Info on Baxter State Park

[adkdremn]

I'm considering a family trip to Baxter this summer, but don't know a whole lot about the area. I know Peanut Butter has been there a few times and probably has a lot of good info and I remember reading Percious' report back over the summer, but need some more help.

Does Baxter St. Park offer car camping opportunities or is it mostly backpacking stuff. The trip would consist of my wife and I and our 2 kids who will be 6 and 3 by summer. Also coming would be my brother and his wife, my sister and her husband and my parents. We usually do one car camping trip a summer and this year I want to check out something different!

Is Khatadin doable as a day hike? I wouldn't be doing it with my kids, probably just the guys.

I will really appreciate any info you guys can give me. Good spots to stay, etc. Thanks!---Andy

[adkdremn]

I checked out Baxter's website. The place looks great, only one problem. While all the girls of the family enjoy camping and hiking they still require shower facilities at the campgrounds we stay at. Not to mention they probably wouldn't be too excited about pit or tank toilets either.

This may have to be a guys only trip!

[Daniel Eagan]

Excellent car camping at Roaring Brook. From there Katahdin is definitely doable as a day hike via many different routes.

At the end of every day we drove down to Togue Pond to go swimming. Drift out into the middle of the pond and you get an unobstructed view of Katahdin.

I don't advocate bathing in ponds, but swimming in Togue was as refreshing as a shower.

[Skyclimber]

When we went ten or so years ago, we made "nightly" visits to Sandy Pond, to watch the Moose. A nice view of Kathadin could be seen there too!
We went up and down the Abol Slide. We had a great time. That Mountain is totally Awesome !!!

[Boreal Chickadee]

Baxter is mostly car camping with a few backcountry sites. You must register for all sites, unlike the Adirondacks.

Katahdin is doable as a day hike regardless of where you stay in the park. Teh last time I climbed Katahdin we were camping at Trout Brook and made an early morning drive down to Katahdin Stream for our start. You do have to take into consideration that is about an horu and a half drive along the tote rode. Teh t ote road is dirt, wellpacked , but you defintely don't make any speed at all. You won't want to anyway because the views are incredible.

Nope, no showers. Bring along a kitchen tub to wash you hair in. When we used to stay for two weeks, we would leave the park at one week for a day trip out the upper gate to a little store with propane powered refrigerators that sold ice cream and take a shower at the next camping area down the road. Tell your wife this can be done. I've even taken a toddler up there and stayed two weeks. And she was in diapers.

Toilets- Baxter has upgraded to the most amazing composting toilets. I would have one in my own home, that's how good they are. Solar powered venting, cement floor, great little outhouse, about 3 to 4 times the size of those in the dacks.

Be prepared to take in your own water or bring along a couple of reliable filters. All water must be filtered in the park. The tannins have colored most of the water in the park so you may need to educate the girls about the tea colored water. I'd bring cheesecloth or such for a good prefilter.

Fishing in the Nesowahedunk is great. The native trout are small within the park but absolutely delicious.

How about having Grandma and Grandpa watch thelittle ones so your wife cna climb Katahdin? I took my oldest son up when he had just turned 5 a few weeks before. Didn't get my youngest son up unitl he was 10. Kids are so resilient. They come down and bounce off to play. My son got off the mountain and roade his bike around. I wrapped my knees in towels soaked in ice cold stream water. (knee sugeries later)

Even the rangers do not have electricity or phones. They communicate by 2 way radio. This is a wonderful place. Although over the years I saw more boom boxes etc from when I first went there. Civilization encroaching .

Great place to see mosse and bears.

Canoes are cheap cheap cheap to rent in the park at the campgrounds. Canoe out and you'll see moose, bear, beavers coming to drink along the shore.

One last piece of advice: Most people will ignore this but if you want to appreciate this masterpiece of Maine, PLEASE take the time at the headquarters to watch the introductory movie about Perceival Baxter and Baxter STate Park. (I watched every trip) This land was his gift to the people of the state of Maine. If you watch the movie you will forever look upon this lland with different eyes and a new appreciation for this incredible man and his vision.

Go, and fall in love with this amazing country.

[percious]

PB put down some very nice information. I would like to add a few things. Last year I spent 5 days up in Maine with some friends, mostly in the backcountry. Katahdin was pretty amazing, and it is an experience I will never forget. Here are some pictures:

http://www.percious.com/hiking/HP/HP%20%2D%20ME%20%2D%20June%202005%20%2D%20P1/index.html

I would say that Katahdin as a dayhike from Roaring Brook is definitely do-able, but it is a long hike for people who are not experienced. We split the hike over 2 days. If you have an experienced lot, and there is little wind, I recommend hitting knife's edge, which is an incredible experience. Baxter Peak from the other side (Abol trail) is a considerably shorter hike.

You will need to get to the park early to have the priveledge of hiking Baxter. The park only allows a certain number of day-hikers if you decide to stay outside of the park. That being said, I highly recommend Katahdin Shadows (resort/campground) We rented a small cabin there. It was a quite place with an excellent pool (great after a long drive). Bring your own sheets/pillows tho.

Hope you have a great trip!

-percious

[Mavs00]

We did it this summer and it was a ball. The 2 posts above pretty much gave you great stuff. I would add that Katahdin is easily a Day trip. We had a class 2 weather day so they warned us of real exposed routes (thunderstorms passing through was a called for late in the day), so we choose what is commonly refered to as the easiest route up, The Saddle Slide Trail.

And guess what, going up and back that route, it was real easy. I did it with my 14 y/o son and 12 y/o daughter and they were fine (we met and saw many other kids too). In fact we all agreed the trail was easier than many of the harder 46, and WAAAAAAAAY more spectacular. With one exception, ROCKS. There are tons of rocks on this one and your feet will feel em by the end of the day. We did the whole thing in just under 9 hours from Roaring Brook, so it certainly doable in a day.

The trip was last minute sorta, so we ended up staying in Millinocket, ME (30-40 minutes away).

[Mavs00]

A little something to get you Katahdindreamn. I'm ADK through and through, but this place is special.

[adkdremn]

What a picture Mavs, that's amazing!! Thanks to all for the very helpful information! Mavs did you camp in the town you stayed in? I'm wondering what other, if any state parks would be close by that would meet all the women folks bathroom needs.

[AdkWiley]

great shot mavs, breathtaking. makes me want to head out there and camp and hike this summer