Baxter State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baxter State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Katahdin rises above Katahdin Stream Campground in Baxter State Park.
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 Baxter State Park
Location in Maine
Baxter State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Piscataquis County, Maine, United States |
| Nearest city | Millinocket |
| Area | 209,501 acres (847.82 km2) |
| Established | March 3, 1931 |
| Visitors | 63,000 (in 2008) |
| Governing body | Baxter State Park Authority |
Baxter State Park is a huge wilderness area in north-central Maine, United States. It's a special state park that is kept wild forever. The park is located in Piscataquis County and borders the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument to the east.
The park was created thanks to Percival P. Baxter, a former governor of Maine. He donated land 28 times between 1931 and 1962. This created a park that is now over 200,000 acres (809 km2) big! Baxter State Park is unique because it's not part of the regular Maine State Park system. Instead, it's managed by its own group, the Baxter State Park Authority. This group makes sure the park stays wild, just as Governor Baxter wanted. The park gets its money from special funds, visitor fees, and selling some forest products. It is home to Mount Katahdin, Maine's highest peak. Many people visit the park each year to enjoy its natural beauty.
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Exploring Baxter State Park
Baxter State Park is a fantastic place to explore nature. It has tall mountains, clear lakes, and lots of wildlife. It's a great spot for hiking, camping, and enjoying the outdoors.
Mountains and Waterways
The park's most famous feature is Mount Katahdin. This mountain is actually a group of peaks. The highest point is Baxter Peak, named after Governor Baxter. It stands tall at 5,267 feet (1,605 m). Mount Katahdin is also the northern end of the famous Appalachian Trail, a very long hiking path.
You'll find many bodies of water in the park. The biggest lakes are Grand Lake Matagamon, Webster Lake, and Nesowadnehunk Lake. There are also smaller ponds and many streams and rivers. Some streams even have beautiful waterfalls, like Big and Little Niagara Falls on Nesowadnehunk Stream. Remember, you should always bring your own water or treat it before drinking, as the park's water isn't safe to drink directly.
Park Weather
Baxter State Park has a cool and moist climate. The average yearly temperature is 38.6 °F (3.7 °C). Temperatures can change a lot, from 95 °F (35 °C) in summer to −45 °F (−43 °C) in winter. The park gets about 37 inches (940 mm) of rain each year, including 100 inches (2,500 mm) of snow.
Summer is usually warmest in July and August. Fall colors appear in September and are brightest in late September or early October. Snow usually starts falling in November and stays until April. Even in summer, the weather can change quickly. It can even snow any month of the year!
Wildlife in the Park
Baxter State Park is home to many different animals. You might see moose, black bears, and white-tailed deer. These animals are most active in summer and sometimes can be seen from the roads.
The park's marshes and wet areas are perfect for animals like beavers, muskrats, river otters, and raccoons. In the wooded areas, you might spot bobcats, fishers, martens, weasels, chipmunks, red squirrels, snowshoe hares, coyotes, and red foxes.
Many types of birds also live here. Common birds include warblers, thrushes, and flycatchers. You can also find owls, hawks, eagles, and various ducks and other wetland birds.
History of Baxter State Park
The story of Baxter State Park began with Percival P. Baxter. In 1920, before he became governor, he visited Mount Katahdin. He wanted to see if it could become a national park.
When he became governor in 1921, he tried to pass a law to create a state park at Katahdin. However, the law didn't pass. So, Governor Baxter decided to buy the land himself!
He started buying land in 1930 from the Great Northern Paper Company. He officially gave this first piece of land to the State of Maine in 1931. He had one important rule: the park must always be kept wild. He continued buying land for 32 years, making his last purchase in 1962. By then, he had gathered over 201,018 acres (813 km2) of wilderness.
After Governor Baxter passed away in 1969, the park grew even more. Today, it covers 209,501 acres (848 km2), including the beautiful Katahdin Lake, which was added in 2006.
The park's main office is in the town of Millinocket, about twenty miles (32 km) away. There are no stores or gas stations inside the park. This helps keep it "forever wild," just as Governor Baxter wished. He once said that Katahdin "shall forever remain the mountain of the people of Maine."
In 1979, young volunteers from the Maine Youth Conservation Corps painted a mural on Pockwockamus Rock. You can find this rock about 2.5 miles from the park's south gate.
What to Do in the Park
Baxter State Park offers a true wilderness experience. There is no electricity, running water, or paved roads inside the park. This helps keep it natural and peaceful. Visitors are asked to be respectful and not disturb others or the wildlife with loud devices.
The park is open for overnight camping from May 15 to October 15 for summer camping. Winter camping is allowed from December 1 to March 31. If you are a long-distance hiker on the Appalachian Trail, you can stay one night without a reservation at a special camping area.
Besides hiking and camping, about 25% of the park is open for hunting and trapping. You can also go fishing in the park's ponds and streams. If you like snowmobiling, you can use the Tote Road, a 46-mile (74 km) dirt road that connects the park's north and south gates.
The park also has a special area called the Scientific Forest Management Area. This 29,587 acres (120 km2) area is managed to show how forests can be cared for in a sustainable way.
The park's rangers help keep everyone safe and enforce the rules. The Maine Forest Service helps with fire protection. Visitors are asked to take all their trash with them when they leave, following the "Carry-In, Carry-Out" policy.
Images for kids
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One of several lean-to shelters at Chimney Pond, reachable only by trail
- Katahdin Section, Guide to the Appalachian Trail in Maine, 7th Edition, Myron Avery, Helon Taylor, and Jean Stephenson
- Soares, Liz. All for Maine: The Story of Governor Percival P. Baxter. Windswept House Publishers (1996). ISBN: 1-883650-17-8
