Ruggedness defines the coast of Maine. While not all of the 5,500 miles (yes, you read that right) is rugged, a great deal of it is. While I haven't even come remotely close to seeing it all, I can't think of a more representative example of Maine's coast than Otter Cliffs. The best view, in my opinion, is from Boulder Beach, where you stand (or sit) on big round boulders catching the cliffs glowing orange at sunrise. Getting there takes a little work and an ability to walk on unsteady footing. After scrambling down a steep incline, you are faced with walking on these round boulders that can be tricky to stay upright on (I have taken a spill in the past). The challenge is not only walking on rounded rocks, but also not knowing which ones are loose and which ones are slick from being wet. Despite these challenges, the payoff is worth it.
In what might be surprising, the 110 foot high Otter Cliffs is actually the highest on the east coast. While there are numerous locations to shoot the sunrise in Acadia National Park, this is my favorite. When you get here before dawn and you look toward where the horizon and the Atlantic Ocean meet, you anticipate the golden light lighting up the cliffs. To me, it is the quintessential Maine coastal scene.