B t a at x e t P e ar r k
S
m
a
i
n
e
Located in the Northern Maine Woods region, Baxter
State Park is a hardwood forest habitat, with native
trees, such as maple, birch, beech, spruce, and more.
The park is nearly 210,000 acres in area and much of
the land is covered in these beautiful trees. Baxter State
Park is also home to the state’s highest peak, Mount
Katahdin. Mount Katahdin is a very steep formation,
formed from “a granite intrusion” that, over time, was
weathered to the surface. The Penobscot Indians
named the mountain, as “Katahdin” means “The Great-
est Mountains.”
There are 215 miles of trails to hike within the park, such
as the Traveler Loop, which combines four trails to ex-
tend your hike for more than 10 miles. Easier day hikes
include: Roaring Brook Nature Trail, South Branch Falls
Trail, and the Sandy Stream Pond Trail. The Roaring
Brook Nature Trail is a leisurely nature walk through the
Roaring Brook and highland bogs, with several great
viewing points of Mount Katahdin. There are observa-
tion platforms and plenty of level pathways for an easy
hike. The length of the trail is 1.2 miles.
The South Branch Falls Trail is only a mile round trip, and is
considered to be a quick hike, simply for viewing the South
Branch Falls. Head down to the pools to watch the water
cascade down, and don’t forget your camera! The Sandy
Stream Pond Trail is also a quick hike, being only 1.5 miles
round trip, and includes sightings of moose! There are also
excellent views of Mount Katahdin on this trail, and of
course you’ll get to see the Sandy Stream Pond.
Some trails and campgrounds within the park will require
a reservation, so make sure you plan in advance if you’re
looking to camp overnight or stay in the area for the week-
end. Parking spots are better off being reserved, as the re-
maining spots are first-come, first-served.
Whether you’re looking to camp out amongst the waterfalls
of the Northern Maine Woods, searching for the vast
scenery of the Rocky Mountains, or wanting to view the
champion trees of the Congaree, the fall is the best time
for all three. Of course, the beauty here is year-round, but
the weather and the season makes for a beautiful time to
explore America’s parks!
Adventure Outdoors | Fall 2017 | 35