up!

According to weather forecast, it would be a cloudy morning, I was wondering if we should get up early to try our luck.
We left hotel at 5:45am, missed a turn to the park. Drove to the upper parking lot, it was full, had to turn back to park in the lower parking lot, walked back. The sun was rising, 5 minutes later, the sun was out. Before the sun was out, the sky was red with some gold color, it was so beautiful!
If you go to sunrise, make sure you leave early enough. Early, you can park in the upper parking lot and can see the sunrise from there. If you are late and the upper parking lot is full, you will have to drive back to lower parking, walk back, you might miss the sunrise.

Unbelievable view of the sunrise. It comes out over the ocean - pictures don’t do it justice. We came at 4 AM to watch it and it was decently packed. Worth the trip for the view.

Some of the most spectacular views I've ever seen! Absolutely beautiful and well worth a visit if you are traveling in the Acadia area.

This a review of the Acadia National Park, including the park loop road and Thunder Hole. The park is very pretty, with nice views from Cadillac Mountain and on the loop road. Thunder Hole was interesting, and we did get to see it in action. Honestly, my wife and I were not mesmerized by this park. Most of the western national parks are much better. We liked it, but I think it is overrated.

The view is just indescribable. So beautiful. You can see all of Bar Harbor. I would love to go again to see the sunset or sunrise sometime.

The reservation system is very convenient although they are strict about not letting you in until 30 minutes ahead. Lots of places to pull off and different trails to hike. Easy parking at the top with amazing panaramic views.

Sitting at 1530 feet, Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the East Coast of the United States. Due to its location and height, Cadillac Mountain is one of the first spots in the United States to view the sunrise, making this Acadia National Park’s most popular sunrise spot.

It's 3.5 miles long Cadillac Summit Road which goes directly to the top.

but it was my 2nd time and I did not waste my morning sleep for it, cause the first time, I woke up, woke up others as well and it was all foggy, since then I am believer in sunset :P

I came here after visiting Jordan pond and the weather was nice, but when we did end up driving the Summit Road to the top, we didn’t see much when it came to scenery and views. seems my luck was not with me- suddenly it became all foggy and it was hardly 5-10 meter visibility.

The Cadillac Summit Loop Trail is a short, easy hike on Cadillac Mountain that offers some of the best views in the park. you can reach here by hiking as well.

Fact: Between October and March Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the United States to see the sunrise

Tip: Driving up Cadillac Mountain is one of the top things to do at Acadia National Park but this requires you to make special reservations for Cadillac Summit Road ahead of time To prevent overuse and overcrowding so book your time slot/reservation in advance. It's a $6 fee.
(few pics are from the 2015 visit- when the weather was kind enough)

I had to use the timed entry reservation system. I was able to time my entry so I could see the sunset. There are 360-degree views form atop. I imagine sunrise is even more popular since it's the ocean is east facing.

Reserved a time per park requirements. Took the short top of the mountain hike, then extended it with one of the longer hikes. Nice view of the harbor and area. Much made about the night sky and viewing so tried to go up, but road was blocked. Not a temporary situation because we tried again the next night and it was closed after the last reservation time. So if you have that as a highlight be sure to ask the rangers if it is available.

We made our reservations for 7am. Got a little lost looking for the entrance road, but showing our reservation and America The Beautiful pass was easy.
Parking was easy at the top. There was still a lot of people up there, so I cannot imagine if it wasn't regulated.
We walked all over, and couldn't find the summit. Went to little store to use the toilet and buy coffee, and figured out that the summit was behind the store. After the big push, we made it to the top. :)

Do this! Views are amazing but a reservation on line is required. Definitely recommend this. It costs $6.00 plus your fee to get into Arcadia park but it is so worth it. Lots of paths to walk around up there and get different views of Bar Harbor etc.

Cadillac Mountain and all of Acadia National Park is a must.
The view from Cadillac is wonderful. Unfortunately it was foggy when we arrived but waited until the fog lifted and so happy that we did.

We got up at 4:30 to make it to the top of Cadillac Mountain to see the sunrise over the ocean at approximately 5:15 am. Getting up this early was well worth it as it is one of most beautiful sunrises you will ever see.

Be forewarned though - many other tourists also got up early to see the sun rise atop Cadillac Mountain, so be certain to be there early enough to get a parking space. Also, the Acadia National Park requires you to get a pass via online reservations ahead of time via to drive up the mountain. We had a tour service, so they took care of this requirement.

This is the tallest mountain on the eastern seaboard. The approach is on a very well maintained and navigable road. From the peak, visitors can follow a paved trail and identify communities and attractions at sea level. There is limited parking at the peak so the park has restricted entry. An advanced reservation is needed to climb the mountain for the price of $6. The reservation process is easy and the system seems to be working well as there is not a traffic jam at the top. If, however, you did not have a reservation, the attraction could be skipped. Travelers who have been in any of the western mountains will certainly have had a more impressive experience. A half hour visit will cover the experience.

You must get a reservation to go up this mountain, but if you get to the top of the mountain it is worth it. The sunrise is colorful, grand, and gorgeous. The sunset is almost as stunning and the area is beautiful at any time of day. Overlooking the ocean, mountains, and islands is great and I highly recommend this place. It is the best of Acadia National Park.

One of the best activities at Acadia. Whether you hike or drive up, make it a goal to get here. The views of the harbor are outstanding. Our time slot to drive up was 8am and we got to see significant fog in certain areas at that time which made for great scenery in neighboring hills. Also the porcupine islands had fog that would appear when the wind hit the island and was pushed up over the islands. None of Cadillac was surrounded by fog while we were there so we had great views from start to finish. As the morning went on, the fog dissipated giving us different scenes.

A highlight on our northeast trip. Gorgeous doesn’t do it justice, it’s breathtaking. We went during the day to see it & hike. We loved it so much we decided to get another reservation for the next day for sunset. So glad we went back. Loved it! A trip to Acadia wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the top of Cadillac Mountain.

What a beautiful view. Happened to be a very breezy day, but the scenery was wonderful. Walked along the path on the East side. Had a few snow flurries.

Be sure to purchase cadillac summit pass before arriving at Acadia or you can't go up to the top of the mountain.

Acadia is slam packed always, and as a result they only allow you to go up Cadillac Mountain by car in very limited numbers. So if you want to go up be prepared to hike it (not for the casual hiker) or reserve a spot. I managed to get a Sunrise ticket and when we got there we were disappointed by how crowded and noisy it was. We really felt like people were being disrespectful, but to everyone’s credit, as soon as the first ray of sunshine peaked about the horizon you could have heard a pin drop. A hushed silence broken only by camera noise followed for the next 15 or so minutes as the Sunrise made its majestic appearance. During the winter this is the first visible sunrise in the US, we saw it in summer so it was not the first, but it damn sure was still beautiful.

We loved this drive, well worth the minimal cost and got great views and pictures too! Definitely recommend and even though we didn’t make a sunrise it was so beautiful!

Sunset on 9.13 Sunrise on 9.14. Stunning veiws. Definitely worth getting up at 3:30 for. You need to make reservations now for the summit.

NP requires reservations to be able to drive to the top of the mountain. We were able to get one for next day. The place was pretty crowded.

This is the best spot to go if you want amazing views of Arcadia National Forest and the Maine coastline. 100% of the time, you will get a great view. However, since you have to book/reserve you spot to drive up, I would recommend choosing the time of day that you like best. Either way, it is a must when visiting the park.

Cadillac Mountain is breath taking and plenty of hiking and trails to you get to the top. The Mountain overlooks beautiful mountains and rivers out to the bay. The rock/stones are of a pink color and not to be missed. You must reserve a slot to enter the park for this particular area.

We visited for sunset. Don’t go all the way to the top. There is a new parking area on the left right before the top (you may miss it, if you do circle the top lot and make your way back down and look on your right for the lot ) this is where the BEST sunset view are seen.

Wonderful view and overall experience. It was a little difficult to book the time for our reservation because they sold out so quick but we did score an afternoon slot. We were a bit disappointed we couldn’t get a sunrise time slot.Overall the experience of going to Cadillac Mountain was great and the highlight of our visit.

This was one of the highlights of our trip to Maine. The views were spectacular! We went at the end of the day, but it was a cloudy day so there wasn’t a great sunset. Even so, it was quiet and beautiful. If you drive up, you have to get a reservation ahead of time through the National park system. While that was a bit of an unexpected surprise, in the end it was worth it because it limited crowds at the top. It was beautiful and very peaceful. I would love to go again!

Absolutely stunning view. Good parking. Easy to access. Maine has gorgeous geography and this is an excellent place to see some of the best.

So worth the money had a great time for our Anniversary…the views were spectacular. Would highly recommend

Visited Cadillac Mountain for a sunset while visiting Acadia. It is a neat experience and accessing the mountain is pretty easy. Make sure you make reservations for the prime times in advance! The only negative is there no signage advising visitors where to park/position themselves for these events … so follow the crowd. As first time visitors, we ended up having to move our car back down the mountain a little for the sunset.

But it is definitely worth the trip!

They implemented reservations and an extra fee for Cadillac Mountain. We didn’t mind the reservation system as it made parking easier than it did in the rest of the park. The ride up to the mountain is twisty so be careful. Everyone says go for sunrise but the weather in the area is constantly changing so there’s no guarantee you’ll have clear skies any time of day. We didn’t think it would be worth it for the sunrise so we just got midday reservations. It was a clear day and the view was beautiful. I loved seeing the aerial view of Bar Harbor.

Iconic view and of Bar Harbor and surrounding area. Well worth the time and effort. Know The 27 Mile Loop and be cool. We were there for the remnants of Hurricane Ida and the wind was gusting 20 MPH. The Fog added a spectacular and lasting memory.

Loved this experience! We arrived at a later time slot and it was perfect.. people leaving as we came. Even had a picnic with my hubby at the top at sunset! Breathtaking !

2nd best thing in Acadia (after bike trails)
Great view from top. Short summit path. Went at sunset. Very good vibe. Also, because of reservations very few people

Would've been a 5, but bathrooms locked.

We had timed tickets to see the sunset here, but unfortunately the weather had different ideas. It was still worth the drive to the top - the views are breathtaking!

Short drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain. There is a path to walk around and the views are stunning. A must see it going to Acadia National Park. Don't forget to get a timed entry pass.

Amazing vistas. Well worth the $6 fee to drive your car to the top. Be sure to book before you leave home at recreation.gov. We arrived a little early for our time but the Ranger fortunately didn't make us wait until the exact time of the reservation.

Worth the hike up in the dark to see the sunrise! I haven't hiked and years and was nervous it would be super hard, but it was not. My sons pushed me along. All the reviews said it was a 2 1/2 hr hike one way up North Ridge Trail, so I made the boys get up super early. It only took us 1hr 17 minutes. So I would say 2 hours is plenty for most people as I don't consider myself in that great of shape. It was over cast and the sunrise was still amazing.

Amazing Simply Amazing! Seeing the Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain in Maine is part of The Acadia National Park and is simply "Breathtaking". We expected a larger crowd and when we asked a park ranger they said this early in the morning is very limited to a few tourist but mainly photographers. I can see why. Avoiding the tourist midday is a plus. Driving up the mountains paved road is very well kept by the park many rangers and we didnt see any trash laying about which was a real pleasure for the respect of visitors from literally everywhere. Met a couple from Ireland and later met back up with them for dinner. Highly recomend this stop to newbies. Its well worth it. Brian Bowman @ Camden Loche Inc.

Beautiful coastal views with smooth walking trails. Nearly a 360 degree view - breathtaking. If you’re an early riser, catch the sunrise. Highly recommend Cadillac Mountain. Reservations required (easy to obtain online) as the number of people are limited to ease traffic and parking.

Recommend an annual national park pass as it pays off immediately and avoids paying individual park entrance fees. Available for all ages including lifetime for seniors.

We went to the sunrise and back up later in the week. GO twice because wat you see at sunrise is so different than what you see later in the day. We took out hotel blankets and it was still very cold even in July. Only need to arrive 30 minutes before sunrise.

We did this drive at sunset and it was absolutely gorgeous! It was well worth the ticket to go up. The drive is actually pretty easy and I suggest taking advantage of the pull-offs to take a few minutes to enjoy the view.

We didn't care to get up at 2:00 a.m., so we went mid-afternoon to avoid the rush. I'm glad we did not go in the morning as the road is nicely paved but has a lot of curves. It is a breathtaking experience in all directions. The small gift shop at the top is excellent, and restrooms are provided. Many say the parking is limited, but we found a lot of spaces available, at least in the afternoon. Ensure you get your pass before you visit your park. There is no good reason not to visit this landmark.

A must visit while in Acadia.

At 1,500+ feet of elevation at its summit…it offers some of the best views of the Gulf of Maine and North Atlantic Ocean from the northeast.

The highly-demanded sunrise tickets ($6) are accessible either by car via reservation which are offered months in advance OR 72 hours in advance…both options, particularly during peak season, are very difficult to get. I tried to book a sunrise tickets for our mid-week, late August trip 72 hours in advance. They are offered at 10am…I signed on exactly at 10am and was able to click the time…but while I checked out (10 seconds or so later) the tickets were gone.

As we were unable to snag a sunrise ticket…we made reservations for later in the day (also $6). Daytime reservations are still required to visit…there is a both at the base of the mountain, where they check your timed ticket, as well as the Acadia Park ticket ($35). You will need BOTH to access via car.

Alternatively, you can enter Cadillac Mountain and hike/walk/bike up…this does NOT require a reservation. Google estimated a 40-minute bike ride up and a 90-minute walk up if you decide those methods.

There is a 3.5-mile, 10-12-minute drive up to the summit from the base of the mountain. There are some sharp turns going up along the side of the mountain…so be mindful of your speeds on your way up and down.

We made our way up along the mountainside taking in the amazing views. There are a few places along the way where you can stop off.

Once at the top, there were lots of parking spaces available…this is likely due to the limitations in vehicle passes available….great planning on their part.

The view from up there are great from all sides.

There are a few steps and some rocky terrain…you may have to climb a little bit to get to the peak viewing locations. There are some flat inclined paths to get to those locations…so be on the lookout for those.

Highly recommended to anyone visiting Acadia.

We purchased the passes to view the sunrise and it did not disappoint. This was an easy walk. We took blankets and hot coffee with us, as we got there early enough for a good spot.

Cadillac Mountain is a beautiful place to see the sunrise. If you are like us and not an early bird, you might assume it’s a great place for a sunset…but going all the way to the top only provides you with a view that would be perfect for sunrise (not sunset). We did however learn that if you only drive halfway up and are facing Eagle Lake on Cadillac Mountain Road, you can get a gorgeous view of the sunset. Make sure you get your Cadillac Mountain Road pass ahead of time. All done online.

Cadillac Mountain is within Acadia National Park - a must do! When we visited a Nor'Easter was blowing in and winds were about 50 MPH, so I'd suggest a knit cap instead of a baseball cap or brimmed hat because the latter will fly off your head! Incredible views in every direction. Great pic opportunities!

The park is so beautiful but the views from the top are stunning. Road is freshly paved and there are lots of pull off places to get those special shots of the mountains and the ocean.

Try to go online and get the sunrise reservation from a rustic campground, good luck. We did manage to get end of day reservations, you pay $6. Great day to be on top, we had hoped to climb it but ran out of time. South Ridge Trail initiates from Blackwoods Campground. Beautiful solstice sunset

Amazing, beautiful, stunning. A 100% worthwhile visit at any time of day. In April, once the roads open, no crowds and no reservation needed for the peak (but still need to purchase a park pass). Absolutely worth the drive which in itself is a destination with beautiful views. Fantastic views from the top. Road is paved and well-maintained, not difficult or scary to drive, with a few stopping points along the way for scenic vistas. Be aware that in the off-season, like in April, gift shops and bathrooms may not yet be open, although there are porta potties available.

Plan ahead and get your $6 ticket online on top of the $30 per car park entrance. Well maintained road, clean restrooms and small souvenir shop. Parking is limited. Views are beautiful but not spectacular like other National Parks we’ve visited. The rest of the park was disappointing because there was no place to park and explore.

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.

Cadillac Mountain Shuttle with Ellen!!! It was a spontaneous decision to climb the mountain on the North Ridge Trail. Once at the top, it was really hard wrapping our heads around how we were gonna get down. Then it was brought to our attention that every hour a green shuttle bus brings people back down for $10 a perso. (A QR Code on the side of the van helps if you don't have cash) that's when we met Ellen. She found a need for her services and man she wasn't wrong!!! If it weren't for Ellen, we would of needed rescue workers cause there was no way we were making it down safely. Thank you for your service, Ellen. I hope your business BOOMS 💥

Signed,

A super tired Tricia from Massachusetts

Spectacular panoramic view of the ocean and Acadia national park below. We did not go at sunrise, but we can only imagine what that experience must be like. The timed tickets prevents crowds and there’s plenty of space for everyone.

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!

It has been a long time since my last visit. I drove up close to 6 am hoping for the sunset. The gates were closed. You need to come prepared in this time of year to walk about an hour to reach the top, but it is worth it. Otherwise you can hike up, cross the road and up the trail again, and there's an outcropping of rocks that give you a stellar view and you don't need to hike on another hour. Sadly for us this morning we had clouds so you know. Check the weather forecast!

Do not miss the views from the top of Cadillac Mountain! What an awesome panoramic vista! Be sure to get your reservation beforehand. Be sure to get a Park Pass. Easy trials to top from parking lot. Gift Shop and Restrooms available.

We didn't make it at sunrise, but the views were still magnificent albeit it a little hazy.

You can only go up the mountain with a $6 pass. Be sure to get your pass before you go!

Great trip to Acadia topped off with the ride up Cadillac pass. Slow ascent, a few stops along the way, and then great spot on top.

We drove up. It would have been great to see sunrise or sunset from the top, but we couldn't get there at those times, so mid-afternoon had to do. Even so, the views are tremendous (and the wind was pretty strong also).

This place is very cool. We’re an active family that skis and travels a lot. I wish we had more time here and the whole area for hiking and exploring. Make sure you get the Acadia pass and make the reservation to go to Cadillac if you’re driving. (Research the area before just driving there and expecting drive right through). You won’t do it. If you cycle it’s free I think but holy smokes if you’re biking up that.

Sunrise on Cadillac was worth the hassle of getting a ticket 2 days in advance at exactly 10 AM. Tickets sell out very quickly. Daytime tickets are easy to reserve even the day of. We had a beautiful clear day so we were fortunate.

This was amazing! Well worth the $6. The views were outstanding. The ocean disappeared into the horizon. The height provided spectacular views. The pathways were easy to navigate.

An absolute definite on the list of views to check out in Maine. Must buy a specific ticket in order to drive up to top if you are not going to go by foot or bicycle. 15 bucks plus you need to purchase a park pass for 30 dollars.

Nothing but fees and control. With all the extra money they get from the influx of visitors, I understand the need for reservations, but not the need to charge more money for it.

The car reservation system works great - no issue with traffic or parking. The views are really gorgeous. We got a clear, sunny day, so it was a highlight!

Wonderful views from the top of Cadillac Mountain. Need to reserve to go up through Acadia National Park. It’s very windy but it worth it!

While planning your visit to Arcadia National Park, make a reservation to drive up Cadillac Mountain. Yes, it's early, and yes, it can be quite chilly, yes, you must go slowly on the winding road especially in the dark, but the view of the sunrise is simply spectacular. There is something quite cool about witnessing one of the first places in the US to see the sun rise. The colors are unbelievable: pinks, reds, oranges. Everyone on the mountain was awestruck. Our group of five made the rest of our party who stayed in bed, very jealous at our delight in the excursion. Make your reservation, set the alarm... get there early to claim a choice spot, dress in layers, prepare your thermos , take a cushion to sit on and a blanket to snuggle up in and relax and enjoy the spectacle.

Make sure you pay for parking and the fee to get to Cadillac. Worth the $, the views are spectacular. What a wonderful experience!

This was one of the highlights of our time in Acadia. We went up the mountain twice - once for sunrise and once in the middle of the afternoon. If you have the time, I recommend doing both. Going up during bright daylight allowed us different views and a different experience than sunrise. I enjoyed getting daytime pictures as well. It was busy during our 2:30 entrance time as well but we easily found parking and could get away from the crowds on the loop trail up top. I recommend doing this short trail (does have some elevation gain) to take in all the views.

Later in our trip, we did sunrise. I logged on right at release time 90 days out to get the tickets. They do release more a couple days out as well if you miss out on the 90 day release. Sunrise was around 5:11 and we got to the summit at 4:20. The colors IMO were more beautiful before actual sunrise so I do recommend getting there early. It was already packed! There are rocks you can sit on but most were taken so we were glad we brought our camp chairs. Dress warm! I can't emphasize enough. We went on what turned out to be a very warm day in July and it was FREEZING up there that early. The wind was just whipping around. I had a heavy sweatshirt with hood up and a blanket and I was still so cold. But it was worth it! Sunrise was absolutely stunning and I highly recommend the experience if you can make it work.

No it's not the peaks you see out west. I've been to the Rockies, the San Juans, have done RMNP, Yellowstone, Tetons and more. And the mountain west is one of my favorite places and absolutely breathtaking. But Acadia has its own magic. This mountain has its own magic and is still incredibly beautiful. Appreciate it for what it is.

Beautiful views and easy walk to the lookout areas. It's a 360 degree view of the water, the coast and all of nature's beauty. It's a must see in Acadia.

No matter what time of the day it is a great experience! Don't forget you need a second timed pass (in addition to the park pass) to drive to the summit.

Panoramic views of Maine and her many islands. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets. the parking lots and road parking are limited and fill up quickly this time of year so go early, plan ahead, and try to make reservations when you can. we booked a sunset on cadilac. don’t forget your park pass and i.d. (they check).

Drove 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......

We were driving 2 hours to get to Acadia, so I knew the sunrise was out of the question. We did 11:00-11:30 instead (reservations required). It was perfect. The October fall colors were excellent up there. We walked all over the summit to see the view in multiple directions. This was the highlight of the day. Even if you are not going to make the sunrise, get up there and see the amazing view.

We drove up after arriving to Mt Desert Island. It was a spectacular view! I highly recommend it during your stay. The terrain is a bit rocky, so be sure to wear appropriate shoes.

Beautiful sunrise.
We woke 4 am, drove up at 5 am. Saw the sunrise. You need to reserve in advance.
Dress warm. Hats and gloves and blanket. Bring hot tea and coffee. It's cold up there and windy,.
The we hiked down and back up Cadillac Mountain. Fairly gnarly at points. Lots of rocks, boulders, uphills and tough climbs.
We are in our 60's and did it down and back up.
Bring 2 water bottles and hiking poles for support.
Beautiful views.

We had good weather and the view wasjust breath taking. Reservation must be made to visit Cadillac Mountain.

Great day spent hiking to the summit from blackwoods campground. There is a gift shop and lookouts at the summit..
Trail not very busy.

The first day we went up Cadillac Mountain the fog was socked in so heavy all we could see was white. A couple of days later when the weather was clear, we went back up and, WOW! What views. I could have just stayed up there looking out at the beautiful ocean!

Parking at top could be a bit difficult but the views are so worth it. Rangers on the summit are so informative, friendly and helpful. Be sure to get a reservation before you arrive.

First time with our entire family. We called two days prior and secured a reservation. There are only 150 per day. We left our home with time to spare, and enjoyed an hour prior to the sunrise, which we couldn't see due to it being overcast, but the colors in the sky were still nice, and we enjoyed it. Parking for 150. Bicycles and pedestrians aplenty in addition. Easy to find. Clean, lighted bathrooms at the gift shop.

The views were amazing! I recommend going at least an hour plus before sunrise or sunset due to the crowds for a good spot to sit on the rocks for sunrise. I hate we have to have passes to see the sunrise, but it does cut down on the crowds.

I won't go into the view and the facilities because they have been well covered by other reviewers. But I'd like to share a tip: Once you made a reservation for your 30-minute window, you can change it as many times as you like, subject to availability. Obviously this won't apply to the always-booked sunrise hours. But if you have a daytime reservation and find that your day in the park is going slower or faster than planned or if the weather changes, and if you can get a data connection, you can sign in to recreation.gov and change your reservation to a different time on the fly. I did this twice during our trip, the last time 15 minutes before the new time slot from Hull's Cove Visitor Center parking lot, where I managed to get a 2G connection.

We got here at 7:15 am mid October and it was extremely windy which in turn made it bitterly cold. We took some quick pictures and left.

We weren’t able to get a sunrise reservation even though there were openings in the queue when we first got online but we found a great spot at the park entrance to stop and get amazing sunrise pictures. So keep the faith if this happens to you.

Acadia National Park is beautiful! Drive the loop and make all the stops along the way. We got tickets to go up the mountain at sunrise. It was cloudy but we still got a beautiful view.

We were amazed at the spectacular views from Cadillac Mountain! Didn't want to leave, because of how peaceful and beautiful it was. Don't forget to get your reservation online! It is so easy to reserve and SO worth the few minutes it takes to do so. OH! Don't miss the souvenir shop up on top, because WE did, and we couldn't go back once we drove down. That is my biggest regret. Also wish we would have spent more time walking the trails up on top. TAKE YOUR TIME!! :)