At 466 metres, Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the US Atlantic coast north of Brazil, and its bare granite summit is the first place in the country to see the sunrise for part of the year, a distinction that has turned a quiet hill into a pilgrimage. The summit is a bald dome of pink rock, scoured by glaciers and polished by wind, and the view from it takes in the whole of Mount Desert Island, the islands of Frenchman Bay, and the blue sweep of the Gulf of Maine. On a clear day, from the right spot, you feel like you can see the curve of the earth.
The road to the top, Cadillac Summit Road, is about three and a half miles of steady climbing from the Park Loop Road, with a smooth surface, a number of pull-outs, and wide, easy bends through scrubby pitch pine and blueberry. It is a favourite with riders, though in season a vehicle reservation is needed, which sells out quickly for sunrise, so check the park website before you plan. Weather matters, because the summit is exposed to wind and fog, and the temperature can be ten degrees cooler than on the shore. The road closes in winter.
The mountain was called Green Mountain until 1918, when it was renamed for Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the French adventurer who was granted the island by Louis XIV and later founded Detroit. The car company later borrowed his name. It was one of the early places protected by wealthy summer residents, who set up the land trust that grew into Acadia National Park. Blueberries and cranberries grow in the cracks, and in September, hawks pass overhead in their autumn migration.
Weather and light are the reasons to go, and the best moments are before sunrise or at dusk. In summer the crowds are thick at midday and the car park can be crowded. Walk the loop trail around the top, wear a layer, and take care on the granite, which is slippery when wet. The cairns mark the path.
Bar Harbor, about four kilometres away, has petrol, cafes and shops, and it is the sensible base. Ellsworth, further inland, has big supermarkets. There are no services at the top apart from a small gift shop, so bring water. If you are on a motorcycle, note that parking is separate and often overfull at busy times, so be patient, and expect to wait.