Baxter State Park is the central point for all your Hiking and Climbing activities. The park is intersected with about 175 miles of trails. There are 46 mountain peaks and ridges, 18 of which exceed an elevation of 3,000 feet, the highest being Baxter Peak at 5,267 feet. Look these day hiking tips over before doing any hiking in the park.

Katahdin provides an opportunity for rock climbing with an alpine flavor that is nearly unique in the east. Most of the routes are long, and the approaches and descents are even longer. For the most part, however, these routes are quite moderate, and with good route-finding ability one can climb most of the gullies and buttresses at 5.4-5.5 or so. Protection is generally good with a selection of nuts, especially in the larger sizes. The rock itself is a highly weathered, alpine granite, and though the freezing and thawing action have created many good cracks and holds, it has also produced an abundance of loose rock.

Chimney Pond is the center of rock climbing activity at Katahdin. The Ranger will check your gear. Climbing helmets are required. The well-prepared mountaineer should bring foul-weather gear, and a flashlight or headlamp in case of a descent in the dark, as well as carrying standard climbing equipment. Bivouacs are not permitted. Route information is available at Chimney Pond, both from the Ranger and from an informal route book.

There are also many other areas that provide some excellent hiking and mountain climbing. In Mt. Chase, there is Mt. Chase to climb along with Sugarloaf Mt., both will give you fantastic views of the surrounding area. Some smaller trails to such areas as Grand Pitch on Sebois River, Shin Falls and The Look-Out on the East Branch of the Penobscot River also provide you with some excellent scenery.

Happy Trails and Respect the Landowners by not Littering!