Baxter State Park Essentials
Wil•der•ness noun
(1) an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region.
(2) an area essentially undisturbed by human activity.
3
Baxter State Park is more than 200,000 acres of wilderness with
over 200 miles of trail, and is home to a very special mountain with
an extremely fragile Alpine ecosystem. We strive to provide the
best possible wilderness experiences for all visitors to the park. To
experience the wilderness character of Baxter State Park, one must
accept primitive conditions:
• There is no potable water. The only sources of water are
natural, and we highly recommend treating all water from
any source in the park.
• There are no flush toilets. Outhouses, however, are plentiful
in campgrounds. You will find no outhouses on any of our
200+ miles of trails.
• There is no electricity.
• Cell phone service is extremely unreliable at best and
nonexistent at all other times.
• Park roads are unimproved (dirt/gravel), narrow, and
winding. We strongly suggest adhering to the 20 MPH speed
limit, being cautious around tight curves, and wearing your
seat belt.
• Bathing: For bathing do not use any kind of soap in the
water sources – even biodegradable soap will have an adverse
affect on the clean, clear natural water within the Park.
Synonyms: backcountry, wasteland, hinterland
Human Waste on the Trails
Poop, feminine hygiene products, and toilet paper continue to
be an issue on our trails. Over the past two years Park staff have
recorded over 200 instances of these items being left beside or on
the trails of Katahdin.
Katahdin hosts 30,000-35,000 hikers every year. Please help make
Baxter safe and sanitary for visitors and wildlife by practicing
proper human waste disposal.
Please use outhouses where available prior to your hike.
Deposit only human waste and toilet paper in the outhouses.
Carry out personal hygiene products, disposable diapers and
leftover food products. These products interfere with the
composting process and clog the pumps used to empty the vaults.
Rangers can provide carry out litter bags.
When on the trail:
For urination please move 200 feet from any trail or water source
and urinate on rocks or gravel to minimize plant and soil damage.
Carry out toilet paper or use a reusable pee rag to wipe.
For solid waste:
If below treeline find a site at least 200 feet from any trail or water
source. Dig a cathole about 6 inches deep, deposit your waste,
and bury with soil. Carry out or bury your toilet paper with your
waste.
If above treeline do not dig a cathole, as the plants are rare and soils
in the alpine zone are thin. Instead, rock hop 200 feet from any
trail or water source and go on top of gravel or bare ground, so the
weather can help with decomposition. Carry out your toilet paper
in a ziplock bag.
Governor Baxter
did not bring his beloved
dogs into the park.
Be like the Governor.
Please be respectful of Baxter’s wishes
and leave your pets at home. No
domestic animals of any kind are
permitted in the park
Courtesy of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, Augusta, Maine
Painted Rocks
While it might seem like a cute and crafty
idea, we ask that you do not leave painted
rocks in Baxter State Park.
Many people come to Baxter State Park to
find areas that have been undisturbed by
humans. These painted rocks distract from
that experience.
Leave No Trace principles ask that you
“leave rocks, plants and other natural objects
as you find them”. The same concept
applies to placing painted rocks,flags,
tributes and memorials in our park.
Baxter State Park is beautiful the way it is.
Let others experience it the way it was meant
to be.