Baxter State Park

Foss and Knowlton Pond:

The picture above was taken at Foss and Knowlton Pond: This trail is located in back of Abol Bridge Campground in Millinocket. (See DeLorme's 'The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer' Map 50) The trail starts either in back of the Campground or in back of the gravel pit to the north, (your choice), follows a tote road, crosses a couple of bridges, then comes to the Trailheads. Tote road will take you to Foss and Knowlton Pond in about 5 miles with a great view of Mt. Katahdin. Also accessible from this point is Little Niagra Falls, Big Niagra Falls, and Katahdin Stream Falls. Watch for signs...

There are 46 +- mountain peaks and ridges in Baxter State Park, 18 of which exceed an elevation of 3,000 feet, the highest is Baxter Peak at 5,267 feet.

Some of the Trails in Baxter State Park:

Blazes used: BLUE
The only exception is the white blazed Appalachian Trail.

Sandy Stream Pond in Baxter State Park.(See DeLormes 'The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer' Map 51)

From the Golden Road, follow the signs to Baxter State Park and sign in at the Togue Pond Gatehouse. Just after you go through the gatehouse, bear immediate right onto the road going out to Roaring Brook Campground. This road is approximately 8 miles long and can be rough at times. Dead-ends at a parking lot for the Campground and Trailheads.

Sign in at the Ranger Station at the beginning of the trail. In just a short distance you'll come to a footbridge and the trails fork here. Stay right, across the bridge and stay on this trail until you see a sign for 'The Big Rock'...This is Sandy Stream Pond and is approximately 1 mile from the Ranger Station. Good, easy hike with a nice view of Mt. Katahdin and plenty of moose either on the trails, or in the water. Middle photo above was taken of a cow moose taking her calf out for swimming lessons...The baby calf got onto her back, she swam out over his head, shook him off, then he was on his own. This was seen in the early summer from 'Big Rock'.

NOTE
Sometimes in the summer months the parking lot at Roaring Brook is full...This is monitored at the Togue Pond Gatehouse and they may close the parking lot to more traffic...If you don't have a reservation at the Roaring Brook Campground, then it would be advisable to have an alternate trail picked out...Which brings us to the next hike...

Grassy Pond and Daicey Pond:

From the Togue Pond Gatehouse, stay straight for about 5 or 6 miles. Around the Abol Campground and Katahdin Springs Campground, there will be a Trailhead on the left side going in to Grassy Pond. This is a nice scenic route. This is a fairly new section of trail going in because the old trail got washed out a few years back after they had completed an impressive log bridge. This bridge was taken out by ice with nothing left but some of the footings. A lot of hard work went down-river!

There are ten campgrounds located at Roaring Brook, Abol, Katahdin Stream, Nesowadnehunk, South Branch Pond Trout Brook Farm, Chimney Pond, Russell Pond, Daicey Pond (cabins only) and Kidney Pond (cabins only).

The campgrounds all have different types of facilities which vary including: lean-tos, tent sites, bunkhouses, fireplaces and some are equipped with picnic tables. Russell Pond and Chimney Pond can be reached only by trail. Campers and visitors supply their own food and cooking utensils. Gasoline is not available in the Park, although it is available at The Country Store in Millinocket and at Abol Bridge Campground and Store, on the way to the Park. Canoes can be rented at South Branch Pond, Russell Pond, Trout Brook Farm, Daicey Pond and Kidney Pond. The roads within Baxter State Park prohibit travel with large trailers. Very narrow sections of road and some sharp corners!

Chimney Pond Campground:

Chimney Pond is located 3.3 miles from Roaring Brook Campground. This is an awesome hike and one of the prettiest that you'll find up here...It is a hike-in campground, involving an up-hill trek with an elevation gain of 1,425 ft. The ascent time is approx. 2 3/4 hours, depending on your physical condition, and weather, etc...
Facilities at Chimney Pond are:
(9) 4 person lean-tos
(1) 12 person bunkhouse
Tenting or open fires are prohibited at Chimney Pond and only gas or propane stoves are allowed.
The campground is situated near the pond. Spectacular views of the granite walls of the Great Basin. A recommended hike!

Russell Pond:

The campground is located on a remote pond in the center of the park. It's about a 7.2 mile hike from Roaring Brook and a 9.6 mile hike from South Branch Pond. Great brook trout fishing!

This campground is probably the most sort after in the park, since it is the access point for the two walk-in campgrounds, Russell Pond to the North and Chimney Pond to the west. Most people that I know that want to stay here make their reservations on January 1st... It is the key access point for all trails in the south-eastern part of the park. More day hikes can be taken from this point than from any other in the park, including most points on Katahdin.

Parking for Russell Pond Campground is located on Roaring Brook at the end of an eight-mile spur road which can be very rough certain times of the year... it is accessed from the Perimeter Road at the Togue Pond Gatehouse.

Abol Campground:

Abol Campground is accessed from the Perimeter Road and is one of the few Drive-in Campgrounds...Abol Trail leaves the Perimeter Road. at the campground...A ranger is on duty at the campground. The following facilities are provided and there are two brooks nearby where you can obtain drinking water...
12 lean-tos (each 4 capacity)
9 Tent sites
3 Day - use tables and fireplaces

Katahdin Stream Campground:

This is another drive-in campground located on the southwest side of the park along Katahdin Stream. Beautiful views of the Hunt Spur, Witherle Ravine, and the Owl. There is a small dam and pool in the campground's center. A ranger is on duty at this campground also
12 lean-tos
10 tent sites
6 covered picnic table sites
The Appalachian Trail passes through the campground and utilizes the Hunt trail to the summit of Katahdin.
Trails hiked from this campground are:
Abol Trail to Baxter Peak 3.8 miles
Little Abol Falls Trail 0.8 miles

Roaring Brook Campground:

All hikers bound for Chimney Pond, Russell Pond, or any of the interior parts of the park to the north must leave their vehicle in the large parking lot at the campground. A ranger is on duty here.

All Katahdin trails including Dudley, Cathedral, Saddle, Knife Edge, Hamilin Ridge, and Blueberry Knoll trails can be reached from here.

Two miles to the south of Roaring Brook Campground is Avalanche Field, a group campsite situated on Avalanche Brook. A number of large groups can be accommodated at this site. Two lean-tos are also located here for group use. It is considered part of the Roaring Brook Campground. Sandy Stream Pond is also accessed from this point and is excellent for viewing moose and Mt. Katahdin looms in the background...(See photos above)...Also access to South Turner Mountain is reached from the trails out in back of Sandy Stream...Also accessible from this point is Whidden Pond, among many other scenic areas...
Daicey Pond: Cabins only (Reservations)
Kidney Pond: Cabins only (Reservations)

Nesowadnehunk Field Campground:

Nesowadnehunk Field Campground is located along the banks of Nesowadnehunk Stream in the west central section of the park. A ranger is on duty at this campsite.
The facilities located here are:
11 lean-tos
7 tent sites
5 Walk-in tentsites
4 Group area sites
3 Picnic area sites
2 trails leave the campground, Doubletop Trail (3.1 mi.)(steep and rugged) and the Center Mt. Trail, to Little Wassataquoik Lake 9.3 miles..

The following trails are nearby, within 2 to 5 miles:
Marston Trail to South and North Brother Mt. 3.8 mi.
Mt Coe 2.8 mi.
O-J-I 2.9 mi.
Burnt Mt. 1.0 mi.
Some scenic attractions close to the Perimeter Road in this area are: Nesowadnehunk Lake, Ledge Falls, and Slide Dam. There are picnic facilities at both Ledge Falls and Slide Dam. Good fishing in Nesowadnehunk Lake and Slide Dam is fun to run in tubes...

South Branch Pond:

Located on a gravel beach on the north shore of Lower South Branch Pond, has good swimming, canoeing, fishing, and excellent climbing trails from the campground.
The campground is located in the northern part of the park on a 2 mile spur road from the Perimeter Road. It is most easily reached via the town of Patten and the Matagamon Gate. Canoes are available to rent.
12 lean-tos (4 person)
21 Tent sites
1 Bunkhouse (6 capacity)
3 Picnic sites
There are a wide variety of trails, ranging from easy hikes along the ponds or streams to more rugged terrain over the Traveler range.
North Traveler Trail 2.7 mi.
Howe Brook Trail 2.0 mi.
South Branch Falls Trail 0.5 mi.
South Branch Mt. Trail 4.5 mi.
Center Ridge Trail 2.1 mi.
Ledges Trail 0.7 mi.
Pogy Notch Trail (to Russell Pond) 9.6 mi.
Middle Fowler Trail 4.1 mi.

Trout Brook Farm Campground:

Trout Brook Farm campground is located on the edge of the lumber camp field and is reached via the Perimeter Road, just east of the Matagamon Gate House. It is the gateway into the Deadwater Mountains in the northern part of the park. It is also the gateway to the extensive Matagamon-Webster wilderness north of the Perimeter Road
15 Tentsites available, 3 of which are walk-in sites. There is also a 4 tent site group area. There are 3 trails that originate from Trout Brook Farm, the Freezeout Trail, The Trout Brook Mt. Trail and the 5 Ponds Trail.

The trails accessed from this campground are:
Freezeout Trail 14.6 mi.
Trout Brook Mt. Trail 3.0 mi.
Wadleigh Brook Trail 13.75 mi.
Fowler Brook Trail 1.3 mi.
Middle Fowler Trail 1.7 mi.
5 Ponds Trail 3.9 mi.
Horse Mt. Trail 1.4 mi.
Burnt Mt Trail 1.0 mi.
It is seven miles from this campground to South Branch Pond Campground via the Perimeter Road and a short spur road.

There are a number of remote campsites accessed from Trout Brook:
9 tent sites on the Fowler, Long and Billfish Ponds
6 tent sites along the Freezeout Trail, 2 of these on Matagamon Lake.
1 (4-person) lean-to near the west end of Matagamon Lake.
1 (4-person) lean-to on Webster Stream.
3 Tent sites on Webster Lake.
1 lean-to on Hudson Pond.
1 Tent site at K.P Dam on Trout Brook.
Canoes are also available for rent at Trout Brook.

Road Milage and other milage: