Baxter State Park: the Ultimate Hiking Destination in the Maine Highlands

While the lighthouses and coves of Coastal Maine are usually what comes to mind when you think of a trip up here, Baxter State Park is really where Maine takes hold and makes you fall in love with it. The countless still ponds reflecting the surrounding hills and Mount Katahdin, the waterfalls and streams, and the beautiful trails make visiting Baxter State Park a must when you’re visiting the Highlands of Maine, especially in the fall. We’ve got some great hiking ideas for you, as well as other great options for how to enjoy Baxter State Park if you’re looking for a more laid back visit.

Have you gotten to spend time up here in the mountains of Maine before? It’s a very different landscape and vibe than you’ll find anywhere else in the state, and Baxter State Park is the perfect setting for having a new experience. Read on and see if we can inspire you to plan a trip up here, and if it’s old hat to you, maybe you’ll find a new spot to check out. If you have any questions about visiting Baxter State Park or the Highlands, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a wonderful adventure exploring Maine.

Highlights of Visiting Baxter State Park

So are you hiking Katahdin? If you’re not, that’s fine and you’ll have plenty more to enjoy and explore in Baxter State Park. While climbing Mount Katahdin is a big attraction to visiting the park, it’s not for everyone and is actually a really difficult hike. Between the steep ascent and the shale trails, the routes can be daunting, especially if you’re not in great hiking shape.

So, what should you plan for when you’re in Baxter State Park? Plan on doing the many pond hikes, watching for wildlife, and enjoying the waterfalls. You can choose from complete relaxation at the ponds near the road or parking areas, or you can be adventurous. There are lots of good places for a picnic, or you can try to impress your friends with an epically long hike. You do you. Baxter State Park is a very diverse sort of outdoor destination.

And if you’re looking for kayaking and canoeing, you’re in luck! You can bring your own paddling gear or rent canoes at both Daicey and Kidney Ponds. And don’t worry, the ponds are more like lakes but they’re rather shallow. If you’re paddling, be sure that you’ve got your life jackets (they’re available at the launches too).

Favorite Hikes in Baxter State Park

I really enjoy the Sandy Stream Pond hike from the Roaring Brook campground. It’s about a half hour’s drive on the dirt road to the right after you go through the Togue Pond Gate entrance. The hike is fairly easy, has good planks to keep you out of the mud in many areas, and the views around the ponds are absolutely beautiful.

The trail system surrounding Sandy Stream Pond includes quite a few spur trails to get you to the pond’s edge for wildlife watching. Another great trail in the same area is the Whidden Ponds Trail. This is a bit longer and takes you a bit higher in elevation than the Sandy Stream Pond hike, but it’s still not a difficult one. You can keep it going on this trail and eventually get to Russell Pond and more. The ponds here are beautiful and very similar to some of the ones you’ll find in Acadia National Park.

My other favorite of the easy hikes in Baxter State Park is the Little and Big Niagara Trail. This leaves from the Daicey Pond area and is part of the Appalachian Trail. This is a good hike with some beautiful forests, interesting rocks and two waterfalls. Both of the waterfalls are really pretty and you can enjoy views and even a little cool off if you want.

Other trails you might want to consider include:

• Double Top Mountain from Nesowadnehunk
• Slaughter, Draper and Rocky Ponds
• Katahdin Stream Falls
• Little Abol Falls

If you’re looking for easy hikes in the Northeast part of Baxter State Park at the Matagamon Gate and Trout Pond, most of those hikes have a lot of intense elevation gain, but there are some shorter hikes and interpretive trails. The Freezeout Trail is a longer hike with minimal elevation gain if you’re down for a fun hike with a stream to ford.

Tips for Visiting Baxter State Park

When you’re plotting out your time in Baxter State Park you can break it down into relaxing and active times. There are so many areas within the park that you can just chill and enjoy the views, just like you can go from trial to trail conquering the end of the Appalachain Trail. So, what I suggest is to choose a solid hike for the morning and an easy hike for the later afternoon, with some lovely relaxation in the middle. Planning your time this way, you should be able to experience Baxter State Park quite fully over two days. If you are also planning on visiting the east side of the park, that will require its own full day as it’s quite the drive from the Millinocket area through or around the park to the Matagamon Gate and Trout Pond, and since you’re over there you’ll want to explore a bit of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.

Camping or renting a cabin on the west side of Baxter State Park is an ideal way to both really enjoy the quiet nature of the area and maximize your time. Not everyone gets to enjoy camping or doing a cabin in Baxter State Park, but if you can make it work, do it! The forest campgrounds and the areas around the ponds are absolutely beautiful and provide that quintessential Maine Highlands experience. If you’re able to reserve one of the cabins in the park, you’ll really love the peace and calm of waking up in the morning at Daicey or Kidney Pond and watching the loons and hopefully moose as the sun rises. I think it’s such a special sort of travel, in particular if you can enjoy it with kids.

If you’re not up for camping in Baxter State Park, you can also stay at one of the other camps or lodges outside the park. The New England Outdoor Center is awesome and is a vacation in itself. Also, the Penobscot Outdoor Center (which is now part of NEOC) is very close to the park entrance, and there are cabins there as well.

When to Visit Baxter State Park

Mid autumn is the best time to visit Baxter State Park and not just for the fall colors. Come fall, the park gets a bit more quiet as cooler temperatures keep away the visitors who don’t want to deal with cold mornings and iffy weather. But it’s this change that brings the moose more into the open as the rut begins. The mix of falling leaves and looking for moose make a fall visit to Baxter State Park of the top experiences you can plan for in Maine.

If you’re visiting in spring or fall, it’s extra important to check the Park Conditions page for updates about which areas are accessible. The state park does a lot of work on the roads when there are fewer visitors and also weather conditions may close certain roads. Always confirm what you’ll be able to access before you visit!

Being Prepared for Baxter State Park

There are no services within Baxter State Park, so if you’re heading in you need to be well prepared. There are some ranger stations at Togue, Matagamon, Katahdin Stream and at Nesowadnehunk, but these are staffed purely for safety and information purposes. Before you’ve left Millinocket, stop into Hannaford or the convenience store and stock up on water and snacks, and maybe just bring everything you need for an awesome picnic. If you’re heading out hiking, bring plenty of water for each person, snacks, and a first aid kit.

TIP: download an offline map of Baxter State Park before you enter. This is helpful for both driving from point to point and for when you’re out hiking. There is ZERO CELL SERVICE in the park. Because there is no cell reception in Baxter State Park you’ll need to be able to take care of yourselves in case of emergency. If you do have a Garmin In-Reach or similar satellite communication device, that’s a great safety precaution, particularly if you’re hiking Mount Katahdin.

For most hikes, general hiking boots are fine but if it’s been rainy, Xtra Tuff rubber boots may even be helpful. I like hiking in my galoshes because there are times when I get distracted and choose to go off trail for a brief moment. If it’s the summer and you think you’ll not be doing too much intense hiking or it’s nice and dry, Keen sandals are fine too.

Camera gear is also recommended when you’re hiking in Maine, and in Baxter State Park you’ll want to have a good telephoto lens too. The wildlife opportunities are so wonderful and you don’t want to miss that epic photo when you see a moose in the park (my fingers are crossed for you).

Do I Need Bear Spray in Baxter State Park?

I like to tell people that they should take whatever safety precautions they need when they’re heading into the wilderness. Do you need bear spray? I have not personally seen a bear in Baxter State Park, but they are around. You should only have bear spray though if you know how to properly use it. It can be very dangerous if you DON’T know how to actually use it, and then you’ll be in a world of hurt and danger. Just be safe.

Getting to Baxter State Park

Baxter State Park is located about four hours from Portland, Maine, or about two hours from Bangor. The closest town with the most services is Millinocket, which is closer to the Togue Gate / Western Entrance than the other access points. When you arrive, entry for Maine residents if free and covers everyone in the vehicle, but out of state visitors will need to pay WITH CASH. Due to the popularity of some areas in Baxter State Park, when you enter and register with a park ranger, you’ll need to let them know where you’re planning to hike or see. You may be given a numbered pass or alternative instructions based on what your plans are. Be thoughtful IN ADVANCE so that you can have the best experience when you do finally get to enter Baxter State Park.

More Things to do in the Highlands of Maine

The Highlands of Maine stretch from Bangor and sprawl to the north and west following the rise of the Appalachians. There are lots of small towns and state parks, and some of the most beautiful sights in Maine. I know that most people think of coastal Maine and its lighthouses when they think of what they’ll see when they come for a visit, but the Highlands are really the playground of Mainers. This region is why Maine is called “Vacationland” and you’ll see why when you come for a visit.

And you cannot forget that the Highlands is an epic winter playground too, with destinations like Sunday River, Saddleback and Sugarloaf. In winter you’ve got downhill and Nordic skiing, and in summer it’s all about hiking and fishing. During fall this is where you come for leaf peeping and to look for moose and other Maine wildlife.

Here are some great ideas for ways to enjoy the Highlands of Maine.

Where to Stay in the Highlands

Depending on the season you’re visiting the Highlands, you will have different options for where to stay. If you’re planning on climbing Mount Katahdin or doing a portion of the Appalachian Trail, Millinocket is a great place to be based. For other Appalachian Trail launch points you can find fun places to stay in Eustace, the Carrabassett Valley, and Rangely. Another amazing summertime destination is Greenville and Moosehead Lake.

For skiing you can stay in Newry or Hanover (for Sunday River), Rangely or Phillips (for Saddleback), or Carrabassett Valley for Sugarloaf. You’ll find lots of cross country / Nordic skiing all over, but the Katahdin Area Trails are great for it!