Acadia National Park protects a landscape of rare scenic beauty. The vistas from the high rocky headlands encompass forested woodlands, shimmering lakes, quiet marshes, bold rocky shores, and coastal islands.

On all sides, the ocean- that surrounds the park- bisects and strongly influences the park's character. Both the motor road system and the (non-motorized) carriage road system at the park were carefully laid out by prominent landscape architects to take advantage of these spectacular views.

Although they are dependent on the natural landscape of Acadia, these designed landscapes have themselves become significant, owing to their history and the sensitivity with which they were designed and built. In recent years, park staff have been actively restoring historic vistas on the carriage road system.