Acadia National Park
National park · Hancock County ·
Rugged coastal park with granite peaks, forests, and wildlife
Rugged coastal park with granite peaks, forests, and wildlife
"For brave souls willing to venture into a frigid Maine winter, the reward is striking views of Mount Desert Island’s ragged Atlantic coastline. Follow the scenic Ocean Drive—plowed from Schooner Head down to the Fabbri Memorial during snowy months—for the best vistas. Snowshoers and cross-country skiers will also love the park’s 45 miles of groomed, crushed-stone carriage roads, which offer some of the best winter hiking in the US." - Emily Pennington
"In Maine, Acadia National Park hogs the spotlight as an aurora destination—it was the third most-mentioned location in the study." - Lydia Price Lydia Price Lydia Price is a senior engagement editor at Travel + Leisure, where she hosts short-form videos and leads content engagement initiatives. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"An average of five feet of snow transforms evergreen forests and rocky headlands into a playground for cross-country skiers and snowshoers along the scenic loop drive and winding carriage roads. Ambitious early risers can climb Cadillac Mountain to catch sunrise; from October to March, the summit is the first place in the U.S. to see first light." - Sarah L. Stewart Sarah L. Stewart Sarah L. Stewart is a Florida-based freelance magazine writer and editor specializing in travel, recreation, science, and health topics. Her work appears in Travel + Leisure, Outside, Backpacker, The Huffington Post, and other national publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Ranking second, this Maine treasure scored 84.7, drawing more than 6.2 million fall visitors who collectively spent nearly 39 million hours amid rocky coastline and wooded trails. Its 4.9 rating and 1,600 seasonal reviews underscore why it’s considered one of the best spots in the U.S. for coastal leaf‑peeping." - Iona Brannon Iona Brannon Iona Brannon is a journalist with a love for food and travel. Her work has appeared in Afar, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider, among other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"For a domestic escape that balances trails and coast, this dog-friendly park offers more than 150 miles of hiking, from the easy walk up Cadillac Mountain to the more challenging Gorham Mountain Loop and the tougher, iron-rung Beehive Loop, with the chance to unwind afterward at Seal Harbor Beach or along the shores of Echo Lake." - Travel + Leisure Editors Travel + Leisure Editors Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines