Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is one of the most scenic coastal parks in the country, with tons of hiking trails of various levels of difficulty and simply magical views. Acadia shares Mt. Desert Island in midcoast Maine with the resort town of Bar Harbor. Just across the bridge from Ellsworth, Maine, where many of our properties are located.
There are over 20 mountains on Mt. Desert Island, with the iconic Cadillac Mountain as the crown jewel. Cadillac is the highest point along the Northern Atlantic shoreline and it is well known for being the first place to view the sunrise in the United States in the darker months, from October 7th to March 6th. More on this wonder below!
Access To The Park
There is a range of different passes and fees that can apply to you depending on how you’re navigating the park. You can find the most up-to-date information on current fees on their website.
About Mount Desert Island
Mount Desert Island (aka MDI) is the largest island along the Maine coast and the second only to Long Island, New York, for the title of the largest island on the eastern seaboard of the United States. MDI is widely known for being the home of Acadia National Park and the town of Bar Harbor. It receives millions of visitors every year, with very few accommodations left unused at the height of the busy season. Despite this mass of human migration, its year-round population is under 11,000.
The seasonal jump in population has led to many special challenges in accommodating the increased traffic and housing challenges that the large quantities of visitors bring each year. The struggle to provide affordable housing for those who are hired for seasonal labor and service needs is particularly daunting given the limited capacity for development on the island.
One result has been that the nearby commercial center of Ellsworth has seen major growth by supplying the housing, labor, and other needs that cannot be supported by Mt. Desert Island itself.
Drive To The Summit Of Cadillac Mountain!
The road to the top of Cadillac Mountain (appropriately named “Summit Road”) has been helping visitors reach the crest of the Eastern seaboard since 1931. It winds for three-and-a-half miles along the northern and eastern sides of the mountain before reaching the peak. There are a lot of chances to pull off for scenic views on the drive, and they’re worth it, with a range of incredible views. Make sure that if you’re being captivated by the sights, you take advantage of the scenic pull-offs because the beautiful scenery can be pretty distracting, and as a mountain road with some potentially dangerous sections near cliff faces. One last point of caution: this is a heavily traveled road all summer, so please be careful getting out of your vehicle. This is an unmissable highlight of the area. Definitely take the time to visit.