10 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to Acadia

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Get the inside scoop for your upcoming vacation —> this itinerary is the most detailed, epic, and easy-to-follow guide to the park!

1. Cadillac Mountain

A fragrant ocean breeze, gorgeous pink granite, and sensational views are waiting for you on the top of Cadillac Mountain!  Immerse yourself in the spectacular beauty of Acadia National Park from its tallest peak.

What You Need to Know

At 1,530 feet above sea level, Cadillac Mountain is the tallest peak on the eastern coast. The best views at the top can be found along the Cadillac Mountain Summit Trail.  This hike is 0.5 miles roundtrip and mostly flat.  From up here, you can see for miles in every direction!

From October – March, Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the contiguous U.S. to see the sunrise!  Hoards of people crowd the summit for sunrise and sunset, but if you can get a parking spot, it’s absolutely worth it.

Be aware that reservations may be needed to drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain during your visit!

Getting Here

From the Acadia National Park Hulls Cove Visitor Center, drive south on the Park Loop Road for 3.5 miles until you reach the turn-off for the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road.  Turn here and follow the road for 3.4 miles to the top.  This road is closed from December – April each year and anytime the weather is sketchy.

2.  Bar Island Trail

At low tide near the town of Bar Harbor, something magical happens — a pathway emerges from the ocean that provides passage to a beautiful island!  But don’t linger too long.  Just as quickly as the trail appears, it disappears back into the sea!

What You Need to Know

A gravel bar (land bridge) makes Bar Island accessible 1.5 hours before and after low tide.  It is crucial to time this hike right and to pay attention to your watch.  Getting rescued off the island is very expensive!

After walking across the gravel bar, a trail takes you to the top of the island.  From here, you can get a great view of Bar Harbor and the beautiful surrounding mountains.   The total distance is approximately 1.6 miles roundtrip with around 160 feet of elevation gain.

Getting Here

Find parking in Bar Harbor, or you can catch the free shuttle from the Hulls Cove Visitor Center into the center of town.  From the Village Green bus stop, walk to Main Street and turn left.  Follow Main Street for 0.2 miles down to West Street, and then turn left onto West.  Walk along West Street for another 0.2 miles until you reach Bridge Street.  Turn right onto Bridge Street and follow the road down to the gravel bar that appears at low tide.  This is the beginning of the Bar Island Land Bridge and Trail.

3.  Carriage Roads

Take a step back in time to see Acadia as it was in the early 1900s.  John D. Rockefeller, Jr. had a vision of motor-free roads that traveled into the wilderness, and now you can experience the park in the same exciting way!

What You Need to Know

You’ll love exploring the 45 miles of rustic car-free roads that travel through the park.  Biking, hiking, and horse-drawn carriage rides are all popular ways to use these carriage roads and see the interior of Acadia.

Look for the beautiful gate lodges and unique stone-faced bridges along the way.  If you want a more authentic experience along the carriage roads, check out the horse-drawn carriage rides offered within the park.  If hiking or biking is more your thing, you can find more information here.

Getting Here

The carriage roads can be accessed from many different parts of the park, and a map can be found in the links above.  If you’ve signed up for a horse-drawn carriage ride, you’ll need to get to the Wildwood Stables to begin your tour.  The stables are located 0.5 miles south of the Jordan Pond House.

4.  South Bubble

This prominent peak is easily seen from the shores of Jordan Pond, but if you want to stand on the top you’ll have to go on a little hike!  From up here, soak in the outstanding 360-degree views that showcase the beauty of Acadia.

What You Need to Know

The top of South Bubble is reached via a 1-mile roundtrip hike with an elevation gain of 250 feet.  Follow the signs for South Bubble and Bubble Rock…the trail branches off from here to get to North Bubble as well.

Follow the cairns (rock stacks) and blue blazes to reach the summit, which is a large stack of rocks on your right as you come up the hill.  Just beyond the official summit, be sure to take the short spur trail (also marked with blue blazes) down to the balancing Bubble Rock.

After seeing Bubble Rock, continue along the main trail for a few more minutes until the view opens up!  You can see Jordan Pond, the Atlantic Ocean, North Bubble, and Penobscot Mountain from up here.  When you’ve finished at the top, turn around and return the way you came.

You may see a trail in front of you that continues.  This trail travels steeply down the side of the mountain back down to Jordan Pond and is not recommended unless you like to scramble down the rocks on your hands and knees!

Parking in this area is extremely limited, but there is a way to get to this trail easily without having to deal with the crowds.  You can learn all about it in this itinerary.

Getting Here

South Bubble is located along the Park Loop Road.  From the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, drive south on the Park Loop Road for 6 miles until you reach the Bubble Rock parking lot.  Park here to begin the trail.

5.  Ocean Path

Breathe in the salty sea air as you stroll along the rocky, pink Acadia coastline.  This path delivers stellar ocean views, a thundering inlet, and dramatic cliffs perfect for rock climbing!

What You Need to Know

The Ocean Path begins at Sand Beach and continues one-way for 2 miles to Otter Point.  You won’t find much solitude here…it’s busy and follows the road most of the time!  But what it lacks in isolation, it makes up for in easy-to-access coastline views.

If you’re not interested in walking that far, it is possible to drive to the points of interest along the path — but parking is limited.  If you want to learn more about my favorite section of the Ocean Path and how to navigate this busy area, take a look at this itinerary.

Whether you walk or drive, be sure to stop at Thunder Hole (you’ll hear the loud, thundering waves as the tide comes in if conditions are right), Otter Cliffs (learn more about rock climbing here), and Otter Point.

Getting Here

The Ocean Path is located along the one-way Park Loop Road.  From the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, drive south on the Park Loop Road for 3 miles.  Turn left at the fork in the road, following the signs for Sand Beach (not Cadillac Mountain).  Drive for 5.5 more miles along the Park Loop Road one-way section.  You’ll pass through an entrance station, and then the parking area for Sand Beach will be on your left.

You can access the Ocean Path at any parking area between Sand Beach and Otter Point along this one-way stretch of road.

Click NEXT to see sights 6-10 (including an amazing trail that precariously climbs up the cliffs).