UpToWhereWhat can you see from Cadillac Mountain (Acadia)?
The first place in the continental U.S. to see the sunrise—but only for half the year.
From Cadillac Mountain (Acadia), the terrain-limited line of sight reaches up to 181 km. The single farthest piece of visible terrain lies 181 km to the north-northwest (bearing 342°), at 1,240 m elevation. These results account for Earth's curvature and standard atmospheric refraction, computed from 30-meter resolution Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data across 1,959,937 terrain samples.
Open the interactive visibility map →Visibility by direction
The horizon is most open toward the north-northwest, where sightlines run 93.2 km on average; terrain closes the view down fastest to the northwest, at 60.8 km.
| N | 71.2 km | |
| NNE | 63.5 km | |
| NE | 81.0 km | |
| ENE | 87.2 km | |
| E | 83.8 km | |
| ESE | 83.5 km | |
| SE | 83.5 km | |
| SSE | 83.5 km | |
| S | 83.5 km | |
| SSW | 83.5 km | |
| SW | 78.8 km | |
| WSW | 82.1 km | |
| W | 79.3 km | |
| WNW | 78.3 km | |
| NW | 60.8 km | |
| NNW | 93.2 km |
Farthest named landmarks in view
431 named peaks, hills and headlands stand inside this viewshed. These are the farthest ones you could pick out on a clear day:
| Landmark | Visible distance | Direction | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Katahdin | 181 km | NNW · 343° | 1,603 m |
| Baxter Peak | 181 km | NNW · 343° | 1,603 m |
| Pamola | 181 km | NNW · 343° | 1,495 m |
| Chimney Peak | 181 km | NNW · 343° | 1,489 m |
| South Peak | 181 km | NNW · 343° | 1,594 m |
| Moxie Mountain | 163 km | NW · 306° | 893 m |
About Cadillac Mountain (Acadia)
Cadillac Mountain, at nearly 1,530 feet, is the highest point on Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park, Maine, and claims a unique distinction: for roughly half the year it is the first spot in the continental United States to greet the sunrise. From October 7 through March 6, the sun rises first here before anywhere else in the 48 contiguous states. A twisting 3.5-mile road reaches the summit, and hiking trails of varying difficulty depart from the base.
Did you know?
- The mountain is named for French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the same nobleman who later founded the city of Detroit.
- Since 2021, the National Park Service requires a vehicle reservation to drive to the summit during peak season, introduced to manage overcrowding among sunrise-seekers.
- For the rest of the year, the sun rises first at West Quoddy Head in Lubec, Maine, or Mars Hill 150 miles northeast.
- A cog railway once carried Victorian tourists to a hotel perched on the summit in the 1880s and 90s, before it was dismantled and the mountain returned to open granite.
- The summit provides sweeping views of Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor, and the surrounding Maine coast.
Frequently asked questions
How far can you see from Cadillac Mountain (Acadia)?
On a clear day the terrain allows a line of sight of up to 181 km from Cadillac Mountain (Acadia). The average visible distance across all 360 directions is 79.7 km. Atmospheric conditions (haze, humidity) usually reduce practical visibility below the terrain-limited maximum.
What is the farthest point visible from Cadillac Mountain (Acadia)?
The farthest terrain visible from Cadillac Mountain (Acadia) lies 181 km to the north-northwest, at an elevation of 1,240 m. Earth's curvature and atmospheric refraction are accounted for in this calculation.
How high is Cadillac Mountain (Acadia)?
The observation point at Cadillac Mountain (Acadia) sits at 476 m above sea level (Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model).
How is this visibility map calculated?
UpToWhere traces lines of sight in 360 directions from the observer using 30 m-resolution Copernicus terrain data, correcting for Earth curvature and standard atmospheric refraction. You can run the same analysis for any point on Earth with the free calculator.
Run your own analysis
Want to know what you can see from your house, a summit you're planning to climb, or a plot of land? UpToWhere computes the same 360° viewshed for any point on Earth in seconds — free.
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