This is an absolutely magical place filled without absolutely draconian rules! You can maybe argue that the second thing enables the first thing but...that is not an argument I would make. I find it a bit silly that a state park in rural Maine built around a 5,000+ peak would model its park rules after Denali National Park, centered around the tallest mountain in North America. I think rules this restrictive only serve to make our parks less accessible to people who aren't affluent white liberals but...enough of my soapboxing. We came here to climb Mt Katahdin. And, for once in my life, when I say "climb", I actually mean it! We did a technical rock climbing route on the peak called "The Armadillo": https://www.mountainproject.com/route/106020335/the-armadillo We stayed at a luxurious lean-to at Chimney Pond. The rangers there were very helpful and friendly. They made the drudgery of the various oppressive rules almost...fun? I highly recommend staying at Chimney Pond yourself, climber or not. The views here feel nothing like New England. They feel more like Alaska, north of the arctic circle. Katahdin is only a little over 5,000 feet but it has big granite walls of rock unlike an other mountain in New England. (yes, including Mt Washington) My only complaint is that I got an insane amount of insect/arachnid bites on this trip. If you're staying in a lean-to, it might be helpful to have some sort of bug net! so many rules, so magical read more

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Park was great, went on a three day two night trip. Only knock was our hike from Roaring Brook to Hamlin peak and back was previously reviewed as intermediate to hard. After my trip I would absolutely say difficulty should be changed to hard to expert, the trip down from Hamlin peak was two miles down the mountain and extremely time consuming. All in all an amazing experience just be prepared for a long, challenging, but rewarding trip! read more

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Mt. Katahdin is probably the pinnacle of hiking in New England. More of a climb than a hike at certain parts, so be prepared to use all four limbs. We brought gloves with rubber padding for the toughest sections and were glad we did. From Roaring Brook we took the Helon Taylor up across Knife Edge and came down Saddle. Started just before 7am and it took us about 12 hours to complete. Make sure to bring plenty of water (more than you think you need) and first aid supplies are also a good idea as you are hours away from help if anything were to happen. Knife Edge was a great challenge and the views along the top were amazing. Campgrounds were nice but fairly primitive, so don't expect what you find around Acadia. read more

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I love New England, however, I wasn't always in love with it. It took me moving out of New England to realize how much I loved it and that I needed to come back. Baxter State Park is one of the many, many reasons why I love New England, and more importantly, Maine. Baxter State Park houses Mount Katahdin's hiking trails, and it is the most beautiful hike I have experienced. For one, the park is extremely remote and void of a lot of humans, which means that there is a ton of wildlife. The park is always, ALWAYS clean and the people who work the park ensure that it stays that way, which is something I appreciate! The trails of Mount Katahdin are no joke, especially if you climb Cathedral or Knife's Edge. Both are physically exhausting, but they have the most amazing views you could ever think to have. If you are looking to climb and be back at a reasonable hour AND get parking, MAKE SURE TO GET THERE EARLY! My friends and I ended up getting to the park around 4:30/5:00am to ensure that we had parking and so that we could get back at a reasonable time. The hiking trails normally take 8-10 hours, so make sure to plan accordingly. I honestly can't wait to come back and hike Mount Katahdin again and see the beautiful views. I would HIGHLY suggest this hike to any experienced hiker looking for a great place to hike in Maine! read more

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When I am on my death bed, in my 90s, bodily organs shutting down, I am a mess, can't speak... real bad shape.. "nurse, pull the plug out now." I will remember hiking Katahdin. This mountain will kick you're a**. I went to war with the mountain, and the mountain won - easily, and is still laughing at me. The park is beautiful and remote, not many humans, and lots of wildlife. Truly a special place in the world. Katahdin makes the Green mountains in Vermont seem like a joke. It is a sirious, sirious hike. There is no easy route (up or down). It took us 10.5 hours and we were moving. We got passed by some young bucks (mid-20s my guess) and they were fit. The one fella passed us and said; "nothing like a good a** kickin' to start your day" even a fit chap that looked like a mountain man acknowledged the respect for the mountain. If you are reasonably fit, and above you can do this. If you are not fit; or not conditioned, I would not recommend it. You could definitely hurt yourself or not be able to finish... But you can bet dat a** you will be sore for several days afterwards... It's a total body workout. Logistics/recommendations: We camped at roaring brook in a lean-to; which was beautiful. The campsite is simply wonderful. Clean lean to and comfortable. Clean running water source right by your camp. Fire pit. We were in bed by 9-pm, up at 5:30-am, hiking by 6:30-am. If you try and start hiking past 7-am, not good, not a good idea. Bring lots and lots of water. After Chimney Pond, there is no water source for several hours. I would recommend three, Nalgene 32 ounce bottles... I had two and ran out on my way down, and was starting to get dehydrated until finally getting water again, several hours later. Food too, obviously. Upon completion of the madness, tipping a couple beers back that night... (see my review for Big Moose on what to do for night two) It's a phenomenal feeling. You will feel alive. read more

Though smaller in stature, Katahdin makes New Hampshire's Mt. Washington seem like a foothill. It is by far a much more strenuous and thrilling ascent than anything else New England has to offer. My wife and two friends camped outside of Baxter State Park at the Wilderness Edge Campground in Millinocket, which was close enough to get to the Roaring Brook Ranger Station early in the morning. We used the Baxter State Park official website in advance to make parking reservations, which are required to park at the station, and we made sure to carry flashlights, which the park also requires for hikers to have on their person when on the mountain. All the trails are magnificent, but the Knife Edge is Katahdin's crown jewel. No wider than a skateboard in some parts, the vertigo-inducing path will have you triple-checking your footing before each step. The drops are sheer in many places, making for a truly awe-inspiring view. And where the trail is most narrow, you can see down both sides of the mountain without even leaning or turning your head. Reaching the summit, unlike with other smaller peaks in the region, feels like a genuine accomplishment. The experience is one you and your fellow nature-lovers will never forget. Climb with some new acquaintances. You'll walk out of the park lifelong friends. I recommend bringing sunscreen and plenty of water. The ascent and descent can take nine hours or more in total, and there is no running water on the mountain. Even four or five full water bottles won't be enough on a hot day. read more

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In New England, there exists a small, though militant, minority that insists everything about the West is superior to the East, and specifically, New England. Especially the hiking. New England-haters, I raise you: Baxter State Park. Baxter has the wild, untamed feel that pervades some of the great parks of the west. Read: trees, trees, moose, bears, coyotes, snowshoe hares, picturesque and pure lakes/ponds/streams, gorgeous mountain vistas with sheer exposed rock faces, and more trees. It's almost obsessively primitive, to boot: the gravel roads twist and turn, there are no lights at night, and there's no running water, only (well-maintained) outhouses with pits. Some, though not all, campgrounds are accessible by car. And there's no cell service-- duh-- though I did get 5 bars of that mysterious provider "US CELLULAR" on the peak of Katahdin. 'Cause Katahdin is tall and stuff, and cell service is the 21st century treat you get when you summit a mountain. Anyhow, the rewards for sacrificing your creature comforts are great. The views, the smells, and even the fresh smell of the air is unparalleled. These are the woods, rocky and muddy and green and largely untouched, as nature intended them to be. Notable things to consider before your trip: --Campground reservations should be made months in advance. Check out the park website for details on when reservations open up for specific time periods, and be on a computer the moment they open, if you can. Early fall is ideal, IMO, since temps are still mild but the buggos are mainly gone. --Roaring Brook to Chimney Pond is about a 2-3 hour hike depending on your skill level and the size of your pack (we had huge packs since we spent the night at Chimney Pond-- it'd be far less daunting with a daypack). Chimney Pond to Baxter Peak (the top of Katahdin) is 3-4 hours, depending on your route. Expect the hike back to Roaring Brook to be roughly the same, perhaps an hour or so shorter. In summary: if you're day-hiking from Roaring Brook, you need to leave early, as your journey will literally take all day. Depending on the time of year, I would not recommend starting later than 7 AM, and bring a headlamp just in case. You do NOT, I repeat, do NOT, want to be hiking in the woods after dark. --NO potable water available on-site means you should bring at least three liters of your own and/or a water filter. I recommend both, just in case. --NO electricity. So keep your phone on airplane to save battery, and consider bringing an extra camera to take photos! --Bring bags to hang your food if you're staying overnight and can't put things in the car, 'cause bears. --You can't do the Knife's Edge unless the weather is ideal, so be prepared to do the Saddle Trail, or just chill out at Chimney Pond, in the case of inclement weather. --Topo maps are available at the park gate. The gate closes promptly at 8:30, and after that, you can't get in, so budget your travel time accordingly. Our trip from Boston was about 5.5 hours. read more

Baxter State Park - View of NW Basin Trail approaching Hamlin Peak and Saddle Trail while coming down from Baxter Peak on the Saddle Trail. - Hiking Near Me - Millinocket, Maine

Be forewarned - There is no potable water. The road is dirt, narrow, and curvy; it also definitely gets slick in the rain. You aren't going to have any cell service. Beyond that, this place is magic. Baxter hosts a very healthy forest so this park is teeming with wildlife. I walked down to Moose Point off of the Kidney Pond Campground. I sat down on the bench. There was the moose. Of course, this happened because I didn't have my camera. But still, it was a great experience. From that same bench, I got to watch three or four endangered loons and a small heron called a Least Bittern took off from the reeds. Drive around at night and your headlights will fill with small hopping frogs. By a parking spot, I watched a painted tortoise build a nest. I saw an arctic hare, a downy woodpecker (the smallest woodpecker in North America), lady slipper orchids, and tons of ground squirrels just walking to my lean-to. There are plenty of easy hikes as long as you aren't hiking Katahdin. As other reviewers mentioned, the hikes around the ponds are nice and flat. If you hike out to Daicey Pond from Katahdin Stream there are a bunch of boards laid as rustic foot bridges, which is fun. I was super sad that nobody else was playing around at The Ledges on the weekdays while I was in the park. It looks like such a fun series of pools and seems perfect for inter-tubing. Baxter has a bear problem. They do need to fix it better than they are, simply for the bear population's health and safety. They need bear boxes. Stop messing around and telling people to put food in their cars. That isn't best practices for bears and is bad practice when you have people that are hiking into your park. At the very minimum, install bear boxes at any walk-in site. But, truthfully, there should be a bear box at every site. Beyond that, Baxter is simply fantastic. I can't wait to go back and Baxter will absolutely embody Maine to me. read more

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Baxter State Park is almost beyond description... for the outdoors lover, this place is the pinnacle of nature's beauty. Over 200,000 acres in size, there are limitless adventures, sights, sounds, and experiences awaiting you. I visited this park recently on an all too short but exciting camping trip. With last minute plans to climb Maine's highest peak, Mount Katahdin (at 5,268 feet), a friend and I booked one of the last remaining campsites available at Trout Brook Campgrounds. Our generous plot of land was located in the northern-most section of the park... a good 2-hour drive on a dirt road from the southern park entrance where we entered. I didn't mind though, it gave us a chance to take in the changing scenery amongst various sections of the park. Within an hour of entering, we even encountered a moose! Speaking of the wild... on visiting, it is quite clear you are in the wilderness. Being prepared is key. There is no running water or electricity. Any water obtained within the park must be treated before drinking. In a short three-day trip we encountered not only a moose, but black bears, deer, heard howling coyotes, and listened to something scratching at our car overnight. While the park rangers are beyond helpful and generous in their information and support for your stay, you may have to travel a distance if anything happens. Some ranger stations are not manned 24-hours, and though they are quite open about their schedules, it can be a bit disconcerting at times knowing you are essentially on your own if an emergency occurs at an off-hour. Firewood is sold at these stations as you cannot bring in your own. The fees for entry and stay are quite reasonable... there is a $14 entrance fee, $5 parking reservation fee if you so choose (the lots can fill up fast so this isn't such a bad option!), $30 for a summer camping site, and so on. There are bunkhouses, cabins, tent-sites, lean-tos, and the like with varying rental fees. While there are a number of trails throughout the park for use, as well as activities ranging from fishing, hunting, kayaking, hiking, and so on and so forth, my primary experience was an attempt at Katahdin's summit. The ranger stations ask that you sign in/out at each crossing in case of emergency to keep better track of your location in the mountains. My friend and I chose to start at Roaring Brook, make our way up the Helon Taylor Trail, climb Mount Pamola and continue on towards Katahdin from there. Summitting Pamola (4,919 feet) was a feat in itself. Crossing streams, fighting off brush, scaling boulders, and everything else associated with climbing a mountain left us cut, bruised, and beaten. Assessing our water supply and time left before nightfall, we made the difficult decision to turn down Dudley Trail to catch Chimney Pond back to the parking lot. If you choose this route, be forewarned... these trails are not for the faint of heart!! When they say intermediate to advanced hikers they mean it! I lost 17lbs and built up quite the endurance at the gym prior to this attempt and I am still nursing ridiculously sore muscles and minor injuries sustained on those rock faces. You are responsible for yourself up there... do not take that lightly. I am determined to return here again someday to stand on the peak of Mount Katahdin... although I'll probably change my route to Chimney Pond then Saddle. As long as you adequately prepare, I whole-heartedly encourage you to visit and experience all that Baxter State Park has to offer. It is absolutely worth the trip!!! read more

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like everyone else says, this mountain kicked my ass. we took the easiest route up, chimney pond and saddle. it is very rocky, very little areas where you are actually on a dirt trail. saddle gets very steep and there is a section where you are basically scrambling/climbing. it was terrifying going up and down this part. beautiful park read more

Probably the most beautiful place in the entire New England. I camped at leanto in Chimney rock and hiked up to the Katahdin. It was really beautiful. Other time I stayed other side of campground and kayaked. Downside is camping fee is expensive for non-Maine residents. read more

Okay, you gotta love the outdoors to make the trek out here. It is basically off the beaten path from I-95. You will pass through Poland Springs and then onwards north. There are a couple of nice spots to stop at. Over than that, it's more hiking which can be quite strenuous. Grab some heavy duty hiking boots and water too with snacks. read more

This certainly is one of the most primordial feeling state parks I have ever visited. When I was hiking through the many trails, I often felt a sense of not being alone, not threatened but carefully watched by the local fauna. I really enjoyed the amazing scenery and the quality of the trails. The first day, I only had a few hours, and was directed to Sandy Stream Pond to look for moose. I spent a couple of hours there taking pictures and hiking the surrounding trail with "no moose" luck, and was headed back to my car when I encountered a couple who told me they had just seen a large cow browsing in the pond. I hurried to one of the vistas and sure enough I saw my first Maine moose. It was raining, and she was very far away, but not the least bit startled by my presence. She was enormous. Mount Katahdin is beautiful as well, and the views from Sandy Stream Pond are amazing. It rained hard the first day I was there, and the next morning, but cleared by noon, and I returned to the same pond again, but no luck this time. I visited several other day use areas, and the vistas are beautiful with the right weather. There are no services at all besides pit toilets. They are clean enough and well maintained but If you don't like pit toilets, be prepared to hold it until you get back to town. There are no concessions either, at all, so bring all your water, snacks, and food with you. And, do not, I repeat, do not try hiking the trails in your $150.00 Nikes, or worse yet, flip-flops. Wear hiking shoes. You'll soon discover why. It ain't Disney World, thank god for that. Entrance fee for me, a non-resident, by myself, was $14.00. My cons: I know it's a state park with a limited budget, but the gravel roads are pretty scary, narrow, and rough in parts. There are no paved roads in the park at all, and the distances between the campgrounds/day use areas are pretty far. I'm glad I was driving a rental, and not my personal car. This is not a great park for the disabled, elderly with limited mobility, or very small children. The free maps given to you in the park newspaper are of no real value, and ones sold by the park are fairly expensive. Not sure exactly, but more than $6.00 for a brochure-style map. Go see it. It's breath-taking. read more

Such an invigorating retreat. All roads lead to Baxter State Park? What's that? How can they? This is the epitome of remote. That it is, but it's so remote that nothing remotely civilized lies beyond it, so, presto, if you're en route to Baxter, that's where your route will end. Once there, expect to experience four seasons in one day if you stay around from dawn to dusk. It's nature at its most invigorating. Thoroughly untamed and a true gala for the senses. It's not a lush place really. More stark. More like you picture the earth in dinosaur days. I loved it. I was in the mood for it. But in the mood you must be, because it's a long way back if you're not. read more

The park itself is very beautiful and has a lot to offer but the management is a disaster. Despite having a reservation that we made two weeks in advance we had to arrive by 6 am to wait in line for an hour as one attendant worked to check in all the cars. Per the agreement the state made to acquire the land the access roads in the park are required to be "primitive" and so it takes forever to drive anywhere and can cause serious damage to a normal car. read more

Mt Katahdin was an excellent hike and difficult (but very fun) Windy weather stopped us from doing the knifes edge but I cant wait to go back and do this part of the hike read more

Having spent many of my youthful summers in Millinocket, 5+ decades later I still feel the thrill of the park! Definitely a must see if you like flora and fauna. Never have been disappointed! read more

I'll always remember the time my wife asked me, "Are you ready for Mt. Katahdin?" approximately 2 weeks before the planned hike. I thought to myself, "either she is super excited and doesn't want to talk about anything except nature and rocks...or...uh oh...is this her nice way of saying I should be concerned and to put down that slice of pizza?" It was definitely the "uh oh." About two days before the hike, I thoroughly freaked myself out by googling "Knife's Edge deaths" and looking at hikers' vertigo-inducing GoPro videos on YouTube. "Great...just great...I'm gonna die," I thought. What had I gotten myself into? My wife bought and printed out a parking pass weeks in advance (highly recommended), and we left at the crack of dawn with a cup of joe. I couldn't even sleep in the car I was so amped...actually I was hoping to spy a moose on the side of the highway so that I could at least tell myself, "Hey, you finally saw one...it's ok...no matter what happens today...it's ok." Of course, I didn't find a damned moose. When we got to the park, the ranger had the most amazing, movie-worthy Maine accent I've ever heard in my life. Literally no "R" was pronounced. It was hysterical. We paahked ah cah in the duuht pahhking laht among fifty or so other granola-chomping idiots. I was the one in the ridiculous fanny pack. Everyone else had camelbaks, million dollar backpacks, and ironic beards and moustaches. I thought to myself, "I didn't know Brooklyn had a mountain?" My wife and I wrote in our information and departure time on the clipboard of lost souls and started our trek up the wooded "Katahdin Stream" path. It started off quite lovely with a peaceful stream to our right, a wooden plank crossing with a small quaint waterfall to our left. The sounds of nature were...soothing. Then the damn rocks started to appear, and they got progressively bigger. This was no walkinthewoods, this was serious f***ing hiking. Bouldering to be exact. When a man has to insert a metal rod into a piece of rock to allow a human to climb said rock as there is no other way, then you know you're in for some trouble. In fact, there were spots where you need to be at least 5'5" to reach the handholds, or else wait for a boost from your partner (like my wife did to me). The boulder section of the hike was the middle third and took over an hour. It felt like an eternity. However, the views were awe-inspiring. Once past the technical climb, the hike got easier, but was by no means flat. We passed Thoreau Spring, dedicated to Thoreau in remembrance of his hike up Katahdin in 1846, inspiring his first writings of the deep Maine woods. After summiting and taking the necessary photo with the wooden Katahdin sign, we avoided the bugs (which were attracted by all the people eating at the top), and instead chose to quickly resume our hike for fear that the weather would change at any moment and ruin our safe passage down the mountain. We briefly stopped at Thoreau Spring for a sandwich as it was a much better place to actually sit down. Then we delicately maneuvered the boulders again and provided realistic expectations for hikers we encountered that were still trying to reach the top. All in all, the trek took us 7 hours and 15 minutes, less than the average 8-10 hours that it typically takes groups of hikers, so we high fived. Although I slipped three times on the way down (due to a combination of wet rocks...thanks, rain... and gassed legs), there were no major injuries. It could have been A LOT worse. Our next stop was to find the closest lobster roll and devour it. We accomplished that feat by finding a camper-turned-kitchen in a parking lot before the major highway. (It wasn't on Yelp, but it got the job done.) Tips of advice: This is an incredibly challenging hike with some serious technical maneuvers. Do not bring children. Do not bring grandma. Do bring your game face...and bug spray. Most people camp overnight to avoid the hassle of finding parking in the morning. Check the weather before going to the mountain...a thunderstorm would be murder on the rocks. The views are postcard-worthy and worth the trip. This city boy would definitely go back. read more

i've loved visiting Baxter since i was kiddo. lately i've been going back occasionally and i'm even more in love now. other reviewers have said: it is a commitment to get here ~ TRUE!! you have to travel north of Bangor on 95 for a while (the speed limit goes up to 75mph, neato). then you have to drive off the highway for a while. it's beautiful. it takes a long time. facts. other reviewers have said: all the hikes are hard ~ FALSE!! there are lots of small, flat hikes that you can do with kiddos or with people who are bad at elevation hiking (like me!!). specifically, hikes around Grassy or Daicey Ponds are lovely, flat, and pretty much as long as you want to make them. and there are canoes to rent ~ get oars from the rangers at your site. speaking of rangers, they are super helpful ~ they can work with you to plan a hike that's right for you and your group. OTHER IMPORTANT INTO: **you cannot bring your own firewood (because of the risk of spreading bugs), but they sell it here. **there is no drinkable water in the park, you have to bring your own or something to filter/treat the natural water in the park (streams, etc). **tent sites are nice, lean-to's completely rock ~ they are open air! i've heard that there are cabins, too, but i've never stayed in one. see you soon, BSP! read more

Extraordinary beauty and an awesome adventure. Our family has been climbing together for years now and finally felt ready for Katahdin. We all (ages 8 to 68) made it to Baxter Peak. A very strenuous climb but a tremendous sense of accomplishment when you get there. Park rangers very friendly and competent. Lack of cell service in case of emergency a major concern. Bring plenty of extra water! read more

(Late spring and summer hiking)....The biggest problem people experience day hiking, especially to the top of this mountain, is lack of supplies and water. I saw so many people who ran out of water and it was mostly those using "bottles" as they "gulped" their way up the mountain. Yes, you can find water near the bottom 1/3 and filter it but once you get to a specific elevation there is no water. The weather can change quickly also. It started off cool for us and the temperatures got very warm, even near the top (middle summer) I highly advise using a backpack hydration device where you sip the water through a tube connected to a hydration pack (sip over time in small amounts). Even if it is a day hike to the top make sure you take extra food (energy bars, fruit, whatever), a small powerful LED flashlight (a must), an emergency whistle, first aid kit, bug spray, small rain jacket, and other essential items. Cell phones don't always work there, it depends on elevation, location and type of phone. You don't have to cart some huge, hevay backpack on your back for a day hike and make yourself miserable and unhappy but make sure you take all the essentials. Honestly, I saw so many people who were not prepared for the hike to the top and got into trouble. It can be a strenuous hike for those who are not in shape but start very early to enable rest periods if that is your scenario. I was able to pack all the essentials in my day pack, and keep my pack fairly light, my son carried the food in his day pack. We each had our own hydration, whistle, flashlight and energy bars. I saw someone get lost and ended coming down at night with no flashlight, no water and they were in trouble (it was very, very bad experience for them). I saw several people in the middle with no water, they ran out, over drank on the way up with no water coming down. I saw another person who cut their leg, nothing bad but they had no band-aids. If you think about it, an emergency whistle, first aid kit, LED flashlight are all really small and not that expensive to buy, not at all. It's not to scare you but be smart and pack your day pack correctly and you'll have a better time knowing you did. It's simple common sense. Oh man, the view from the top and having lunch at the top is FANTASTIC http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12171896&emssrcid=PPC%3AgooPLAs%3ACampHikePacks&adpos=1o5&creative=43840183125&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CJqa2-Kc1MACFUoS7Aod-G0AXg read more

Baxter State Park contains the beautiful Mt. Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. I arrived here the first time walking as finished my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in the summer of 1992. I returned this time to do it again with friends and I'll tell you it was a lot harder than I remember. The park is very beautiful this time of year with the fall foliage and a bit of snow on the mountain, and the silence and solitude of a big park in the middle of the Maine woods. The park is clean, well-organized with friendly park rangers. read more

I am sure this must be a great park. This is not a review for the park since I was not able to go there due to the weather. This is a review for the Park service. We had planned to go there after our stay at Acadia. Since it had snowed just a day before we planned to go, we did our due dilligence to check if the park gates and roads are open. There was a weather update on their website mentioning what roads are closed. It specifically mentioned that the Togue Pond entrance is open. Great! We drove 3 and a half hour to South entrance only to find it closed. There was no fresh snow that day and we were disappointed that they had wrong information on their website. I can understand that at times park information is not complete or is not updated, but to say positively that the gate is open, when it's actually closed is ridiculous. Nonethless, we enjoyed the drive till Togue pond and the lovely town Millinocket. If you haven't been on I95 north of Bangor, you must. It's a beautiful drive. read more

Went to Baxter State park this summer. They have amazing hiking trails with beautiful views; and different trails based on everyone's experience. Some nice lakes as well. All trails are marked well and you would be hard pressed to get lost. The main Katahdin mountain trail was closed when we visited due to snow; but we still had a great time on other trails. Not too many people; so it remained nice and quiet. read more

Baxter State Park is a fantastic wilderness park. Camped at Roaring Brook campsite, walk in sites. You can temporarily park your car near the sites to load and unload. The brook is very near the sites and lean-to's which is pleasing to hear at night. Departed 5:00am for Chimney pond and Katahdin, and were first out of the campsite. Would highly recommend Baxter for those who want a wilderness camping experience. read more

I am so thoroughly disappointed by this park's customer service. I had reservations for Memorial Day weekend, and was told by the park service up front that they may not be open, if so I would get a 100% refund or free transfer. Well, as things would have it they are 99% positive that they will not be open and I got charged an administrative cancellation fee as if it is my fault they aren't going to be open. I am thoroughly convinced that they do not want people to visit this park. They have the worst policies which is a shame. I know so many people who have been disappointed because they couldn't enjoy the park or get a hiking permit as a result of this park being exclusive. Baxter should be more available to the public so people are able to actually enjoy it. read more

A beautiful wilderness area with great hiking for intermediate to advanced hikers. Beginners or families who want to have fun can enjoy recreational fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming in the many lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. However, those with a minimum of intermediate level hiking skills can enjoying breathtaking views of scenery unlike anything you will ever see in your lifetime. Many trails run next to waterfalls or lead to the top of mountains for spectacular views. Along the trails there are many types of berries, and mushrooms to admire, and if you are lucky you may see a wild animal. Loons made calls like wolves howling each evening by our tent site. I love this place, but it is far from civilization. About 20 miles before you reach it, cell phone service dies, and the park itself has no running water or electricity, so be forewarned. Remember to pack extra water pills. read more