What you need to know about the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse and Baxter State Park

In early April, there is no access to Katahdin or the Traveler Range, and limited access to other locations within Baxter State Park. Those wishing to view the April 8th solar eclipse should be aware of the seasonally restricted access and consider making alternative plans.

  • While the Park is open year round, access to much of the Park is completely restricted with the remainder being somewhat limited each April.
  • Seasonal access restrictions are the result of the Park’s primary mission of protecting natural resources, and of logistical difficulties for access to wilderness areas in northern Maine at this time of year. 
  • The Park will have limited access hours on April 6, 7, and 8th- see below
  • The conditions on the day of the eclipse (e.g., snow depth and coverage, lake ice depth, seasonal road conditions) will only be reliably predictable a handful of days in advance of that event.

We recommend that those interested in viewing the solar eclipse in the Katahdin Region seek viewing locations that are outside of the Park.

A comprehensive listing of local events is provided by the Katahdin Chamber of Commerce.