Author: Baxter State Park

All Katahdin and Traveler Loop Trails are closed at the trailheads to protect the fragile alpine environment.

The potential Federal Government shutdown does not impact the operations of Baxter State Park!  We will Remain open.

While state parks in Maine use an “off season” policy of first-come/first-served for camping starting in early September, Baxter State Park is not part of Maine’s state park system. Camping Reservations are required at Baxter through the end of the Season on 10/22/2023.

the recording is updated daily to include general information on trail status, water levels, road closures, fire danger, and other useful information for visitors

This includes trails around Abol Bridge, including approximately 3 miles of the Appalachian Trail, Abol Stream trail, and lower portions of Foss & Knowlton and Blueberry Ledges trails. Use of these trails under these conditions is dangerous- hikers risk being caught in swiftwater at stream crossings. The flooding is the result of water release from… Continue reading “CAUTION: Trails in the southern portion of the park are flooded, in places to waist deep or higher” →

The lower portion of the Saddle trail (between Chimney Pond Campgrounds and the Tableland, including the Saddle slide) is open effective Friday 6/23/2023. The Northwest Basin and North Peaks trails remain closed, except for the southernmost section of the Northwest Basin Trail—between the Saddle Trail and Caribou Spring—which is open to allow connecting to the… Continue reading “The lower Saddle Trail (the slide) opens on Friday, 6/23/2023” →

The water at stream crossings on the approach to Russell Pond from the south is about waist high–approaching from South Branch Pond in the north is strongly encouraged

Most Katahdin trails remain closed until further notice Until further notice, the only trails open on Katahdin are the Abol Trail and the Hunt Trail, to Baxter Peak only. Visitors may also hike the Chimney Pond Trail to Chimney Pond, but no further up Katahdin. All other Katahdin trails remain closed- there is no access… Continue reading “” →