Reservations are required for camping
, and registration is required seven days in advance for day-use travel above treeline. All winter users are required to sign in and out at their point of entry into the park.
Can you camp off trail in Baxter State Park?
Camping is only permitted by reservation
. If you are not at the gatehouse by 8:30pm, you will not get in, regardless of any reservation. Tents are not permitted outside of lean-tos and lean-to sites. You cannot bring firewood into the Park.
Is Baxter State Park open year round?
The winter season in Baxter State Park runs from December 1 – April 1
. Reservations for overnight use of Park facilities may be obtained from the Reservation Clerk at Park Headquarters, through the mail or in person, from November 1st to March 15th.
Can you hike Katahdin in the winter?
Katahdin is New England's most challenging winter ascent
. You can expect the same weather as Mount Washington – cold temperatures, strong winds, frequent snowfall, and low visibility make Katahdin a serious but extremely rewarding endeavor.
Are campers allowed in Baxter State Park?
Camping Rules
Note that
camping is only allowed from May 15 through October 15, and December 1 to March 31
. The check-in time and check-out time at all campgrounds are 1:00pm and 11:00 am respectively. Campers must show up at the gatehouse on time, or at least before 8:30pm.
Do you need reservations for Baxter State Park?
There is a limit of two reservations per person per day
. Some backcountry sites, and all bunkhouse spaces, group sites, and accessible sites cannot be reserved online. Please reserve these sites by mail, phone, or in person at Park Headquarters. Please bring your reservation form with you when you visit the Park.
Can you backpack in Baxter State Park?
Katahdin, Knife Edge backpacking trip in Baxter State Park was the pinnacle of outdoor adventuring during this fun and fleeting time of year
. Although Baxter isn't as far north as you can go in Maine, it is known as the home to some of the wildest backcountry in the state's Hundred-Mile Wilderness.
Can you hike Katahdin a day?
Katahdin in all its glory, this is the loop hike to make.
It can be done in one long day with an early start
. Start off up the trail a few hundred yards until you see the trail split. You will want to head to your left up the famous Helen Taylor Trail.
Where are the moose at Baxter State Park?
Baxter State Park, Maine
Baxter is known as a common breeding ground for moose, the official state mammal, so look out for them
in the fall near wetlands along the Russell Pond Trail
.
Is there cell service in Baxter State Park?
There is no cell service (either voice or data) throughout nearly all of the Park
. Transporting any firewood into the Park is prohibited.
Is alcohol allowed in Baxter State Park?
6.4 The sale or offering for sale of any object or merchandise is prohibited within Baxter State Park. 6.5 General laws of the State pertaining to alcohol and drugs apply within the Park.
Maine law prohibits the drinking of alcoholic beverages in public places
.
Can you live in Baxter State Park?
While
many visitors to Baxter choose to stay at one of the park's numerous campgrounds, those looking for a less rustic experience have plenty of lodging options just outside the park
. You can enjoy all that the park has to offer during the day, then spend a comfortable night at a local inn or lodge.
How do I park at Baxter State Park?
There is a $5 fee to reserve a parking spot at our three Katahdin Trailhead parking lots
. Campers do not require parking reservations. There is a limit of three reservations per person per month. You need to have an account at baxterstatepark.org in order to complete a parking reservation.
What months can you hike Katahdin?
Mount Katahdin can be climbed all year round. The climbing seasons usually runs from mid-May to mid-October. The best time to climb Mount Katahdin will be from
June to September
. This is also the peak season where you will see more climbers.
Can you hike Katahdin in April?
The Park closes Katahdin to all hiking in April
, and trails do not open until at least late May. Plan your start for later, after Memorial Day at least, June 1st better, second week of June best. I recommend the second week of June to ensure a Katahdin trail will be open.
Do you need a bear canister in Baxter State Park?
Leave No Trace:
The Park has a carry-in/carry-out policy
. All waste must be carried out. Keep garbage to a minimum, and store it in your car or hanging from a bear line.
Are there showers in Baxter State Park?
There are no showers, only outhouses
. The park is open for day use from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. You must check-in at the gate no later than 8:30PM on your first night of camping.
Is there a fee for Baxter State Park?
207/723-4443; www.katahdinmaine.com), open Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm. Fees —
Baxter State Park visitors driving cars with out-of-state license plates are charged a per-day fee of $12 per car
. (It's free to Maine residents, as well as to any occupants of a rental car bearing Maine plates.)
Where is Baxter Peak?
Mount Katahdin, Baxter Peak is a 5,268 foot mountain in
Baxter State Park in the state of Maine just northwest of Millinocket
. As well as being the tallest mountain in the state of Maine, It is one of the Northern-most New England 4,000 Footer Mountains.
How many acres is Baxter State Park?
The Park covers
209,644 acres
in northern Maine, encompassing its own mountain range dominated by Katahdin, Maine's highest mountain. It is administered by a special three-member Authority. Baxter State Park is independently funded and receives no taxpayer dollars.
What is a lean to camping?
A lean-to is
a rustic, three-sided shelter built for the comfort of campers and hikers
. In Harriman State Park, these shelters — nine of them, with two additional “ironsides” — are made of rough glacial boulders gathered at the site. Some have tin roofs, and some have shingles.
How hard is it to hike Katahdin?
Hiking Katahdin
requires an elevation gain of around 4,000′
. This is a very strenuous climb no matter which trailhead you chose. The average round trip time for a Katahdin hike is 8-12 hours. The park is open for day use from 6:00am to 10:00pm.
Is Climbing Katahdin hard?
Make no mistake,
climbing Katahdin is tough
. This is not the kind of climb you're going to jump off the couch and conquer. Climbing Katahdin is a 4,000′ elevation gain. No matter what route you take, it will be a strenuous trek to the summit of Baxter Peak, the tallest of the mountain's five granite peaks.
What is the easiest trail up Katahdin?
| Thread Time | Mt. Sill via Bishop Pass 4:42 |
|---|
Is Katahdin harder than Washington?
Katahdin is just as dangerous as Washington in the winter
but the combination of distance and regulations thins out crowds to people who take the mountain more seriously.
Can you hike Katahdin in the rain?
It's more “get on your hands” scrambling than climbing up rocks like you're on the StairMaster.
I had an absolute blast scrambling up in the pouring rain
. If anything, the rain made it more fun. When we were almost up to the summit, a lot of folks were getting cold from the rain.
Do you need a permit to climb Mount Katahdin?
No! There is no permit required to hike Mount Katahdin
. Access to the mountain is controlled by the campsites and parking spots which can be reserved in advance and are also available on a first-come first-served basis.
