Cliff of Flying Mountain
Flying Mountain is the lowest of Acadia's peaks, but its western cliff edge delivers one of the most rewarding views on Mount Desert Island, looking straight down into Somes Sound, the only true fjord on the East Coast of the United States. The dramatic drop from the cliff gives you a bird's-eye perspective over the narrow glacially carved waterway, with forested hillsides framing both sides and sailboats occasionally dotting the water below. Shoot from the cliff edge to compress the fjord between the ridgelines, or use the rocky foreground and twisted scrub trees to anchor a wider composition. Morning light works beautifully here, illuminating the water with a soft glow before midday haze sets in. The trail from the Valley Cove trailhead is short and well-marked, reaching the viewpoint in under a mile; a wide-angle lens in the 16-24mm range makes the most of the vertical drop and layered scenery. (Southwest Harbor, Maine, United States)
