Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain

The easternmost point on the continental US is West Quoddy Head, near the town of Lubec, Maine. If a person wanted the unique designation of seeing the sun rise in the United States before anyone else, that is where he or she would need to travel. While West Quoddy is a beautiful destination, has a lovely historic light house, and offers incredible views across the ocean, there is another spot in Maine that is actually more popular for sunrise enthusiasts.

The view from Cadillac Mountain

Travel about two hours south of Lubec to Cadillac Mountain in Bar Harbor. This 1532 foot peak is stunning at any time of the day, at any time of the year (though most spectacular during the fall foliage display) and boasts a 360 degree panoramic view of forests, the town of Bar Harbor itself, and the Pacific ocean. The sunrise from this vantage is a uniquely beautiful experience. In fact, some people attain the peak of Cadillac Mountain at 11:59 p.m. on December 31st, in order to be among the first to usher in the New Year. In case you didn’t realize, it’s darn cold at 11:59 p.m. on December 31st in Maine. Others, somewhat less crazy, wait until sunrise on the peak. Still. It’s January. In Maine.

I’ll wait until summer, thanks.

The road to the summit is 3.5 miles long and is open year-round (unless dense fog or ice require a temporary closure), so no hiking is necessary unless you want to. Get up early, explore the summit and surrounding areas of Acadia National Park, and then get yourself a cozy breakfast (and coffee!) at one of the many restaurants in the village.

Photo Credits (in order of appearance).
- Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain – photo by how long it takes on Flickr.
- Cadillac Mountain Summit – photo by Jessie Hart on Flickr.