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    Baxter State Park

    4.4 (27 reviews)
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    Marc B.

    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!

    On the Knife Edge.
    Jeffrey C.

    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.

    View of NW Basin Trail approaching Hamlin Peak and Saddle Trail while coming down from Baxter Peak on the Saddle Trail.
    Sarah M.

    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.

    Hiking from Katahdin Stream Campground out to Daicey Pond.
    B K.

    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.

    Moose!

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    Ask the Community - Baxter State Park

    Review Highlights - Baxter State Park

    . Chimney Pond to Baxter Peak (the top of Katahdin) is 3-4 hours, depending on your route

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    Big Moose Inn Campground

    Big Moose Inn Campground

    (7 reviews)

    My friend at work recommended I come here after hiking Katahdin. What a superb recommendation…read more This is what we did. This is what I recommend you do... So you hike Katahdin (see my Katahdin / BSP review). Get all sweaty and nasty. Get beat up by the mountain. You could camp out at roaring brook (many people do this)... OR, you could drive 40 minutes to the Big Moose Inn. Check in, some very nice ladies / staff / help... You feel at home right away. It's a rustic, Maine type place... Moose and bear heads hanging from the wall. Comfortable couches and furniture in the lobby. You can sit outside on a warm summer night. Then you take a well deserved (hot) shower. You won't be able to do this at Roaring Brook. Put on some clean clothes; go down to the bar, order a Baxter IPA (tall / large pour). It will taste sooooo good. And all the food at this place was awesome! They have a bar menu and restaurant menu. Everything is good. Quesadilla, burgers, salmon, tri-tip... EveryTHANG. You belly up, get a nice meal in you. Go back lay down in comfortable bed. Watch a little TV. I was lights out by 9-pm... Slept soundly - like a rock! Next moanin' they have complimentary breakfast with hot breakfast sandwich and typical contintental breakfast stuff... Then drive the Golden Road back. Helluva trip.

    stayed At one of the campsites last minute coming out of baxter, they made room for me and I am so…read moreglad they could! I had a great time i grabbed dinner at the little general store right next door! i hope to be back to camp again in the future.

    Bear Point Marina & Camps - Inside the restaurant on site

    Bear Point Marina & Camps

    (7 reviews)

    We went to dinner for the first time last night. We had boneless Buffalo wings for an appetizer. I…read morehad the strawberry lemonade and the steak bomb with fries. Everything was awesome! In addition to the wonderful food, the outdoor seating was simply wonderful and we really enjoyed meeting and talking with Susan who is one of the owners. On our next visit I plan to try the pizza which seems to be very popular. This was just a great date night for us. Can't wait to do it again.

    There's no doubt this is a popular spot for the week of July 4th. This is my second year coming…read morehere and not a single thing has changed between the two visits. That's honestly the beauty of it. It's run by a family of siblings and their nephew and they are all extremely hardworking and friendly folks. Let me preface by saying it's a smallish campground that offers plugs for RV's to set up shop as well as a handful of one floor ranch-style cabins that contain the bare minimum. Not to say that's a bad thing-- besides, the point of a camp getaway is to feel unplugged and enjoy the experience/nature around! The RV's are set up pretty close next to eachother and as for the week of the 4th, there's a lot of families in soccer chairs/grilling/playing games and such all day outside. Across the board: - Extremely warm and inviting hospitality from Susan (one of the main kitchen workers who also runs this place) and her family - Solid view and access to Sebec Lake - Communal basketball court, cornhole, and bathrooms in the center of the marina but all of these are up on a semi slanted hill and in a patchy and rocky area of grass. But that adds to the fun-- bringing you back to old school days. Nothing glamorous but definitely could be worse - There's a hill you can walk down to see the dock and while doing so you'll pass a dirt volleyball court tucked away - There's a restaurant to order lunch and dinner, as well as a little office that serves as the check-in place and mini gift shop of trinkets if you will The restaurant: - The food is decent. Nothing fancy but also a good option if you don't feel like running to the store. There's really no other "takeout" food options nearby so it's either you cook your own food at your place along Sebec Lake or you go by the marina for food (whether you're staying here or not) - There was 20 of us (yes 20) and Susan was so friendly and ON TOP OF IT with our food and drink orders. The food was definitely better than we expected and it came out in a reasonable time, especially given there was 20 of us eating at once (although I'd suggest you call ahead for something like pizzas since those take more time here) - See menu photos for pricing. It can be pricey but again, there's nothing else really around (i.e. we ordered a fisherman's platter and it was $45) - Plenty of tables and chairs to comfortably eat and hangout - Solid selection of drinks and alcoholic beverages for sale in their fridge - Overall it's very open and has lots of natural light in the restaurant Our cabin stay (which might not be the case for all the other cabins but it could be): - It's definitely got everything you need to get by - Shower, toilet, sink, mirror, and towels provided. Although, the bathroom has no vent so you either have to leave the bathroom door open or open the window to air it out which wasn't too effective from a timing perspective but it did the job for us! - 3 bedrooms supplied with a full sized bed, a dresser, nightstand, and lamp - there is no A/C and it was 90° almost every day this week so it felt like a sauna but particularly at night it was really hot trying to sleep so be sure to bring multiple fans!! - Kitchen utensils, plates, glass cups, fridge, sink, old school TV, couches, dining table provided as well All in all it's a campsite that has a lot going for it in Sebec, for a cheap cost if you're looking to experience a getaway/go camping in an authentic fashion. :)

    Tracewski Fishing Adventures - Penobscot River Float Trip

    Tracewski Fishing Adventures

    (1 review)

    We went fishing with Kevin on one of his snowmoble assited ice fishing adventures. It was…read morefantastic, Kevin supplied two snowmobiles with dog sleds, bait, gear and lunch for both days. We caught a ton of fish and were chasing flags all day. Kevin is a great guide and he knew exactly how to handle the groups mixed level of fishing experiance. He helped the newbies without being overbearing and made sugestions and recomendations to the experianced guys without forcing an agenda on them. I've fished with many guides over the years and a quality guide like Kevin is tough to find. I highly recomend Kevin for your next fishing adventure.

    From the owner: Registered Maine guide who runs fishing trips for brook trout, landlocked salmon and smallmouth…read morebass throughout Maine during the summer months. Trips can involve wading small streams for native trout, hiking into remote trout ponds, or floating rivers in Hyde driftboat. Also does limited number of snowmobile-assisted ice fishing trips to classic lakes in the winter. Operates a popular fly fishing school, hosts destination travel trips, and is a certified fly casting instructor. Has published dozens of articles in national magazines like Fly Fisherman, Fly Fishing, the Atlantic Salmon Journal and Outdoor Life. Also published a popular book titled, A Fisherman's Guide to Maine, which received many positive reviews and was a top-selling outdoor title for several years. Does winter talks and book signings at Sportsman Shows and events throughout New England. I really enjoy hosting families and special groups because I make fishing FUN.

    Nahmakanta Lake Camps - Nahmakanta Lake Wilderness Camps

    Nahmakanta Lake Camps

    (3 reviews)

    We had the fantastic opportunity to go on a dogsledding tour with Angel and Don a few weeks ago…read more They were kind enough to meet us at our hotel so we didn't get lost and could follow them back to their home. Once we got there, we were introduced to all of their wonderful dogs. There were so many of them and they were SO excited!! We played around with all the dogs for a bit while Don was feeding them a little snack before the run, and Angel was making sure we all had plenty of layers on to keep warm. Our group of four really had no idea what to expect with this tour. We thought that maybe we would be sitting in a basket on the dogsled while our guide mushed the dogs. Not the case at all. We mushed our own teams of dogs for miles and miles...and it was amazing! They hitched up two teams of dogs, we were given a crash course on intermediate mushing, two of us hopped on the back of our own dogsleds, and off we went! The two people mushing their sleds followed Don and Angel on a snowmobile and the other two people stood on the back of the sled attached to the snowmobile, which was actually pretty fun in itself! After mushing about 10-12 miles, we made our way back to their home to switch out new teams of dogs to give them a chance to run, and the other two in our group got their turn to mush another 10-12 miles. The girls in our group were a little chilly after the first run out, and Angel gave us warmer boots, gloves and jackets to wear so we stayed nice and toasty. During our tour, we went around lakes, over bridges, and through the woods. Don and Angel were so attentive to us the entire time, sensing when we needed a little help, always making sure to give us additional instructions when needed or to guide the sleds through a tough spot for us, and communicated very well with each other as well as their guests. Our experience with Don and Angel really made us feel like were actually a part of this amazing sport. Their dogs are so special and well cared for, and boy, do they love to run! This tour far surpassed our expectations, and we are already talking about booking an overnight tour next year (now that we're professional mushers). ;-) Go see Don and Angel and experience an amazing winter adventure! Crystal, Nat, Jenny & Phil Boston, MA and Bath, ME

    I've been coming to the Nahmakanta Lake Camps for the last 20 years as a guest of Don and Angel…read moreHibbs. I began my love affair with this piece of Paradise, 51 yrs. Ago. These camps are the real deal for families, fishermen/women and anyone else who wants to experience the Maine Wilderness. The cabins are immaculate, bright and cheery and very well maintained. For those who want to prepare their own meals each one has a kitchen with all the utensils you need, a gas stove and a refrigerator. In front of each cabin there is a fire ring on the rocky beach where guests can enjoy an evening fire and comradery and listen to the calls of the resident loons. Scrumptious and filling home cooked breakfasts and dinners are served in the main lodge. I've walked out of that beautiful dining area that takes one back in time with tasteful décor and furniture in a true log cabin style, filled to the brim with some of the finest gastronomic fare I've ever tasted. The fishing is great as is the hiking on the numerous trails leading from camp and there is no lack of scenery in the area. Moose are a common sight in the remote trout ponds and on the lake as well as beaver, deer and loons. The brook trout are some of the prettiest in Maine and togue fishing on the lake can produce some good sized fish. Owners Don and Angel Hibbs are remarkable hosts. They do their best to accommodate everyone and they take care of any problem/requests immediately and are not intrusive. They run a tight ship and the atmosphere is peaceful and friendly. Don knows the country intimately, is a Licensed Master Maine Guide and catches as many fish as the best of them. If you are looking to spend quality outdoor time or just want to relax in a tranquil wilderness setting, the Nahmakanta Lake Camps are the best bang for your buck. I know I've been going there since I was 9 yrs. old.

    Baxter State Park - hiking - Updated May 2026

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