Established through the generosity and efforts of Maine governor Percival Baxter, in whose honor the highest peak on Katahdin was named, the park, per Baxter's will, is kept as much as possible in a "forever wild" state.   Katahdin is an amazing place.

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Locator Map - Baxter State Park

If you are  thinking of visiting this beautiful park  - located in Piscataquis county, Maine, you may want to get our seamless topographical map of the area.  Mount Katahdin is perhaps the single most outstanding peak in all the Appalachians is a magic word to Appalachian Trail through hikers who walk for 2,000 miles to reach it, to rock-climbers who challenge its rocky walls, to tourists who gape at its towering form, and to hikers in search of truly rugged mountain majesty.

Click to see a larger view of a satellite image if this area

Weather  for the Baxter State Park Area

The Park offers camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing and many other outdoor summer and winter activities. The famous Appalachian Trail ends in the Park at the parks' highest elevation of just over 5200 ft., atop of Mount Katahdin. The views from the top of Mount Katahdin are amazing - revealing the natural beauty of Baxter Park.  This region of Maine offers wonderful Maine fishing and Maine other recreational opportunities and is highly recommended for those thinking of a backwoods vacation in Maine.  The Golden Road is a local name given to a logging road that can take you to extremely remote regions in and around the Park.

Mount Katahdin is located North of Millinocket and Maine’s highest peak, at 5,267 feet. The park, declared "forever wild" .  Baxter State Park is very rustic with dirt roads, outhouses and primitive trails and camping. There is no electricity, running water or facilities for gas or food supplies. Vehicle size is restricted, and no pets or motorcycles are allowed.

Keep in mind that due to summer crowds, access to trailheads is restricted as parking lots fill up. The Katahdin climb is a popular, strenuous full day hike that can result in a relatively crowded wilderness experience in summer. Those seeking true wilderness should consider tackling other peaks that offer as much enjoyment as Katahdin but a better chance of solitude. Access is restricted to two gates, one near Millinocket and a less-used entrance at the northeastern corner of the park. Individual day users should sign in and out at Park Headquarters or at the self-registration boxes located at park entrances. An entry fee is charged to out-of-state residents. For more information, please call the park or visit baxterstateparkauthority.com.

The most popular route leaves and returns from Roaring Brook Campground.  Initially, you ascend first to Chimney Pond, which is set in a glacial cirque, then continue to Katahdin's summit via one of two trails. From here, the descent begins along the aptly named "Knife's Edge," a narrow, rocky spine between Baxter Peak and Pamola Peak. This is not for acrophobes or the squeamish: In places, the trail narrows to 2 or 3 feet with a drop of hundreds of feet on either side. It's also not a place to be if high winds or thunderstorms threaten. From here, the trail follows a long and gentle ridge back down to Roaring Brook.




Baxter has more than 200 miles of hiking trails and is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Georgia to Maine. There are 10 widely scattered campgrounds with a variety of trails and facilities. Campsite reservations during the summer season are strongly recommended and can be made starting in early January.

In winter, the park has opportunities for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Visitors are encouraged to check in at Park Headquarters in Millinocket to find out the latest information on trails, access, weather and avalanche conditions. .

Planning on hiking in Baxter State Park?  Katahdin is Maine's highest peak and one of the most challenging on the East Coast.  The mountain is 13 feet shy of a mile in height but it is very exposed and the weather can change quickly. One of the biggest challenges of the mountain is when you start your starting elevation is 600 feet and most trails rise quickly. With 180 miles of maintained backcountry trails and 46 peaks (including 18 over 3,000 ft.), Baxter State Park is the destination of choice in Maine for serious hikers.  The raw drama and grandeur of the rocky, windswept summit is equal to anything you'll find in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Mount Katahdin is also the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Being on the top of Mount Katahdin when a hiker is completing the entire length of the Appalachian Trail is quite a sight to see. If the challenge of Katahdin is not up your alley there are plenty of trails within Baxter State Park and the 200,000 acres that comprise the park. With the large number of campgrounds available within the park, day hikes to a variety of peaks are available.  Allow at least 7-9 hours for the round-trip, and be prepared for weather that can change quickly.  Can you say FOG?  Sometimes weather takes a turn for the worse while you're en route.

Keep in mind that Katahdin draws the largest crowds, but the park maintains numerous other trails where you'll find more solitude and wildlife. A pleasant day hike is to the summit of South Turner Mountain, which offers wonderful views of Mount Katahdin and blueberries for the picking in late summer. The trail also departs from Roaring Brook Campground and requires about 3 to 4 hours for a round-trip. To the north, there are several decent hikes out of the South Branch Pond Campground. You can solicit advice from the rangers and purchase a trail map at park headquarters, or consult Fifty Hikes in Northern Maine.
 

Maine's landscape boasts numerous scenic trails for the hiking, camping and backpacking enthusiast. Thirty-three state parks encompass the state, with over half of these offering well maintained hiking trails. Some of the more popular hiking destinations include Baxter State Park, home to 5,267 foot Mt. Katahdin and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. This park has more than 175 miles of trails with picturesque natural areas and waterfalls interspersed along the way.

Nearby communities include the Moosehead Lake region and  Millinocket.  Ripogenus Dam, is close by and offers cabins to rent in a very remote area.

Mount Katahdin is a special place.  Why?. The entire Katahdin group of mountains is part of huge Baxter State Park, the only substantial chunk of public or protected land in the Longfellow Mountains.  It is not a simple mountain, but a broad massif of several peaks, and ridges, surrounded on almost three sides by a ring of lower summits. Katahdin is essentially a high, hourglass-shaped plateau that runs north-south entirely above timberline and drops off steeply on all sides to the forested lowlands below.  This concentrated group of mountains stands utterly alone in the otherwise flat Maine north woods, and the southern face of the main mountain mass rises directly 4,000 feet from the Penobscot River to the highest summit in the entire state.

Located on spectacular Pockwockamus Pond, the Penobscot Outdoor Center is the closest campground to Baxter State Park. In the shadow of mile high Mount Katahdin, just two miles from the south entrance of the Park and some of the best day hikes in the East, the Center provides wilderness camping and cabin tent accommodations served by clean, modern facilities. With a restaurant, bar, hot tub, sauna, and entertainment area, the Penobcot Outdoor Center is your full service base for exploring Maine's North Woods, Mt. Katahdin, and Baxter State Park.

 The Appalachian Trail, in its final miles, climbs to the Table Land from the southwest, using the Hunt Trail up from Katahdin Stream Campground. The Abol trail, ascending a steep slide, was long the main route up the Mountain.  The rest of Baxter State Park, continues to the north into a remove wilderness of lakes, ponds, and relatively low mountains, virtually all trail less.

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