A Sunrise Hike on Cadillac Mountain in Maine is a MUST

Hiking in Acadia National Park is an extraordinary experience. That includes the highest peak in Acadia which is Cadillac Mountain. The coastal views and foliage are unmatched, especially in the fall. Something unique happens annually between October 6th and March 7th on Cadillac Mountain that makes ascending the 1,542-foot rock extra special.

Cadillac Mountain in Maine Becomes the First Place in America to See the Sunrise

Every year beginning on October 6th, Cadillac Mountain takes over the thrown as the first place in America to see the sunrise. How cool is that?! The rest of the year, West Quoddy Head, Maine takes the reigns for first sunrise in America.

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On October 20th, at 3am, I saw that the weather was going to be fairly warm, and the skies were cloudless and clear. I decided I wanted to hike up Cadillac Mountain in the dark and experience one of America's first sunrises.

There Are Three Ways to Get Up Cadillac Mountain in Maine to Watch the Sunrise

The most popular route to get up Cadilla Mountain to see the sunrise is by driving and parking at the top. Parking is limited, however, and you do need to make a reservation. You can do that by clicking here.

Another way is hiking up the Cadillac South Ridge Trail. This is a moderate hike that is approximately 7 miles round trip. 7 miles is doable, however, a little ambitious for a 3am hike.

The third option is the Cadillac North Ridge Trail. It is 4.2 miles roundtrip with a total time of 2 hours and 30 minutes. This was my route.

My Night Hiking Experience on Cadillac Mountain in Maine Was Unforgettable

Hiking Cadillac Mountain at night to catch the sunrise was by far one of the coolest things I have ever done. I began my ascension at 4:45am. Sunrise was at 6:57am and I knew it would probably take me about 90 minutes to reach the peak. Side note, never lose track of the blue markings. They will keep you heading in the right direction as it's very easy to get lost at night.

I had plenty of water, a pocketknife, a flashlight with extra batteries, extra clothes just in case and the remnants of the Hunter's Moon lighting my trail. I did everything perfectly except I layered too much and didn't remove layers as I sweat. By the time I reached the peak, it was about 35 degrees and windy and I was soaked with no clothes to change into. That 50 minutes of waiting on the peak for the sun to rise was extremely uncomfortable, but very much worth it.

On my way down, the sun had warmed everything and lit up all of the fall foliage. This was one of the most beautiful, memorable hikes I have ever done. Please enjoy the photos from my hike below.