Planning Your Trip To Katahdin: A Weekend In Maine

Mt. Katahdin has a summit of 5267 feet. It took research, planning, and google maps to ensure our hike went smoothly. Our goal was to be successful at summiting Katahdin and not have to make a second trip. That being said, if you are considering hiking the tallest peak in Maine, read on so you have a safe, fun, and successful trip up this breathtaking mountain.

getting there

You will find yourself hiking in Baxter State Park, which encompasses nearly 210,000 acres of land. Located in Northern Maine. Baxter State Park is 17 miles from the closest town, Millinocket.

Millinocket is a great spot for filling up your gas tank, purchasing souvenirs and stocking up on food at the local grocery store (Hanaford).

Hiking Katahdin is no easy feat, and I’m not just talking about being physically fit. The parking permits are limited, as access is tightly controlled to ensure a reduced crowd on the trail. Booking ahead is a must. Even for a day parking pass, we had to book 3 weeks in advance, and there was only one hiking trail available; The Hunt Trail at Katahdin Stream Campground.

If you are seriously considering hiking Katahdin, PLAN IT OUT.

booking your stay

To hike Katahdin there are basically three ways to gain access to the trails.

Book a coveted camping spot or lean-to at one of the trail locations. This gives direct access to one of the trails, and you don’t have to worry about driving in the wee hours of the morning. Booking a tent site requires significant booking in advanced, and the park has a strict “no pet policy”. If you plan to travel with your dog, you will have to make other plans.
Book a day parking pass online at BaxterStatePark.org (THIS IS WHAT WE DID). Parking spots fill up fast and our only option was THE HUNT TRAIL via Katahdin Stream Campgrounds. There are three options available, each at a campground that has access to a different trail head. When booking your parking reservation you have to enter your vehicle license plate information. If you are from Maine, booking is open at anytime. If you are from out of state, you are only allowed to book two weeks in advance. The cost to book a parking pass is 5$.
Show up very early at the gatehouse to Baxter State Park and hope that someone with a pass doesn’t show. If a day pass holder doesn’t show by 7:05am, their hiking permit is cancelled, and whoever is next in line can purchase entry to hike Katahdin. Just know that we arrived at 5:30am (gate doesn’t open until 6) and there were already 7 cars ahead of us, all who were hoping to score a day pass. Lucky for us, we had ours.

where to stay

We travel with our 7# yorkie and tent camping was out of the question since it would be a good 14 hours alone for him.

There are several small hotels and campgrounds all within an hour drive to the park, but we chose Pine Grove Campgrounds. A short 47 minutes from the southern park entrance of Baxter State Park. It was the ideal location.

Pine Grove Campground has spots for tent camping, RV sites with full hookups, and 3 small cabins to rent.

The Katahdin Cabin, rightfully named, was perfect for what we needed. It can comfortably sleep 4 people, had a half bath, full stove, mini fridge, heater, and overlooked the river.

The cabin is pet friendly, and while we were able to crate our dog, the owners of the campgrounds offered to let our dog out if needed while we were hiking.

Only down side was the half bath, but the showers at the campground were clean and located just a short walk from our cabin with excellent hot water.

The reason we recommend this cabin, is not only because it’s pet friendly, but if you are planning a long weekend like we were, it is perfect for relaxing after the hike.

Right outside each cabin is a fire pit, and located at the camp office are canoes and kayaks to use FOR FREE on the river.

Lastly, while we love camping in a tent, after a 10 mile hike, 10 hours on our feet, and a 14 hour day, between hiking and driving, it was amazing to sleep in an actual bed.

Planning and Directions

Directions: From Pine Grove Campgrounds to Togue Pond Gate click here

If you’re staying at Pine Grove Campgrounds, we left at 4:45am to Baxter State Park. This gave us plenty of time to reach the park entrance.

Be sure to fill up with gas in the town of Millinocket as there are limited, if any, gas stations after this stop. The Northwoods Trading Post is the last gas stop before entering the park, but I’m not positive if they are open that early in the morning.

We made sure to arrive early to the the park because if you are later than 7:05am, the rangers will cancel your permit, and it becomes a day pass to first come, first serve hikers waiting at the entrance.

Don’t think someone won’t be waiting for your pass. We showed up to the gate at 5:30am and there were 7 cars already ahead of us, all of which didn’t have a pass and were hoping to score one.

Once at the Togue Pond Gate house, you will check in with the ranger and continue on a dirt road for approx 8 miles to Katahdin Stream Campround. The day parking is well marked.

If you are concerned about the dirt road, our Equniox had no problem and plenty of hikers had cars.

We were able to park, prep our gear and take a quick picture before hitting the trail at 6:45am.

Hunt Trail

Katahdin peak is 5267 feet.

The Hunt Trail is the final 5.2 miles of the Appalachian trail. We hiked on 9/11/20 and were passed by at least 3 through hikers who just completed the 2,173.1 miles from Georgia.

In total, you will gain 4100 feet of elevation and hike through thick forest, past the Katahdin Stream Waterfall, never ending rock staircases, bouldering around mile 3-4, and eventually reach the tableland and summit of Mt. Katahdin.

Weather can change drastically on the mountain, and while we started with partly cloudy conditions, once above tree line, it was sunny and sunscreen could have been used. Although calm earlier in the day, winds picked up on our descent, and we were happy to get below tree line to avoid the gusts.

Mile1

It starts very steady with limited elevation gain and you quickly come to the Katahdin Stream and cross a wooden foot bridge where you can view Katahdin Stream falls. There is a bathroom here, and this is your last chance for an outhouse. Otherwise, you will be using the woods.

Mile 2

Quickly turns from easy, to a constant climbing of a stone staircases. Its doesn’t last for long, and it becomes a mix between tree roots, small rocks/boulders, and dirt. We were lucky and didn’t experience any mud, but in wetter conditions, we have heard it can be quite slick.

Mile 3

Around mile 3, the treeline abruptly ends and if you thought you were bouldering before, you realize here is the first real challenge.

The trail ascends up a few boulders prior to zigzagging around a few others. It is a mixture of steep and gradual, and at one point, using a metal rung is required to get up and over a rather large rock face. Going up wasn’t bad, but with a little wind coming down, we got the sense of “don’t slip”.

Mile 4

This became a blur, but bouldering continues for what seems to be an entire mile. As you look up, you can see what looks like the peak. The mountain is breathtaking as clouds were rolling up against the side of the mountain. To the left and right, just a few feet were between us and nothing. The views are stunning, adventure around every corner, and I thought to myself “there it is”.

In reality, we only reached the tableland, a flat expanse that has a staked path to avoid rare vegatation. The trail reaches a signpost, marking a junction for Abol Trail and Baxter Peak. This is the one-mile marker to the summit. It was anti-climactic, but we pressed on.

Mile 5

This last mile is relatively easy, aside from being exhausted from the previous 4 miles. It is mostly flat, with a light climb to the top.

Summit

Sweet, sweet, success. Enjoy the moment of knowing you made it to the highest peak in Maine. We took our much needed Katahdin photos, ate a light lunch and chatted with new friends who just completed the Appalachian trail in its entirety.

gear

What we packed…

Camelpak with 3L for Tyler and 2L for Kari. Tyler drank all of his, but Kari only half, along with her 20 oz gatorade.
Hiking poles. Kari used one going up, but wasn’t relying on it too much, at approx mile three, the hiking pole was put away as it was no longer possible to use on the boulders. If you typically don’t use hiking poles, you likely won’t need them.
Packed warm clothes because it was September and cool in the morning
- Kari had fleece lined leggings under her regular leggings. It quickly became too hot for the fleece and she changed out of them.
- Tyler wore lined hiking pants with shorts underneath. Switched back and forth during the climb.
- Jackets: Packable Columbia puffer jackets. Needed for only a short portion climbing up the mountain and for our break at the top. Otherwise it became too warm for most of the climb.
- Lots of snacks: Full lunch including sandwiches, granola bars, and trail mix.
- Shoes: We wore our hiking shoes, but people wore a range from low top tennis shoes to mid ankle hiking shoes. Just make sure they have sufficient tread for the boulder climbing.
- Flashlights are recommended (headlamps). We had a pace that allowed us to hike in daylight hours, but it you get stuck, or need longer than 10 hours you may be hiking through the woods in the dark. Be prepared.

sign in/sign out

At the beginning of the trail, there is a sign in/sign out area. Use it for safety. Remember, you are entering Maine’s largest wilderness and help can be hours away.

post trail fun

If you’re staying at Pine Grove Campgrounds, or in Millinocket for the weekend, there are plenty of other fun adventures. We hiked on Friday, and spent Saturday exploring other atractions including…

North Woods Trading Post: Directions here
Driving the Golden Road:
- Stop into the North Woods Trading Post for directions on the Golden Road if needed. It is a dirt road that is directly across the street from the North Woods Trading Post.
- The Golden Road was built in the late 1960s-1970s and is over 90 miles long. It travels from Millinocket (former paper mill) to the Canadian Border. While it continues to be traveled by logging trucks, it is open to the public.
- It is called the Golden road due to the high cost to build the road, according to the local Maine guide we met at North Woods Trading Post.
- It was built as a way to transition from floating all the logs down the Penobscot River, to hauling through trucking.
- It is a mixture between dirt and paved for the first 20-30 miles, but extremely rugged and bumpy. Be ready to shake if you drive this road.
- What we recommend…. At North Woods Trading post, cross the street onto the Golden Road and turn RIGHT.
  - 6 miles up the road from North Woods Trading Post, on the left is River Pond Nature Trail.
    - It is a series of short trials through the woods that offer good views of Mt. Katahdin
  - 20 miles from North Woods Trading Post on the right is Telos road. It is shortly after Big Eddy Campgrounds. Turn right, cross the bridge and park on the right in the parking lot. A few hundred feet down the path is a beautiful view of Katahdin, and you can see kayakers and rafters going through The Cribworks.

summary

Plan out your trip, enjoy the hike and be safe. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out through our contact page, the comment section below, or DM us on our Facebook or instagram. Check out our YouTube video of The Hunt Trail here