Many exciting things are happening at Baxter State Park in 2026. Click through the options below to learn more about what changes we’re making to improve our visitors’ experiences, what educational opportunities are available and ways to get involved, and ongoing projects in the Park that may affect visitor usage.

5,268 Feet Above Sea Level

With the anticipated installation of a new Katahdin summit sign this summer, the Baxter Peak elevation will reflect a change from 5,267 to 5,268 feet. While some places in the northeastern U.S. may still be gaining elevation as they rebound from the retreat of the last glaciers that covered the landscape, it is more common for mountains in the region, including Katahdin, to be slowly eroding and losing elevation. So why the upward change on the sign?

The Katahdin summit sign is replaced every several years, when the weathering it sustains in the harsh environment of the mountaintop renders it beyond repair. Astute observers or map collectors may have noticed that the elevation of this tallest point in Maine is not consistent between different signs, markers, and maps. The seemingly straightforward task of determining the most accurate (or “correct”) elevation of Katahdin for the purposes of our new sign is more challenging than one might expect.

The authoritative source for peak elevation in the U.S. is the National Geodetic Survey of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Their data sheet collection is associated with two elevation markers on Baxter Peak, listed at elevations 5,266 and 5,270 feet. These points were established in 1955, and the methods for measuring elevation have been refined since that time. The compilation of elevations and distances maintained by another federal agency, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), lists Katahdin (as Maine’s highest elevation) as 5,268 feet. The USGS is also the source of the National Map. The elevation displayed on this web-based map is derived from LiDAR, which is currently the most accurate remote sensing elevation technology, with a vertical accuracy of ten centimeters (or about four inches). Both this digital elevation model and one available to us in mapping software show the highest elevation on Katahdin as 5,267 feet. However, the most recent field measurement of Katahdin’s summit that is known to us was made by a group from the University of Maine. Their measurement, which we understand utilized modern equipment applied to the traditional survey method of triangulation, calculated an elevation of 5,268.8 feet.

There are numerous publishers of maps of Baxter State Park and Katahdin. The variety of elevation levels on these reflect the same uncertainty between 5,267 and 5,268’ for the peak’s height. Even the map published by the Park as a companion to its guidebook (originally published by Stephen Clark) has vacillated, with the older versions showing 5,267’ and a change to 5,268’ appearing in the 2015 edition. 

While we now fuss over discrepancies of mere inches, earlier estimates and measurements of Katahdin’s height varied widely. In his book Katahdin: An Historic Journey, John Neff recounts that in 1804, surveyor Charles Turner Jr. estimated the height of Katahdin to be 13,000’. An expedition undertaken at the time of Maine’s establishment as a state in 1820 (and associated with land and boundary surveys that established the state’s monument lines) employed a barometer to estimate the height at 5,385’.

Given the information available to us, we settled on labeling the elevation of the summit of Katahdin as 5,268 feet above sea level. For those who use the metric system, the one-foot change on the new sign represents a change of only a fraction of a meter, from 1,605.4 to 1,605.7 meters. Note that both of these heights are greater than 1,600 meters, so the summit cairn serves no purpose in building the mountain up to be a mile high, as some anecdotes suggest it has. The 5,268’ label on the new sign will match the information on existing signs at Thoreau Spring and Pamola Peak, and the Park’s own published map. On the other hand, it will depart from the 5,267’ reported on the metal plaque affixed to stone near the summit, which was installed in 1932.

Some may view the enduring discrepancies between these informational sources as inaccuracies that should be corrected, but they also tell the story of our evolving knowledge or conceptions. Is there a way to more definitively determine the “correct” elevation of Katahdin? Perhaps. In this era of head-spinning technological advances, one might expect that the height of a mountain could be measured to within an inch. But consider that the legends of the longest inhabitants of these lands, the Wabanaki people, do not tell of a specific measure of the height of this “Greatest Mountain.” Nor do Governor Baxter’s voluminous writings concern themselves with pinpointing such measures, but rather focus on preserving the wildness of the place as a counterbalance to the modern world. In that spirit we have not pursued the ultimate measurements, and instead value a place as special and wild as Katahdin for its wonder and commanding presence above any numerical label we can apply to its summit.

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Making a Multi-night Camping Reservation Just Got Easier!

In 2026 and beyond, campers will be able to book 4 consecutive nights of camping at the same campsite online. Learn more about these changes below!

What Changes Are Being Made, and Why?

The changes to the online reservation portal aim to improve visitors’ experience in making reservations and to make access to camping at Baxter State Park more equitable. The addition of the capability to make a multi-night reservation online eliminates the need for campers to call our reservations office in order to extend their stay past one night, which could entail long waits on our phone lines. Shortening the extension window (from 14 nights to 4 nights at a time) will also minimize the extent to which campsites are already reserved at each daily opening of the 4-month rolling window.

1. Visitors will be able to extend camping reservations online for up to four consecutive nights at the same campsite

Summer camping in Baxter State Park becomes available on a rolling 4-month basis, meaning that on January 15th, reservations become available for May 15th; on January 16th, they become available for May 16th; and so on.

Until now, when the 4-month rolling window opened for each day of camping, online reservations were limited to a single night, requiring visitors to call our reservation office for extensions beyond the 4-month rolling reservation window. Effective for our Summer 2026 season, visitors will be able to use the online reservation portal to reserve their initial night plus three (3) consecutive nights beyond the 4-month rolling window at the same campsite.

This adjustment does not alter the existing limitations of seven (7) consecutive nights at a single site or campground and fourteen (14) consecutive nights within the Park. Should a visitor wish to prolong their stay within the same campground beyond four consecutive nights or relocate to a different campsite on any night, they must wait for the four-month rolling window to reserve that location. This policy will also apply to in-person, mail-in, and call-in reservation requests, which will still be required for backcountry campgrounds/sites, bunkhouses, group areas, and accessible sites. An exception will allow for reserving consecutive multi-night backcountry trips that utilize multiple backcountry sites for up to the 14-night maximum, in order to facilitate the logistics of such trips. When backcountry campgrounds (Russell Pond or Chimney Pond) are part of a backcountry trip’s route, stays there will be included in the trip’s reservation (which will be made by BSP Reservations staff), but will still be limited to 4 nights.

This policy does not apply to trips longer than 4 nights in which all dates are already within the 4-month rolling window; for example, if it is June 1 and you wish to book an open campsite for June 13 – June 20, you may do so without having to make multiple reservations.

2. The Online Reservation Portal will open at 6 AM

Beginning with the Summer 2026 season, the online reservation portal will be accessible at 6:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (instead of 12:01 AM). As before, access to reserve each camping day will become available exactly 4 months prior to that date (on a daily rolling basis).

These changes will be made effective starting January 15, 2026, for making reservations for the 2026 summer season.

Learn more about this process and other updates being made to our reservation system with visual guides by reading through our 2026 Changes – Online Reservation Portal document.

How It Works

Example 1 – Moving Between Two Front Country Sites:

I want to stay at a Daicey Pond cabin for 5 nights, then move to a Katahdin Stream lean-to for two more nights, for the dates August 3-10.

Daicey Pond and Katahdin Stream are roadside campgrounds; therefore, reservations can be made using the online reservation portal.

The online* reservation process would be:

• On April 3rd, you may log in to your online portal account to reserve the Daicey Pond Cabin for the nights of August 3-6 by selecting those dates on the calendar. You have reached the limit for reserving beyond the 4-month rolling window, so you must wait before continuing to reserve your remaining dates.
• On April 7th, you may log in to your online portal account to continue your reservation by selecting the same or another Daicey Pond Cabin for August 7. Because you want to move to a new site for the following dates, you must wait for the 4-month rolling window to open for those dates.
• On April 8th, you may log in to your online portal account to reserve the Katahdin Stream lean-to for August 8 and 9.

*These reservations could also be made in person, by phone, or by mail, and will follow the same process as above.

Each of the three transactions will create a separate reservation that will together represent your August 3-10 visit.

Example 2 – Moving Between Three Front Country Sites & Staying in the Park for 14 Nights:

I want to stay at South Branch campground in a lean-to for 2 nights, then move to Nesowadnehunk Field lean-to for 4 nights, and finish my stay at Abol campground in a lean-to for 7 days. Trip dates are July 1-14.

South Branch, Nesowadnehunk Field, and Abol are all roadside campgrounds; therefore, reservations can be made using the online reservation portal.

The online* reservation process will be:

• On March 1st, you may log in to your online portal account to reserve a lean-to at South Branch campground for July 1-2. Because you want to move to a new site for the following dates, you must wait for the 4-month rolling window to open for those dates.
• On March 3rd, you may log in to your online portal account to reserve a lean-to at Nesowadnehunk Field for July 3-6. Again, because you want to move to a new site for the following dates, you must wait for the 4-month rolling window to open for those dates.
• On March 7th, you may log in to your online portal account to reserve a lean-to at Abol campground for July 7-10. You have reached the limit for reserving beyond the 4-month rolling window, so you must wait before continuing to reserve your remaining dates.
• On March 11th, you may log in to your online portal account to reserve the same or another lean-to at Abol campground for the nights of July 11-13.

*These reservations could also be made in person, by phone, or by mail, and will follow the same process as above.

Each of the 4 transactions will create a separate reservation that will together represent your July 1-14 visit.

Example 3 – Reserving for a Backcountry trip:

I want to do a 9-night backpacking trip starting South Branch for one (1) night, hike to Pogy Pond for one (1) night, hike to Russell Pond for one (1) night, then hike to Wassataquoik Lake for two (2) nights, moving to Center Pond for three (3) nights, and then ending my trip at Nesowadnehunk Field for my last night. Trip dates are September 21-30.

Backcountry sites cannot be reserved online; therefore, reservations must be made in person, by phone, or by mail.

The reservation process will be:

• On May 21st, you may call the reservation office to reserve all nine (9) nights. Since your first night at South Branch Pond (a frontcountry campground) is already within the reservation window you may reserve it yourself online, or request they it be included as part of your backcountry reservation when you contact the Park. Since your stay at Russell Pond, a backcountry campground, is part of a backpacking route, it will be included in the reservation. Nesowadnehunk Field is a roadside campground, but visitors staying multiple nights at backcountry sites in the Park are able to reserve one (1) night at a roadside campground at the end of their trip.

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Want to Learn More About the Park’s Natural & Cultural History? See Our Schedule of Educational Programs & Events!

Below is just a taste of some of the programs we’ve lined up:

Nature Walks on the Roaring Brook Nature Trail

Join BSP’s education staff on these guided walks of the Roaring Brook Nature Trail. Discover the fascinating carnivorous plants that make their home within the trail’s bog, delve into Maine’s thriving forest communities, and learn about how glaciers carved many of the most arresting and iconic features on Katahdin. Anticipated dates include Fridays, 6/19 & 6/26, and then Saturdays, 7/04, 7/18, 8/01, 8/15, & 8/29 from 2 – 3 p.m. Meet at the Roaring Brook Ranger Station. Limited to 10 participants on a first come, first served basis. Participants are encouraged to sign up in advance at the ranger station.

Nature Walks on the Daicey Pond Nature Trail

Join BSP’s education staff on these guided walks of the Daicey Pond Nature Trail. Unearth the incredible history of the Daicey Pond Campground, explore fairytale-esque mossy forests, and gain insight into the names of surrounding mountains. Anticipated dates include Saturdays, 6/20, 6/27, 7/11, 7/25, 8/08, & 8/22 from 2 – 4 p.m. Meet at the Daicey Pond Library. Limited to 10 participants on a first come, first served basis. Participants are encouraged to sign up in advance at the ranger station.

Visiting Writer Residency

This year, for the first time ever, Baxter State Park will host a visiting writer in honor of the legacy writers have had on shaping the Katahdin region and conservation. Check back later to see who our 2026 visiting writer will be and how you can interact with them!

Nocturnal Wildlife

Under the light of the waning moon, join Maine Master Naturalist Serena Sanborn on Friday, 7/03, from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Daicey Pond Library to learn about the Park’s nocturnal wildlife. Discover the secret, fascinating lives of moths and other nocturnal insects; learn more about how dark skies – such as those found in Baxter State Park – are critical to the health of many wildlife populations; and uncover how natural light such as different phases of the moon can affect wildlife behavior. Take part in an interactive component at the end!

The Bats of Baxter State Park

If you’ve ever been fishing in the evening or looked up into the fading twilight while camping in Baxter State Park, odds are that you may have seen a bat — or several! Throughout history, bats have often been regarded as spooky, as unwelcome nuisances, or even as dangerous intruders. But the truth is that they’re some of humanity’s most important allies in the animal kingdom. Now, with several species of bats facing extinction, understanding and providing good stewardship for these incredibly helpful creatures is more important than ever. Join BSP’s Interpretive Specialist, Cassandra Knudsen, at the Kidney Pond Library on Friday, 7/10 from 5 – 6 p.m. to learn more about these fascinating and often maligned night flyers.

Forest Ecology & Tree ID Guided Walk

Perhaps, while walking through the dense forests of northern Maine, you’ve paused to consider the surrounding trees. Maybe you’ve wondered which trees you were looking at, and why some trees were present while others weren’t. Perhaps you’ve wondered how the surrounding tree communities affect which wildlife you’re likely to see on your hike. For answers to these questions and more, join Maine Forest Service Forester Lauren Ouellette for a guided walk on the nature loop around Daicey Pond from 3 – 5 p.m. on Friday, 7/17. Learn how to tell tree species apart by their leaves and bark, gain further insight into how certain trees influence an ecosystem and vice versa, and discover tips and tricks for reading the story of a landscape. Meet at the Daicey Pond Library. Limited to 10 participants on a first come, first served basis. Participants are encouraged to sign up in advance at the ranger station.

Annual Loon Count

Every year, Baxter State Park teams up with Maine Audubon for this statewide community science project. On the third Saturday of July, volunteers take to the water to help monitor the health of Maine’s loon population, submitting critical data that influences conservation efforts. This year, the loon count will take place on Saturday, 7/18, from 7 – 7:30 a.m. Want to volunteer to count loons on one of Baxter State Park’s iconic ponds? E-mail [email protected]. Psst — you can take your fly rod with you for after the count!

Look Out for Loons

Join us on Saturday, 7/18, from 6 – 6:45 p.m., on the evening after the annual Loon Count, at the Kidney Pond Library as Kidney Pond Ranger and local loon enthusiast Robin Stevens presents on one of Maine’s most iconic animals — loons! Visitors can expect to learn about their different vocalizations, mating and nesting habits, dangers that loons face, and how to preserve and protect these beloved waterfowl even beyond the borders of Baxter State Park. If you volunteered for the loon count in the morning, bring your paperwork to turn in!

Freshwater Bioblitz

Just below the burbling surface of the Nesowadnehunk Stream, life teems and thrives amidst the rocks and aquatic vegetation. Want to get hands on and learn more about this fascinating underwater world? Dive in with Maine Master Naturalist Sara McQuarrie on Friday, 7/31 from 2 – 4 p.m. on the Nesowadnehunk Bridge, near the Nesowadnehunk Ranger Station. During this interactive program, participants will take water samples, identify different aquatic species, and learn more about freshwater ecology. Wear water shoes and bug spray. Families are encouraged to attend!

Guided Geology Walk

Anyone who has ever hiked Katahdin or visited the southern expanse of Baxter State Park may well be familiar with the way that glaciers carved out some of the Park’s most iconic features, including jagged arêtes like the Knife Edge and Hamlin Ridge, amphitheater-like cirques such as the Great Basin, and immense glacial erratics such as the Kidney Stone. But glaciers were not the only forces that shaped Baxter State Park. In the north end, where granite gives way to rhyolite and the Traveler dominates the horizon, evidence of the landscape’s volcanic history becomes apparent. To unveil the secrets held in the stones of the Park, join State of Maine Geologist Lindsay Theis at the South Branch Pond Ranger Station on Friday, 8/07, from 2 – 3 p.m. for a guided walk of the Ledges Trail. Limited to 10 participants each on a first come, first served basis. Participants are encouraged to sign up in advance at the ranger station.

Dark Skies & Stargazing

Long before the beginning of written history, humans have looked up into the night sky and found meaning printed on the shapes and patterns in the stars. Today, access to dark skies continues to have a profound impact on us and the wildlife we share our planet with. Yet throughout much of the world, light pollution washes away all but the most vivid constellations. Fortunately, the immense wilderness area of Baxter State Park offers some of the darkest skies in all of Maine. Join Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument Dark Sky Ranger Heidi Hummel on Friday, 8/14 at the Kidney Pond Library to learn more about the cultural and natural significance of this incredible natural resource. Heidi will present an educational program in the library from 8 – 9 p.m. and then lead a star party in the field from 9 – 10 p.m.

Guided Lichen Walk

They’re the splotchy patterns on stones and bark. They’re the branching, tree-like entities growing out of the ground in patches. They’re the leafy structures on the sides of trees. Created from a symbiotic partnership between fungi and either algae or cyanobacteria, lichens are some of the most unique and interesting organisms on the planet. They serve many purposes, from breaking down stones into soil so that plants can move into an area, to indicating the cleanness of the air. To learn more about these amazing lifeforms, join Maine Master Naturalist Grace Bartlett on a guided walk of the Roaring Brook Nature Trail from 3 – 4:30 p.m. on Friday, 8/21. Meet at the Roaring Brook Ranger Station. Limited to 10 participants each on a first come, first served basis. Participants are encouraged to sign up in advance at the ranger station.

Skull & Track ID Games, followed by a presentation on the Predators of Baxter State Park

Throughout history, humanity has had a tenuous relationship with wild predators. Even as we fear their teeth, many of us cannot help but to feel captivated by their power and charisma. From the eerie songs of coyotes in the dark, to the soft footprints in the snow marking the passage of a lynx, to the specter of black bears prowling in the woods, predators tend to chill and excite us in equal measure. Yet they also play an undeniably essential role in a healthy ecosystem. To unravel some of the mystery surrounding the lives and characteristics of these remarkable animals, join BSP’s Interpretive Specialist Cassandra Knudsen on Saturday, 8/30 at the Kidney Pond Library from 4 – 5 p.m. to test your knowledge of skulls and tracks, then hang out for an educational program on predators from 5 – 6 p.m. This program will make use of skins and skulls.

Visiting Artist Residency

To honor the legacy of artists who have shaped the culture of the Katahdin region and beyond, Baxter State Park annually hosts a visiting artist for two weeks in September. Check back later to see who our visiting artist for the 2026 season will be and how you can interact with them!

And More!

Look for additional upcoming information on programs about long distance hiking and campfire ethics & safety!

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What Is Our Trail Crew Up To This Year?

Dedicated to the conservation and improvement of Baxter State Park’s historic trail network, members of the BSP Trail Crew undertake extremely labor-intensive and physically challenging work – often with unwavering good cheer and camaraderie! You may encounter the Trail Crew at work, especially if you hike any of the trails listed among the projects below.

Annual Maintenance

• Parkwide: Early season blowdown patrol.
• Katahdin’s tableland: annual string fencing of the west side alpine trails.
• Maintenance on the Russell Pond Trail and Wadleigh Brook Trail.

Construction Projects

Katahdin

• Hunt Trail: The bridge near Katahdin Stream Falls will be removed and replaced this year during early summer 2026. Hikers should expect to use a temporary bypass trail for the first mile of the trail to safely avoid the construction area. This is the same temporary bypass that was utilized in 2019. Hikers will be able to locate this trail along the road to the Katahdin Stream Ranger station and it will be flagged with blue tape. There is no significant change to overall trail mileage. Hiker’s who wish to utilize the original route along the Hunt Trail instead of the bypass will be required to ford Katahdin Stream downstream of the construction site. This bridge replacement is expected to be complete by late June.
• Chimney Pond Trail: Two major projects will take place on this trail this season. The Chimney Pond Trail will be realigned in preparation for the future replacement of the “High Bridge.” Additionally, the trail crew will perform check step installation and “ditch-and-drain” repair of the Chimney Pond Trail above the Upper Saddle Brook bridge. Both of these projects will involve intensive construction. Hikers should be prepared for the visual and audible impacts of ongoing construction throughout the season. Hikers may be required to pause and wait for instruction from staff regarding when and how to safely pass through the construction sites.
• Dudley Trail: Quarrying stones for future trail hardening structures.
• Katahdin’s Tableland: Replacement of the Baxter Peak Summit Sign. Replacement of most (if not all) faded trail signs and signposts on Katahdin.

West Side

• AT South of Daicey Pond Campground: Replacement of bog bridging
• Foss & Knowlton Trail: Replacement of bog bridging.
• OJI Trail: Drainage installation

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What Projects Will Rangers and Maintenance Staff Undertake This Year?

Check back later!

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What’s New in the Campgrounds?

Changes to Trout Brook Farm Campsites

Two campsites at Trout Brook Farm will be different in the 2026 summer camping season.

1. Tent Site 26 is now Lean-to Site 4. In fall of 2025, Park staff constructed a lean-to in this former tent site. Following BSP naming convention, the site has been renamed.
2. Tent Site 16 is being moved away from the Tote Road. The map below indicates Tent Site 16’s former location in yellow and its new location going forward in orange. We anticipate this new location away from the Tote Road will be more comfortable for visitors.

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What’s Happening in the SFMA?

Check back later!