unless noted otherwise below,
All sites have natural water sources and none have spigots. All water should be treated.
This is a wilderness area. No cooking or sleeping supplies are available for purchase within the park.
There are no showers, only outhouses.
The park is open for day use from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
You must check-in at the gate no later than 8:30PM on your first night of camping.
Campsite check in time: 1:00 pm on arrival day, except 2:00 pm for cabins.
Check out time: 11:00 am on departure day.
Quiet hours in the park are 9 pm – 7 am.
Most campgrounds are open May 15
(conditions permitting, see News, Facebook, or our dedicated Park Conditions Page for updates)
except for Chimney Pond (June 1), Nesowadnehunk (Friday prior to Memorial Day), and loon-dependent Wass Lake Island (August 15) and cabin 12 at Kidney Pond (August 1)
to Oct 15,
except for Kidney, Daicey, and Katahdin Stream, which are open until Oct 22.
Click to download area trail head map.
Established in 1939, Katahdin Stream is a popular family campground providing access to Katahdin via the Appalachian Trail as well as access to numerous streams and ponds in the Kidney / Daicey area.
26mi to Millinocket
12 lean-tos
10 tentsites
3 group sites holding 12, 13, and 25 people
to do:
Hike | Swim | Fish | Ski
Set in a northern hardwood forest near the base of Abol Slide, Abol is the closest campground to Togue Pond Gate and a trailhead for Katahdin hiking.
24mi to Millinocket
12 lean-tos
9 tentsites
to do:
Hike | Swim | Fish | Ski
One of the Park’s busiest campgrounds, and the most popular trailhead for hiking to Chimney Pond, and Katahdin. Roaring Brook also provides close access to the Avalanche Field trailhead for Martin Ponds, the Katahdin Lake day use shelter with day use canoes and the Katahdin Lake Wilderness Camps.
26mi to Millinocket
9 lean-tos
l0 tentsites
10 person bunkhouse
3 group sites at Bear Brook (14 people per site)
to do:
Hike | Swim | Fish | Ski
Daicey Pond is one of the Park’s most popular destinations and offers great views and fishing on Daicey Pond and hiking access to many other backcountry ponds and mountains.
10 cabins of varied design and size (wilderness type)
Hike | Swim | Canoe (rentals available) | Fish | Ski
This is a wilderness campground. You will need a sleeping bag or sheets, blankets and pillows. You will need to bring all meal supplies. There are no stores within Baxter Park to obtain food or meals. Groceries can be purchased in the nearby towns. Millinocket is located 20 miles from Togue Pond gate at the south entrance and Patten is located 24 miles from the Matagamon gate at the north entrance.
You need to bring dishes, cooking utensils, gas stove for cooking, basins for washing dishes and self, bucket to carry water from pond, cooler, gas lanterns, towels, bedding, and anything else to make you and your family more comfortable during your stay.
Kidney Pond Click to download area trail head map.
12 cabins of varied design and size (wilderness type)
(1 cabin requires 1 mile canoe or hike-in)
Outdoor fireplaces * for cooking and picnic tables are provided
All cabins except 3, 4, and 5 are walk-in.
* Communal fireplaces are provided for most cabins, only 3 cabins have own firering.
Hike | Swim | Canoe (rentals available) | Fish | Ski
This is a wilderness campground. You will need a sleeping bag or sheets, blankets and pillows. You will need to bring all meal supplies. There are no stores within Baxter Park to obtain food or meals. Groceries can be purchased in the nearby towns. Millinocket is located 20 miles from Togue Pond gate at the south entrance and Patten is located 24 miles from the Matagamon gate at the north entrance.
You need to bring dishes, cooking utensils, gas stove for cooking, basins for washing dishes and self, bucket to carry water from pond, cooler, gas lanterns, towels, bedding, and anything else to make you and your family more comfortable during your stay.
Nesowadnehunk is the most remote of the Park’s roadside campgrounds and provides easy access to Ledge Falls, a popular swimming spot during hot summer weather. This campground provides trailhead access to Russell Pond via the Wassataquoik Lake Trail and day hikes to Doubletop Mountain. Nesowadnehunk Field Campground was re-structured in 2005-2008. All leantos were moved to the former group area field and the bridge over Newowadnehunk Stream is open to foot traffic only and is used to access several walk-in tent sites.
8 person bunkhouse
2 person cabin: “Camp Cozy”
Hike | Swim | Fish | Ski
South Branch Pond is the Park’s largest campground and is popular with families who return year after year. The campground provides trail access to local ponds in the Fowler region as well as day hikes on South Branch Mountain and North Traveler and the very challenging Traveler Loop Trail. The campground trailhead also provides access to Russell Pond Campground via the Pogy Notch Trail.
33.5 mile west of Patten.
bunkhouse, capacity 8
Hike | Swim | Canoe (rentals available) | Fish | Ski
Trout Brook Farm is one of the Park’s quietest campgrounds and provides a great base for exploring Matagamon Lake and backcountry hiking and camping in the northern part of the Park.
26.5mi west of Patten.
1 lean-to, 0.3mi walk-in
site 1, 8 people | sites 2, 3, and 4, 14 each
Hike | Swim | Canoe (rentals available) | Fish | Ski
Established in 1938, Chimney Pond is one of the most popular campgrounds in Baxter State Park and one of two backcountry campgrounds in the Park. Chimney Pond provides day hiking access to all Katahdin peaks and to Russell Pond Campground via Davis Pond and the Northwest Basin Trail.
Established cut-off time for leaving to hike into Chimney Pond is 5:00p.m. * No Open Fires due to accumulated environmental degradation.
* As daylight hours shorten in the fall, posted cut-off time is earlier. Please verify these cut-off times with the reservation office and make your plans accordingly.
3.3mi trail from Roaring Brook
10 person bunkhouse
Hike | Swim | Ski
Russell Pond is the most remote campground in Baxter State Park and one of two backcountry campgrounds in the Park. Russell Pond provides very good fishing in local ponds and access to Wassataquoik Stream, Wassataquoik Lake and several popular backcountry campsites.
Backpack 7.2 or 7.6 miles from Roaring Brook, or 9.6 miles from South Branch Pond. Established cutoff time for leaving to hike to Russell is 2:00 p.m.* There are no bridges over Wassataquoik Stream – rock hopping and wading. Trail access may be closed from Roaring Brook during times of high water.
* As daylight hours shorten in the fall, posted cut-off time is earlier. Please verify these cut-off times with the reservation office and make your plans accordingly.
7.2 or 7.6mi from Roaring Brook or 9.6mi from South Branch Pond.
8 person bunkhouse
Hike | Canoe (rentals available) | Fish | Ski
Katahdin Lake is privately owned and operates on a lease with the Baxter State Park Authority.
The camps can be reached by a 3.3 mile hike from Avalanche Field trailhead on the Roaring Brook Road within Baxter State Park.
Opening dates: All backcountry sites open May 15th – Oct 15th except Davis Pond (June 1st) and Wassataquoik Lake Island (variable opening date)
Capacity: Unless otherwise noted the tent site and lean-to capacities are four (4) person.
Amenities: Each backcountry site has a fire ring (except for Davis Pond), an outhouse, and a water source that requires treating.
* Public lands sites administered by Baxter Park.
** Must stay the night before either at Russell Pond, Pogy Pond, Chimney Pond, Wassataquoik Stream, Wassataquoik Lake, Wass Lake Island or Little Wassataquoik Lake.
NO OPEN FIRES PERMITTED AT DAVIS POND , due to accumulated environmental degradation. Camp stove needed.
The policy for use of backcountry sites allows for advance reservations to be made through the mail, by phone, or in person at Baxter Park Headquarters in Millinocket. Reservation may be made FOR ONLY ONE NIGHT AT DAVIS POND AND FOR ONLY TWO NIGHTS AT WASSATAQUOIK ISLAND.
Please be advised that cut-off times have been established for leaving trailheads to hike into backcountry sites
As daylight hours shorten in the fall, posted cut-off time is earlier for these areas. Please verify these cut-off times with the reservation office and make your plans accordingly.
Group Areas Click to download map.
Group site reservations must be made by mail or in person at BSP HQ in Millinocket.
12 people maximum is the largest group size for all campgrounds in the Park. However, we have group areas located throughout the Park for all groups of 13 or more people.
Bear Brook -3 sites (#1,#2,#3) each hold 14 people (check-in by Roaring Brook Ranger)
Foster Field- (3 sites) #1 holds 12 people, site #2 holds 13 people, and site #3 holds 25 people (check-in by Katahdin Stream Ranger)
Nesowadnehunk Field- (3 sites) #1,#2,#3 all hold 16 people,
Trout Brook Farm- (4 sites), #1 holds 8 people, #2,#3,#4 all hold 14 people each.
What does it look like when I reserve a…
