Places / Acadia (Cadillac Mountain)

UV index at Acadia National Park (Cadillac Mountain), Maine

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About Acadia (Cadillac Mountain)

Acadia meets the Atlantic coast, and Cadillac Mountain rises 1,530 feet (466 m) almost straight from the sea. Its bare granite summit is famous for sunrise views, and for part of the year it’s the first place in the United States to see the sun come up.

Elevation and your real UV

The forecast on this page covers the general area around Acadia (Cadillac Mountain). Weather models don’t resolve individual peaks and valleys, so treat it as a sea-level reading. The WHO says UV rises by 10% to 12% for every 1,000 metres you climb. Using that rule of thumb:

PlaceElevationCompared with baseline
Sea level0 mBaseline
The Cadillac Mountain summit466 m (1,530 ft)about 5% to 6% more UV

Read the peak UV from the chart above, then adjust it up for where you’ll actually be. There’s a worked example in UV at altitude, on snow and under clouds.

When UV is strongest here

Summer and autumn are the busiest seasons. Coastal fog is common and can make the sky look dull, but thin fog scatters UV rather than blocking it. Summer UV in Maine is strong, even though the region feels cool and breezy.

On the trail

The summit is bare pink granite with low scrub, so there is no shade at all. Sun reflects off pale rock and the ocean, and a cool sea breeze makes it easy to underestimate how strong the sun is.

Sun protection tips for Acadia (Cadillac Mountain)

  • Sunrise hikes start with low UV, but it climbs quickly. By mid-morning you may be above 3.
  • The sea breeze hides the heat. Go by the UV chart, not by how you feel.
  • Bring sunglasses for glare off water and pale granite.
  • Coastal trails have little shade. A brimmed hat is worth carrying even on a foggy morning.

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Elevations are rounded published figures. UV forecasts are model estimates for the area and can differ from what you experience on the ground. This is general information about sun safety and isn’t medical advice. Last updated September 20, 2026.