Thru-Hiking in Baxter State Park
Some Common Questions!
Saddle Trail Sign
- When can I hike Katahdin?
- The short answer is: "Weather allowing, May 31-October 15."
A.T. hikers going south should not count on hiking Katahdin trails before May 31st. Before this date, even if trails are clear of snow and ice, soils are so saturated that even light foot traffic has been determined to result in irreparable damage to Katahdin's alpine and sub-alpine areas. Several of Maine's endangered and threatened species live in the alpine area and we take our job of protecting them seriously. The Park Director, with input from field personnel, determines when the trails are open for use. Throughout the year, trail status reports can be obtained by calling BSP Headquarters in Millinocket.
In the Fall of the Year, Hikers Must Arrange to Hike Katahdin by October 15th.
After this date the Park is closed to all camping. Hence, A.T. hikers planning to combine a fall hike of Katahdin with camping in the Park must plan on hiking Katahdin before October 15th. Park officials emphasize October 15th as the cut-off date for hiking Katahdin, regardless of your camping plans, because statistics show that, in this northerly climate, chances are slim you will be able to successfully finish your Katahdin hike after this date.
Beginning about the third week of September it is not uncommon to have several Class III or even Class IV days. If you are advised of a Class IV day by park staff and you choose to hike Katahdin despite the warnings, you should be aware of the consequences. (A court summons and fine, seizure of equipment, and Park visitation privilege revoked.) During this period, in addition to environmental concerns regarding intermittent freezing/thawing of soils, conditions may become life threatening. Typical above-treeline conditions on Class III and IV days include very thin ice that warrants the aid of an ice axe and crampons, but is insufficient to support the use of such gear. These conditions make the above tree-line travel treacherous and subsequent rescues put both the victim and our volunteer teams and staff at risk unnecessarily. Furthermore, any hiker determined to be negligent in the face of staff advice may be charged for costs incurred in a search and rescue attempt.
If you cannot meet the October 15th date for completing your hike of Katahdin, the best thing to do is "flip-flop" and hike Katahdin earlier, finishing up the lower elevation hikes in Maine later or wait until next year to climb Katahdin. - What Can I Expect for Terrain & Environmental Conditions in Baxter?
- We like to think we manage one of the prettiest spots on the trail but we'll let you be the judge. The park contains many unusual and rare plants, animals and landforms. Katahdin, because of its extreme weather, has alpine plants, some of which are found nowhere else in Maine, and a number of rare bird and small animal species of interest and concern. Whether you hike above tree-line or below, muddy and/or eroded trail conditions are common in the heavily used sections. Please stay on the trail, use bog bridges where available, and rock hop when possible instead of trampling trailside vegetation.
The white-blazed Appalachian Trail (Hunt Spur) up Katahdin is arguably the most difficult climb on the entire A.T. Allow for a full 8-10 hours for a round trip hike of Katahdin. Following the A.T. up Katahdin requires rock scrambling and the use of hands in some places, and be a frightening climb for those with even a mild fear of heights.
Though you will likely be visiting us in the summer or fall, bear in mind that is has snowed on Katahdin every month of the year and temperature extremes and high winds are the norm. There are no shelters on the mountain above tree-line. All trails on Katahdin are totally exposed to the elements and descent is at least as slow as ascent. This challenging environment makes rescue an uncertain and lengthy ordeal. A wise hiker is off the summit by 1 P.M. on humid, unsettled summer days, thus avoiding the infamous electrical storms of Katahdin. Hikers are encouraged to leave their full backpacks behind and only carry a daypack for essentials. (Are you ready for Katahdin? Take the quiz to find out Tips & Quiz.) - Is There Long-Term Parking Available at the Park?
- No long-term parking is available at BSP for people recreating outside the Park. If you plan on hiking the 100 mile section south and west of Baxter State Park, check with people in Monson, Millinocket or Abol Bridge campground (on the Penobscot River) for parking space. Parking at all trailheads may fill to capacity until later in the day. In this way, we control the number of hikers in the fragile alpine zone. Understandably, visitors denied parking space at their favorite trailhead would be disgruntled if they discovered cars parked there indefinitely while the owners hiked extensively outside the park.
Shuttle services are offered by local outfitters, please see the Park's list of commercial users to set up a shuttle service.
On a related issue, many hikers plan to hike the final leg of the trail with family and friends. Typically, they plan to meet at the parking lot of Katahdin Stream. Please tell family/friends that the south gate (Togue Gate) opens at 5 AM during the peak summer season and 6 AM later in the fall. To avoid the disappointment of being told the trailhead parking lot is full, and therefore closed (see above), it is a good idea for your friends/family to be waiting in line when the gate opens. This problem can be usually avoided if you plan your Katahdin hike for a weekday after Labor Day. Please see the Day Use Parking Reservation System section of this website to learn how to reserve a parking spot. - Can I Bring My Pet?
- No one was a greater champion of dogs and animal rights than Governor Baxter. He had a succession of companion Irish Setters, each named Garry. One famous story from his days as Governor of the state of Maine tells of his having the flags lowered to half-mast in the State Capitol following his faithful friend Garry's passing– and the public wrath he incurred for so memorializing a dog officially. His heartfelt response in defense of the role of dogs as man's best friend leads one to believe the "no pets" policy in BSP, created and enforced during his lifetime, with his blessing, was created out of necessity. After much thought and many years of the public using the Park with their pets, Baxter decided there should be at least one place in Maine where wild animals could roam free without fear of or exposure to domesticated pets and the associated parasite and disease transmission which might affect either population irreversibly. Please respect the sacrifice Percival Baxter made himself and asked all pet lovers to make: do not bring your dog into the park. Violating this park regulation or any park regulation subjects you to law enforcement action, not the way we, as park staff, enjoy greeting you after a long hike. Here is a list of nearby kennels.
Since the early 1970's, the Park has supported a user-friendly facility with capacity for 12 people for long distance trail hikers entering the Park via the Appalachian Trail. Because our Park Management Plan and park mandate clearly assign resource protection as a priority over recreational use, we cannot increase capacities to respond to increased demands.
The facilities at "The Birches" site are intended as a one night stopover for Northbound hikers who have just completed the 100 Mile Woods. All others should make accommodations in or outside of Baxter State Park. Thanks for you understanding of this policy and your cooperation!
- What about camping in Baxter State Park?
- Baxter State Park has 10 campgrounds, located throughout the Park and available for camping from May 15-October 15. Sites are available by reservation, on a first-come, first serve basis. After mid-July sites in Park campgrounds are usually reserved and and it is unusual to be able to obtain a site for the night by showing up at our office or gate in the morning. Reservations for regular campground sites (not "The Birches"), 10 or fewer days before the desired date, can be made using credit cards over the phone–call Park Headquarters at (207) 723-5140. Ranger stations inside the park do not accept credit cards (no electricity to verify funds transfer).
In recognition of the difficulty our reservation system poses for most long-distance hikers, the Park has made available two 4-person lean-tos and tenting space for four additional people at a site called "The Birches", not far from Katahdin Stream's main campground. Prior reservations are not required for this site but the per person fee for staying here is the same as elsewhere in the Park. The Park does not offer "work for fee" camping or other discounts. Please take care of all your food, supply and payment needs before entering the Park. Large groups or commercial entities will not use the Birches, but will use their advance knowledge of trip itineraries to work with the BSP reservation system.
"The Birches" is 9.8 miles from Abol Bridge via the Appalachian Trial or 4.4 miles from Abol Bridge via the Blueberry Ledges Trail. Use of "The Birches" facility is limited strictly to Northbound long distance or thru-hikers (must be hiking, at a minimum, the "100 Mile Wilderness") and is limited to 1 night. To assist you as you approach the Park, we post a sign-in sheet for long distance hikers on a clipboard, just after you cross the Golden Road and enter the Park no the A.T. If all 12 spaces are signed up for the night you are hoping to stay at "The Birches", it means that the site will be full and you will need to stay elsewhere. Your choices include:- Abol Bridge private campground
- The nearby Department of Conservation "Abol Pines" site on the West Branch of the Penobscot (both are fee sites)
- Katahdin Stream or Abol standard reservation sites, Foster Field Group Campsite, any other available site of your choice in BSP
- Staying in a campground or motel near town.
- Where Can I Receive Mail and Messages?
- Mail drops should be arranged through the Millinocket Post Office, 113 Penobscot Ave., Millinocket, ME 04462. Baxter State Park operates a Headquarters building in Millinocket with business phones and two-way radios; however, Park internal communications are all by two-way radio, used for official communications only. The public pay phone nearest the Park is at the Abol Bridge Private Campground Store on the A.T. or at the North Woods Trading Post, 10 miles from Togue Pond Gatehouse on the southern entrance of BSP. The Park and Park personnel cannot assume responsibility for receiving and delivering your mail/packages.