12 Incredible Views in Acadia National Park

Encompassing beautiful Mount Desert Island, several smaller islets and a small stretch of mainland coastline, Maine’s Acadia National Park boasts some exceptional views.

In fact, allowing visitors to take in the scenic views in Acadia National Park was one of the main goals of the landscape architects who designed and built the park’s roads and trails.

“Both the motor road system and the carriage road system at the park were carefully laid out by prominent landscape architects to take advantage of spectacular views,” the National Park Service says.

As a result, you can admire panoramic vistas and immerse yourself in gorgeous scenery throughout Acadia National Park. Whether it’s on Acadia’s hiking trails, on the Park Loop Road or on the historic carriage roads, the park has incredible coastal landscapes, 360-degree mountaintop views and beautiful lakeshore sights to enjoy.

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Contents

Best Scenic Views in Acadia National Park
More Spectacular Views in the National Parks

Best Scenic Views in Acadia National Park

Whatever activity you’re planning to do in Acadia National Park—from kayaking to horseback riding to cycling, hiking or scenic drives—you will at some point come across a wonderful view.

Chances are you’ll get to see several stunning views in Acadia National Park during your visit. And you really don’t have to put in too much effort to enjoy many of them either. Acadia is literally minutes from downtown Bar Harbor, which, itself, has one of the top views in Acadia National Park, too.

The proximity of Acadia to Bar Harbor allows you to easily catch a sunrise in the park, find a parking spot at a busy trailhead and increase your chances of seeing wildlife in the park (which is most active at dawn and dusk).

Below, you’ll find an overview of the most scenic Acadia National Park views, including mountain summits, lakeshores, trails and oceanside locations.

Summit Views at Cadillac Mountain

Views of Frechman Bay and Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain summit, Acadia National Park

Let’s start with the big one: the summit of Cadillac Mountain. This is arguably the most popular place to visit in Acadia National Park.

It’s so busy, in fact, that the National Park Service has implemented a summer vehicle reservation system to better manage crowds and offer a better national parks experience.

Accessible by car and on hiking trails, the Cadillac Mountain summit is the highest point on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.

It’s particularly popular at sunrise, because of the fact that “from October 7 to March 6, Cadillac Mountain is the first in the country you can see the sunrise,” the Park Service says.

The views from Cadillac Mountain are spectacular at any time of the day, though. Walk the paved Cadillac Summit Loop Trail for magnificent views in every direction. You can, for example, see the town of Bar Harbor, the islands of Frenchman Bay and the interior of Mount Desert Island.

Bar Harbor View From Bar Island Summit

Bar Harbor town seen from Bar Island, Maine

When staying in the bustling town of Bar Harbor, the summit of Bar Island is one of the easiest views in Acadia National Park to get to.

Situated a short distance from the town center, this small island is part of Acadia National Park and is accessible via a gravel bar at low tide.

It’s one of the most fun hikes to do at Acadia, a short walk across the ocean floor—literally—that is exposed for 1.5 hours before and after low tide. On Bar Island, a trail leads to the island’s highest point, where you can see Bar Harbor in the distance.

In total, the hike across the gravel bar and to the island summit is a 1.9-mile roundtrip. Enjoy the sea breeze, explore tide pools and take in the beautiful ocean views that characterize Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.

The Bubbles Reflection at Jordan Pond

Sunrise at Jordan Pond in fall, Acadia National Park, Maine

For one of the most iconic views in Acadia National Park, head to Jordan Pond. Located along the Park Loop Road, this shimmering lake sits in a steep valley carved out by retreating glaciers.

Several prominent mountains surround the lake, namely Penobscot Mountain, Cadillac Mountain and the famed Bubbles. The latter are visible across the lake from the lakeshore near Jordan Pond House, arguably the most iconic Acadia National Park view.

You can walk around the lake on the Jordan Pond Path, which is a 3.3-mile loop that offers beautiful views along the way.

When spending time at Jordan Pond, especially early in the morning, listen for the calls of common loons. You might also spot beavers and peregrine falcons here.

Panoramic Views From Pemetic Mountain

Pemetic Mountain summit sunshine in Acadia National Park, Maine

The summit of Pemetic Mountain offers easily one of the most breathtaking views in Acadia National Park. You can get there via the Pemetic South Ridge Trail or Pemetic Northwest Ridge Trail. Both trails are a roundtrip hike of approximately 4 miles.

Although getting to this view requires a relatively challenging ascent, the vista is totally worth the effort. Once you get above the tree line, you can enjoy truly jaw-dropping Acadia National Park views in virtually every direction.

Many major landmarks are visible from the Pemetic Mountain summit, including Jordan Pond, Cadillac Mountain, Eagle Lake and the spectacular coast of Maine.

Remarkable Bubble Rock

Perhaps not a “view” in the strictest sense of the word, Bubble Rock is still one of the main sights to see in Acadia National Park.

You can get there via the short, yet somewhat steep, Bubbles Divide Trail. This wonderful trail, a 1.9-mile roundtrip hike, leads to both North Bubble and South Bubble, as well as to iconic Bubble Rock, a large boulder precariously balanced atop a cliff at South Bubble.

In addition to Bubble Rock itself, the summits of North and South Bubbles provide excellent views, too. You can clearly see Jordan Pond, the Cranberry Isles and surrounding mountains like Pemetic and Sargent.

Wilderness Landscapes on the Bubbles Nubble Loop

Bubbles Nubble Loop Trail in fall in Acadia National Park, Maine

From the Bubbles, you can continue your hike to the north and towards Eagle Lake.

From North Bubble, much of the trail traverses open ridges and barren summits, offering exceptional views of the landscapes of central Mount Desert Island.

I personally loved this part of Acadia National Park, simply because it’s much less crowded and there’s the undeniable feeling of being in the wilderness. The trail also takes in Conners Nubble, which provides a superb view of Eagle Lake below—hence the name Bubbles Nubble Loop, which is a 2.6-mile hike.

You’ll also walk a section of carriage roads back to the trailhead for the ultimate Acadia National Park experience.

Sand Beach Seen From Great Head

Sand Beach and the Beehive seen from Great Head, Acadia National Park

The 1.9-mile Great Head Trail is one of Acadia’s greatest coastal hikes. It begins at the far end of Sand Beach, the park’s only coastal beach where swimming is allowed.

After climbing a set of granite steps, you can see a gorgeous view of Sand Beach and the Beehive from an open ledge, one of the most famous views in Acadia National Park

This view alone is worth climbing the steps. However, for more scenic vistas of the coastline of Acadia National Park, continue the loop hike around Great Head. There are many more views of the ocean and coast to be enjoyed along the way.

Unparalleled Coastal Views on the Ocean Path

Sunrise at the coast of Acadia National Park, Maine

The wonderful Ocean Path is an easy 2.2-mile one-way trail from Sand Beach to Otter Point. It parallels the coastal section of the Park Loop Road on the southeast coast of Mount Desert Island, offering amazing ocean views and access to other trails.

This is one of the park’s busiest areas, though, so prepare to arrive early to find a parking spot. Attractions along the way include Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs and Sand Beach, as well as unparalleled views of the spectacular Acadia National Park coastline.

If you can, I recommend walking this gorgeous trail at sunrise, which can be enjoyed from various spots along this scenic trail002E

The Ocean Path is also one of many trails in Acadia National Park that’s amazing to hike with your dog. Learn more about the pet policy at Acadia National Park here.

Cliffside Vistas on the Precipice Trail

Hiker enjoys the views from the Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park

The Precipice Trail is widely considered to be one of the most difficult hiking trails in Acadia National Park. Even though it’s no longer than a mile, this trail ascends 1,000 feet on the near-vertical eastern flank of Champlain Mountain.

To cover such an elevation gain in this short a distance, hikers rely on ladders, ropes and iron rungs to climb sheer rock faces, reach ledges and maneuver through gaps between rocks.

It’s a thrill-ride of a hike, one of the top five hikes in Acadia National Park. As you can imagine, the views from the exposed ledges and cliffsides are extraordinary, taking in a stretch of the Mount Desert Island coastline and Frenchman Bay. Not for the faint of heart!

Trees on the Jesup and Hemlock Paths Loop

Hemlock Trail birch trees in Acadia National Park, Maine

Two mainly level trails make up the figure-8-shaped Jesup Path and Hemlock Path Loop. A combination of gravel trails and boardwalks, this easy 1.5- mile loop is perhaps one of the most underrated easy hikes in Acadia National Park.

Both the Jesup Path and the Hemlock Path run from Sieur de Monts to the Great Meadow, forming a figure-8 loop through beautiful forests, past wetlands and through meadows.

Although there are no expansive panoramic views here, the scenery is undeniably beautiful. It’s one of my personal favorite areas in Acadia National Park.

The Jesup Path and Hemlock Path Loop is particularly amazing in the fall, usually mid-October, when the birch leaves are a vibrant yellow.

Peaceful Scenery at the Great Meadow Wetland

Cromwell Brook reflection at Great Meadow Wetland, Acadia National Park, Maine

There are many scenic views along the Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park, from overlooks to lakeside pullouts. One of my personal favorites is the underrated (and unmarked) pullout at Cromwell Brook.

This magnificent spot is along the northern section of the Park Loop Road, looking southward to Dorr Mountain, Champlain Mountain and across the Great Meadow Wetland.

On the other side of the wetland and at the base of these prominent mountains, you can also clearly see the beautiful birches and other trees at Sieur de Monts.

Cromwell Brook is a stunning spot at dawn in the fall season, when the water is perfectly still and reflects the colors, surrounding trees and the mountains that dominate the backdrop. Don’t miss it!

Postcard Views at Bass Harbor Head Light Station

Bass Head Lighthouse in Acadia National Park, Maine

The Bass Harbor Head Light Station marks the entrance to Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay at the southwestern tip of Mount Desert Island.

Perched upon steep cliffs above the waves below, this historic 19^th-century lighthouse is the most visited place on the west side of Mount Desert Island. It’s especially busy at sunset, which can be magical at this spot.

A short concrete pathway leads to the lighthouse itself, but the main viewpoint, which is postcard-perfect, is accessed along a short and fairly steep wooden stairway.