How to Visit Baxter State Park
Baxter State Park is a 200,000 acre wilderness park that was created by Percival P. Baxter, a former governor of Maine who died in 1969. The land was a gift to the people of Maine with the condition that it stay in a natural wild state and be used for recreational purposes. It is located in north-central Maine and is the home of the state's highest peak, Mt. Katahdin. Baxter State Park is abundant with mountains, ponds, lakes, streams, waterfalls and bogs. Wildlife is plentiful including moose, deer, bear and bobcat. Insects, amphibians and plant life are there to discover. This is truly a nature lover's paradise for camping, hiking and exploring the wilds of nature. Getting to Baxter State Park is a long trek by car, but it's well worth the effort.
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Things You'll Need
- Reservations
- Binoculars
- Camera
- Bottled water
- Plenty of clothes
- Rain wear
- Shoes for rough terrain
Instructions
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Make reservations. On the Baxter State Park Authority website (see Resources), you can download the application needed to make a reservation. You can mail the application or deliver it in person. The headquarters is open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday during the off peak season. During the peak of the season, Memorial Day to Columbus Day weekend, they are open seven days a week. If mailing the application, send to Baxter State Park, Reservations, 64 Balsam Drive, Millinocket, Maine, 04462. Because the park is so popular and camping sites fill up rapidly, make reservations four months in advance to secure the site you want. On the form, you will be asked to choose alternate sites. There are ten campgrounds to pick from. Choose as many sites as you can. Reservation fees must accompany the application.
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Plan your trip. Begin planning by reading about the park, so you will understand what you need to bring with you. Once you enter the park, there are no stores available. You will need to bring your own drinking water, food and first aid. Plan on extra clothing and bring rain gear. Footwear should be sturdy. Bathroom facilities are outhouses. No pets are allowed in the park. No motorcycles, ATVs or motorbikes are allowed. No audio devices or power equipment are allowed. When you leave, you must take all your trash with you.
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Decide what you want to do at the park. There are over 200 miles of trails and 46 mountain peaks. The trails are a slight challenge with all the rocks and roots, but manageable with the correct footwear. Climbing the mountains requires you to sign in at the station for your own safety. During the evening the park has activities for the campers. Learn about the nocturnal animals or listen to the stories of being a camp ranger. Many love to hear Donn Fendler tell the his true story about being "Lost on a Mountain in Maine." Children can learn how to read a compass and a map. They can explore nearby ponds and study pond life.
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Consider bringing a group of friends. Baxter State Park has sites for large groups to camp together.
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