Sunrise on the Cadilliac Mountain North Trail

July 27, 2025 4:00 AM - Jenkin's Beach, Dedham, Maine with destination of Cadillac Summit, Acadia National Park, Maine

I woke up early from Jenkin's Beach and headed out around 4:00 AM with the goal to make it at least 1/2 way up the Cadilliac Mountain North Trail by around 5:15 AM for the sunrise.

My black Yeti coffee mug in hand, a gift from my adventurous daughter, I got my pack and gear and some waters and left the camp early and still dark from Green Lake.

After finding a good place to park on the road in Acadia, I walked up the road, over the stone bridge, and then was ready to start the Cadilliac North Trail. There were already about 7 or 8 cars and suvs parked as others had the same idea. It was just getting light out and the last of the stars and a little crisp for early August.

I made it up about 1/2 way up the past over the rocks and past many cairns, while looking off to the east over Frenchman's bay and the Porcupine Islands. The sun finally shown above the horizon and the islands, hes of orange and red.

As I continued to the summit, groups of people.and whole familes coming down from the Summit. One woman had said the family left at 2AM to hike in the dark for the sunrise on the summit.

Hiking in the morning to see the sunrise on Cadilliac from the North Trail is something I have been wanting to do for years. It was a great hike as I continued to the summit.

Aurora Trails 2025