Trees in Acadia National Park

Trees are one of the most defining features of Acadia National Park, shaping its landscapes, influencing its wildlife habitats, and creating the vibrant four-season scenery that draws millions of visitors each year. The forest that blankets Mount Desert Island and the surrounding park lands is unusually diverse for a region so far north, sitting at the crossroads of two major forest zones. This merging of the Eastern Deciduous Forest and the Northern Boreal Forest results in a rich mixture of hardwoods, softwoods, and conifers that thrive in the park’s rugged coastal environment. Together, these trees form a living tapestry that reflects both the resilience of northern forests and the gentle warmth of more temperate climates.

Quick Reference: Trees in Acadia National Park

Forest Type / Category	Common Tree Species Found in Acadia National Park
Eastern Deciduous Forest	Oaks, Maples, Ash, Birch, Sycamore, American Beech
Northern Boreal (Coniferous) Forest	Red Spruce, Black Spruce, Balsam Fir
Additional Conifers	Eastern White Pine, Jack Pine, Northern White Cedar, Eastern Hemlock, Atlantic White Cedar, Cypress-type species (dwarf northern varieties)
Mixed Forest Areas	Paper Birch, Yellow Birch, Red Maple, White Pine, Red Oak, Spruce–Fir combinations
Wetland / Bog-Associated Trees	Black Spruce, Tamarack (Larch), Red Maple
Coastal Zone Trees	Pitch Pine, Scrub Pine, Stunted Spruce–Fir stands shaped by salt spray
High-Elevation / Exposed Summit Species	Wind-shaped Red Spruce, Balsam Fir, Hardy birches and stunted pines
Rare or Notable Species	Mountain Ash, Striped Maple, Gray Birch

The eastern deciduous forest is responsible for much of the color and variety visitors see across Acadia’s valleys, lower mountainsides, and lake edges. Oaks, particularly red oak and white oak, grow in broad stands and turn deep shades of wine and gold in autumn. Maples are some of the park’s most iconic trees, offering brilliant scarlet and orange foliage every fall, especially around Jordan Pond, Bubble Pond, and along the Park Loop Road. Ash trees add height and open canopies to lower forested slopes, while birches with their pale yellow leaves and distinctive bark bring light into the understory. Sycamores appear in scattered patches where moisture is more abundant, and beeches grow in gracefully spreading groves, their smooth gray trunks and golden fall leaves contributing to the park’s warm, deciduous character. These hardwood forests support countless species of birds, insects, and mammals that rely on nuts, seeds, and leaves for survival.

As elevation increases and the terrain becomes rockier, deciduous trees gradually give way to the cooler and more rugged northern boreal forest. This forest type is characterized by its conifers, especially spruce and fir, which dominate the higher slopes of Cadillac Mountain, Sargent Mountain, and Penobscot Mountain. Red spruce and white spruce thrive in the moist coastal climate and are well adapted to Acadia’s harsh winters, where icy winds and salty air test their strength. Balsam fir grows densely in many parts of the park, creating dark, aromatic forests that remain green year-round and offer important shelter for wildlife during long cold seasons. These boreal stands give Acadia its distinctly northern feel and are often cloaked in mist and fog rolling in from the Atlantic.

Interwoven among these forests are stands of other conifers that add further diversity to Acadia’s landscape. Cedar trees are common in wetland areas and along cool drainage basins, their fragrant wood and drooping branches creating quiet, almost cathedral-like groves. Hemlocks, with their delicate needles and dense shade, form some of the oldest and most peaceful forest patches in the park, particularly in sheltered ravines. Pine trees, including white pine and pitch pine, rise tall above rocky shores and sandy soils, contributing to Acadia’s rugged coastal identity. Cypress trees, though not as widespread, appear in select locations where conditions suit their moisture-loving roots, rounding out the collection of conifers that thrive across the park’s varied terrain.

The diversity of trees in Acadia is not just a feature of the present but a reflection of the region’s ecological history. After the last Ice Age, species from both the north and south gradually spread into the region, meeting on Mount Desert Island and forming a blended forest unlike any other along the Atlantic coast. Today, Acadia’s trees continue to evolve under the influences of climate change, storm damage, and natural cycles of regeneration, but the park’s forests remain remarkably resilient and continue to sustain the rich biodiversity that defines Acadia.