Cadillac Mountain Summit
Acadia National Park, Maine · 1,527 ft
Typical peak
Sep 30 – Oct 8
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Classic view faces E (100°)
The east ledges look out over Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands as the sun clears the Atlantic, with low scrub oak and maple on the summit turning rust and orange. Work the pink granite slabs as foreground instead of shooting from the parking area.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
extreme
Expect heavy peak-weekend traffic; consider a weekday or arrive before dawn.
Getting there
Drive the 3.5-mile Cadillac Summit Road off the Park Loop Road; a timed vehicle reservation is required from late May through late October.
What turns here
- red maple
- gray birch
- quaking aspen
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 4Typical color progression for Cadillac Mountain Summit. No change from Aug 27 to Sep 13. First color from Sep 13 to Sep 22. Approaching peak from Sep 22 to Sep 30. Peak from Sep 30 to Oct 8. Past peak from Oct 8 to Oct 18. Bare from Oct 18 to Nov 1.
Cadillac Mountain Summit is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 18
5 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
50°F / 34°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Cadillac Mountain Summit on October 4, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:05 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 95° | 6:34 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 39 min of low, warm light | 7:12 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:21 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 39 min before sunset | 5:30 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 265° | 6:09 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:38 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 35m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sunrise: backlit
Sun behind the canopy — leaves glow translucent. The shot most people are after. Expect flare; a hood or a hand helps.
Sunset: front-lit
Sun behind you. Flat, even light — accurate color, little drama. Good for wide valley scenes, weak for single trees.
Classic composition faces E (100°).
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.