Park Notices
Patriot's Day ClosureThe Reservations Line and Park Headquarters in Millinocket are closed Monday, April 20.Earth Day Litter PatrolJoin us Saturday, April 25 at 9 AM for a community cleanup and BBQ.Park Tote RoadClosed to snowmobiles for the season. Ungroomed travel only.Patriot's Day ClosureThe Reservations Line and Park Headquarters in Millinocket are closed Monday, April 20.Earth Day Litter PatrolJoin us Saturday, April 25 at 9 AM for a community cleanup and BBQ.Park Tote RoadClosed to snowmobiles for the season. Ungroomed travel only.
Baxter State ParkWilderness · Maine
Camping

Lean-tos, cabins, bunkhouses, and the backcountry.

Roadside campgrounds open May 15 – October 15. Backcountry sites take a little more planning. Either way, you are self-sufficient from the moment you cross the gate.

Season
May 15 – Oct 15
Check-in
By 8:30 PM
Quiet hours
9 PM – 7 AM
Max group
12 people
Before you book

A few things worth knowing.

  • Most sites can be booked online on a rolling four-month window. Backcountry sites (Chimney Pond, Russell Pond, Davis Pond, Wassataquoik Lake Island) require phone, mail, or in-person reservations.
  • Check in at the gate no later than 8:30 PM on your first night. Site check-in is 1:00 PM (2:00 PM for cabins). Checkout is 11:00 AM.
  • Maximum site stays: 7 nights per backcountry site or campground (14 nights total across the park). Exceptions: Davis Pond, 1 night; Wassataquoik Lake Island, 2 nights.
  • Site capacity is strictly enforced. Each child counts as one person regardless of age.
  • Pets are not permitted. No personal firewood, generators, RVs, or drones.
  • “Carry in, carry out.” There are no trash facilities inside the park.
Katahdin Trailheads

Close to the mountain.

  • Katahdin Stream Campground

    Trailhead for the Hunt Trail (AT) and the most classic approach to Baxter Peak.

    Sites
    Lean-tos, tent sites, bunkhouse
    Season
    May 15 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Online
    Check availability
  • Abol Campground

    Trailhead for the Abol Trail; close to the south gate at Togue Pond.

    Sites
    Lean-tos, tent sites
    Season
    May 15 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Online
    Check availability
  • Roaring Brook Campground

    Gateway to Sandy Stream Pond, South Turner, and the Chimney Pond approach.

    Sites
    Lean-tos, tent sites, bunkhouse
    Season
    May 15 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Online
    Check availability
North End

Quieter, further, rewarding.

  • South Branch Pond Campground

    A quiet north-end campground on a glacial pond below the Traveler range.

    Sites
    Lean-tos, tent sites, bunkhouse
    Season
    May 15 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Online
    Check availability
  • Nesowadnehunk Field Campground

    An open field campground on the Park Tote Road; good base camp for Doubletop and beyond.

    Sites
    Lean-tos, tent sites, cabins
    Season
    May 15 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Online
    Check availability
  • Trout Brook Farm Campground

    Close to the Matagamon Gate and access to the park’s northeastern trail system.

    Sites
    Tent sites, lean-tos
    Season
    May 15 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Online
    Check availability
Cabin Sites

Walls and a roof, rustic by design.

  • Daicey Pond Cabins

    Rustic cabins on a small pond that mirrors Katahdin on calm mornings.

    Sites
    Cabins
    Season
    May 15 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Online
    Check availability
  • Kidney Pond Cabins

    A constellation of cabins on a larger pond deep in the southwest of the park.

    Sites
    Cabins
    Season
    May 15 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Online
    Check availability
Backcountry

Walk in. Set up. Breathe out.

  • Chimney Pond Campground

    A 3.3-mile hike in. Walled in by the Katahdin cirque; no vehicle access.

    Sites
    Lean-tos, bunkhouse (no tenting)
    Season
    May 15 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Phone, mail, or in person
    Check availability
  • Russell Pond Campground

    A 7.2-mile hike in. The quiet center of the park.

    Sites
    Lean-tos, tent sites, bunkhouse
    Season
    May 15 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Phone, mail, or in person
    Check availability
  • Davis Pond Lean-to

    A single lean-to in the Northwest Basin. One-night stay only.

    Sites
    1 lean-to
    Season
    Jun 1 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Phone, mail, or in person
    Check availability
  • Wassataquoik Lake Island

    Island camping on Wassataquoik Lake. Two-night maximum.

    Sites
    Tent sites
    Season
    Jun 1 – Oct 15
    Reserve
    Phone, mail, or in person
    Check availability

Book with a little patience.

Opening day of the four-month window fills quickly. Call the reservations office if an online booking isn’t working. They can help.