Acadia National Park

At 1,530 feet, Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard and the first place in the US to see sunrise from October through March. The 3.5-mile paved road to the summit makes it accessible by car, but the South Ridge Trail (7.1 miles round trip) offers a far more rewarding hike through pink granite and dwarf spruce. Vehicle reservations are required May through October. Sunrise crowds can number hundreds — arrive 30+ minutes early for a good spot. The 360-degree summit views span Frenchman Bay, the Porcupine Islands, and on clear days, the mountains of Acadia's interior.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. built 45 miles of broken-stone carriage roads throughout the park between 1913 and 1940 — today they're one of Acadia's greatest assets, providing car-free paths for cycling, walking, and horseback riding through forests, around lakes, and beneath stone bridges. Bike rentals are available in Bar Harbor. Jordan Pond, framed by the Bubbles mountains, is the park's most serene setting. The Jordan Pond House has served tea and popovers since the 1890s — expect a wait in summer but the experience is worth it. The Jordan Pond Path (3.2-mile loop) and Jordan Cliffs Trail offer contrasting views of the pond from both water level and cliff edge.

Acadia's trail system is unique in the national parks — many routes involve iron rungs, ladders, and hand-carved granite steps that lead hikers up exposed cliffs. The Beehive Trail (1.4 miles) is the most accessible of these iron-rung routes, with dramatic exposure and ocean views. The Precipice Trail (1.8 miles) is the most challenging — a near-vertical iron rung scramble not for those with fear of heights. South Bubble offers an easy hike to a balanced 'bubble rock' glacial erratic with panoramic views. For a longer challenge, Dorr Mountain's A&B trails combine ladders, rungs, and granite scrambling with stunning Cadillac views.