Socked in by the fog that often rolls into Acadia National Park in the summer, I went out in search of unique cliffs meeting the ocean. The shockingly calm seas provided the perfect complement to the muted feel caused by the fog.

Starting a hike before 4 AM should be exhausting but when you know the potential payoff, there is a real burst of energy. In order to get to the shore along Great Head before sunrise, I knew I wanted to get an early start. Unfortunately there were no clouds in the sky BUT that meant the sun really made Otter Cliff in the distance glow with the early light.

Lone Guard - A single spire stands guard on the coast of Acadia National Park.

When I started planning my trip to Acadia, I had a few locations I knew I wanted to visit, this was one of them. It’s not as obvious as some of the locations along the coast so you have to know to look for it, otherwise you will just walk right by. I hoped with the right conditions, a little fog could settle in along the coast and help simplify things a bit. Luckily those conditions came together and I knew just where to go.

The moments just before the sun comes up often provide the most amazing moments of the day. Acadia offers so many places to watch the sun rise, you almost can’t go wrong, but the glowing rocks of Boulder Beach were tops on my list. What I wasn’t prepared for was the music made by the waves crashing against the rocks and rolling them all around, can’t wait to hear it again.

In Acadia, it is common to have a layer of low hanging fog that locks in the coast line in the mornings. I was on my way to a different location when I noticed this thin veil of fog that would come and go along these cliffs. It was an impromptu shoot as I just pulled my car to the side of the road and made the most of the opportunity!

Star Struck - That moment just before the sun fades away for the day. This evening on top of Beech Mt. in Acadia National Park was the perfect way to end the day.

Solitude, peace and quiet can be found even in a busy national park like Acadia if you know where to look. On this day, the fog engulfed the coast as I looked back toward Sand Beach.

Rocky shores, crashing waves, and the setting sun along the Ship Harbor Trail in Acadia National Park.