The camp ground consists of 13 cabins that you can rent. Canoe rentals and wood bundles fee can be paid at the Ranger Station via slot at the door. 35,042 people like this 36,521 people follow this http://baxterstatepark.org/ (207) 723-5140 State Park Photos See all Videos See all 0:28 Remember it's a different world up here. The results of the final decision are reflected in the current configuration. Trout Brook Farm, 4 It has the best view of the mountain (Katahdin from the Abol side) and you can have a campfire, get firewood and enjoy the hiss & glow from the propane lantern over the lakeview. Find a trail, look at maps, read trail descriptions, See what you need to bring on your trip and what should stay home, How and when to make camping reservations. Communal fireplaces are provided for most cabins, only 3 cabins have own firering. It includes an accessible pit toilet within 20 feet from the cabin and is closest to the wood shed & library. No trailhead map as of yet for this areaplease see the Parkwide map. For this trip we invited our niece and nephew to Read more, Lets go camping on Labor Day Weekend. Along with Cabin #5, these would be the ones where youd get the most foot traffic as they along the trails to the other cabins. Ive only seen bear scat along the trail at Chimney Pond once. If you are confident in your fitness and abilities take your group along any of around ten trails leading up the mountain and back again. The main downside is that the picnic table & fire ring is surrounded by boulders so its doesnt accommodate that many unless you can find a flat spot for your camp chair. Generally the maximum group size for campgrounds and trails in the Park is 12 persons. So, for the last few years, Ive been making the journey to Baxter to enjoy the wilderness. This is often a complicated aspect when planning a trip to Baxter is navigating the camping reservation system. Cove, 2:00 p.m. Leaving for Russell Pond and surrounding areas, May August, 5:00 p.m. Leaving for Chimney Pond, May August. Check the park's website for a list of local flora and fauna, including wild flowers and moose. Check your reservation form for the maximum capacity of your site. Baxter State Park is a fantastic model of an independent park and reserve that many land managers here in Canada should be looking at. unless noted otherwise below, The campground trailhead also provides access to Russell Pond Campground via the Pogy Notch Trail. Cabins available at Kidney Pond in Baxter State Park. Youll see a sign for Kidney Pond on your left, and the drive in is about a mile. 207-723-5140. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Office hours are subject to change without notice. From Kidney Pond campground, the trail to Sentinel Mountain winds around Kidney Pond for a rocky 0.5 miles before heading off to the right (south). Be prepared. Required fields are marked *. Best Family Activities in Baxter State Park, 4. Kidney Pond Published by Outdoor Odyssey on August 9, 2020 This campground is one of my favorites in Baxter State Park. (conditions permitting, see News or Facebook 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). site 1, 8 people| sites 2, 3, and 4, 14 each. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Live Maps: Use the Maine by Foot Blue Dot, Wonderful walks (that dont involve hiking up a mountain), Carrabassett Valley, near Carrabassett Valley, Appalachian Mountain Club Maine Woods Initiative, The Berwicks (Berwick, South Berwick, and North Berwick), Schoolhouse Ledge Trails, Mount Desert Island (Northeast Harbor), Prouts Neck Cliff Walk, with Ferry and Scarborough Beaches, Scarborough, Androscoggin Riverlands State Park, Turner, Hutchins Island and Marsh Preserve, Islesboro, Schoener Robinhood Cove Preserve, Georgetown, Martin Point Wildlife Reserve, Friendship. From Togue Gatehouse, drive 11 miles west along the Park Tote Road. Irving O. Reservations for these sites must be made by phone, mail, or in person: Cabin 1 is probably the best cabin to get withing the main groupings. Winter M-F, 8am-4pm | Summer 7 days/week, 8am-4pm. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A quick post-voting hike up West Rattlesnake Mt. You will also find wheel barrows that you can haul your gear from your car to your site. You cannot see the cabins from the ranger station or the library. The key here is to keep extra food stored away. Even after it turns into a footpath, the walking remains fairly gently for a woods walk. WebBaxter State Park - Reservations Make a Reservation event Date Camping Parking Non-Resident Fees Attention Baxter State Park Customers - Please Read the Information Below Prior to Making a Reservation Baxter State Park Each cabin is outfitted with 2-4 beds depending on which cabin you rent. You will be sharing an accessible outhouse from the parking lot and there is a double outhouse about 50m towards the open field and communal fire pit. However, we have (4) four group areas for all groups of 13 or more people: Group areas must be reserved by phone, mail, or in person at BSP HQ in Millinocket. PREV NEXT chilkoot on Aug 28, 2006 4:40 am Comments & voting Other parents Image Type (s): Informational Image ID: 219946 11371 Hits 71.06 % Score 1 Votes Log in Friends of Baxter State Park, P.O. All cabins except 3, 4, and 5 are walk-in. Please verify these cut-off times with the reservation office and make your plans accordingly. One of the most popular walks is the hike to Sentinel Mountain. at BSP Headquarters, 64 Balsam Drive, Millinocket, ME. Some points seem shorter and somepoints seem longer. Required fields are marked *. You can get to the pond either by taking the Doubletop Mountain trail from the Kidney Pond parking lot, or on the Slaughter Pond trail, which leaves from the trailhead and small parking lot farther up Kidney Pond Road. Sentinel Mountain The hike to the 1,842-ft. mountain is 3.1 miles one way from Kidney Pond. 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 interior offers a nice large area for the picnic table & wood stove while the single beds are divided into rooms with furniture (ie dresser). Trout Brook Farm- (4 sites), #1 holds 8 people, #2,#3,#4 all hold 14 people each. I love these hand drawings from the Park Authority. There are a number of hiking trails to suit different skill levels in Baxter State Park, with cabins offering lodgings set in the glorious surrounding landscape. Good Advice from Know Before You Go: If you stay in a lean-to, bunkhouse, or cabin, your gear needs will likely be centered on eating and sleeping. on Aug 28, 2006 6:10 am. *Note that all campers must be at the gate by 8:30 pm on the first night of their camping reservation.*. 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. It is the furthest cabin, isolated and the longest walk to the pit toilet. Call our Reservations office at Early June is great as the season is just starting and not as busy in my opinion. All sites during the merry month of May When you reserve a spot in a bunkhouse. You must supply all pots, pans, dishes, utensils, and a means of water purification. Looks very tempting for swimming (but beware the leeches). Cooking must be done outside the cabins with Coleman-style stoves on the We found that campers who booked cabin 1, 12 & 13 would simply pay 8$ per day and take a canoe to their cabin so that they can launch whenever. Chimney Pond provides day hiking access to all Katahdin peaks and to Russell Pond Campground via Davis Pond and the Northwest Basin Trail. Each cabin is outfitted with 2-4 beds depending on which cabin you rent. They were grandsons of William H. Hunt who built the well known Hunt Farm along the East Branch of the Penobscot River in the 1830s. For example, for all winter sites, reservations are only accepted by mail or in person. The camp ground consists of 13 cabins that you can rent. Established cut-off time for leaving to hike into Chimney Pond is 5:00p.m. Also best to try reserving the sites very early in the morning. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just enjoy sharing enviable photos on social media, there's plenty of opportunity for taking great photos in Baxter State Park. Capacity of each is listed at the top right. it has a nice landing for your canoe / kayak. Suitable for snowshoeing in winter, this trail is just 1.5 miles long and so will suit younger kids and others who need to take a slightly slower pace on the trip. You must check-in at the gate no later than 8:30PM on your first night of camping. The pond is also home to Kidney Pond Campground, which features rustic rental cabins, a ranger station, a boat launch and a collection of rental canoes and kayaks. Kidney Pond Published by Outdoor Odyssey on August 9, 2020 This campground is one of my favorites in Baxter State Park. 7.2 or 7.6mi from Roaring Brook or 9.6mi from South Branch Pond. During our stay we noticed people walking woth their gear and a car driving down. Note that the Ranger Station is across the road where a new building has been erected. Kidney Pond Trails, Baxter State Park QUICK TRAIL FACTS Preserve Size: 209,644 acres Trail Mileage: Trails of various lengths Pets: no Difficulty: Pond trails are easy to moderate Sights: ponds, mountain views, marsh Trails to ponds around Kidney Pond are in blue; Sentinel Mountain Trail is in yellow; Doubletop Mountain Trail is in red Check out time: 11:00 am on departure day. Kidney Pond Published by Outdoor Odyssey on August 9, 2020 This campground is one of my favorites in Baxter State Park. 26mi to Millinocket WebKidney Pond Click to download area trail head map. This is a nice cute cabin for 2 people. Groceries can be purchased in the nearby towns. But Katahdin, in all its glory,forever shall remain the mountain of the people of Maine.. The camp ground consists of 13 cabins that you can rent. They have great knowledge of the park, and their time estimates to accomplish a number of trails are spot on. This campground provides trailhead access to Russell Pond via the Wassataquoik Lake Trail and day hikes to Doubletop Mountain. Many of the lakes and smaller ponds offer canoe rental. There are no cooking or bathing facilities. All winter sites must be reserved by mail or in person. Each cabin is outfitted with 2-4 beds depending on which cabin you rent. * No Open Fires due to accumulated environmental degradation. 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. My only complain is that you dont get a good idea of the scale until you arrive. All backcountry sites WebOne of the most scenic state parks in the country, this popular Maine park is a huge nature preserve located in Piscataquis County, north Maine. Other parents. "Those seeking cold, hard statistics on Maine communities won't be disappointed." Directions: The best place to pick up all these trails is at the Kidney Pond parking area, at the end of Kidney Pond Road, a short dead-end road that leads to the cabins on the pond and a largish parking area. Baxter State Park offers their visitors five different styles of camping. Baxter State Park offers its visitors a full wilderness camping experience that requires careful preparation. We started looking at some of our favorite campgrounds and everything seemed to be all booked up in Read more, Barnes Field is a group site located near Dolly Copp Campground in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire. However once you get into August and fall then things get a bit crazy. When in The Park, it is important for all visitors to practice the 7 LNT principles. My goal after my first visit, was to make this a regularvisit so that I can take advantage of this area. All cabins will have the following items: More about the rules & regulations, you can read them right here. PREV. 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. Please verify these cut-off times with the reservation office and make your plans accordingly. The park has a great hiking resource here. Chimney Pond and Russell Pond campgrounds Kidney Pond Cabin View High-Resolution Image Cabin #9, called "Woodchuck Hollow," on the shore of Kidney Pond - the perfect place to spend a quiet week. Friends does the work of securing reservations at prime locations (think Kidney Pond cabins on fall weekends) and then makes those accommodations available to our members through organized group trips. Opening dates: All backcountry sites open May 15th Oct 15th except Davis Pond (June 1st) and Wassataquoik Lake Island (variable opening date). Most of the cabins will have their own dedicated pit toilet which are kept clean by the Park Ranger on duty. roll back the clock 70 years or more and you will find that Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were the outdoorsman playground, not Maine. Its a short walk but you can see the pond through the trees. Please bring a sleeping mat. Personally I think Kidney Pond works better for families with children as it is more open and the lake is more accessible as opposed to Daicey where you have rocks & roots everywhere and the lake isnt used as much. Our site was Cabin 13 (Moosewood). The upside is that you are very close to the edge of the lake. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Your email address will not be published. Kidney Pond in Baxter State Park is a 95-acre lake, 33 feet at its deepest. chilkoot. The final 0.5 miles to the views is up a steeper pitch, until you reach the 0.6-mile loop around this small but magnificent mountain. The snow peak of Mount Katahdin was like a mystery. Roaring Brook, Abol, Katahdin Stream, South Branch Pond, Newowadnehunk, and Trout Brook campgrounds are drive-in facilities offering lean-tos, tenting, and in most cases, bunkhouse. *Communal fireplaces are provided for most cabins, only 3 cabins have own firering. Kidney Pond in Baxter State Park is a 95-acre lake, 33 feet at its deepest. 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. Kidney Pond is one of the best places to fish in the area and with a Maine fishing licence you will be set to make the most of the perfect location for this sport. As with cabin 1, you can drive up your car if the Ranger allows it. Kidney Pond in Baxter State Park is a 95-acre lake, 33 feet at its deepest. However it is a short walk and we didnt mind walking . Foster Field. However the crowds change noticeably once Labour Day Weekend, where families are back home to school and is replaced by an older crowd. Baxter State Park has no potable water but what they do have is an abundance of water sources and minimal industrial pollution. Bunkhouse reservations must be made by phone, mail*, or in person at BSP HQ in Millinocket. Click here for our rolling reservation table. 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. Most of the campgrounds cabins line the northwest shoreline. One of the Parks busiest campgrounds, and the most popular trailhead for hiking to Chimney Pond, and Katahdin. to Oct 15, One really nice thing about this cabin is, you get your own out house. Please do not bring your own. Cabins available at Kidney Pond in Baxter State Park. PREV. Governor Baxters first priority was to protect the wildness of the Park. Kidney Pond Cabins has 12 total sites. Davis Pond and Wassataquiok Lake lean-tos must be reservedmust be made by phone, mail*, or in person at BSP HQ in Millinocket. Most have a porch on the front and many of them are right on the water. on Aug 28, 2006 6:10 am. Covid update: for the 2022 summer season, Bunkhouses will be rented on a single party basis, like a cabin, as opposed to spot by spot. 12 lean-tos No cooking or sleeping supplies are available for purchase within the park. This is a wilderness campground. WebLife & Culture. The Ranger is on duty usually until 9:30pm and if you miss him/her, they will stop by your site to check-in. Image Type (s): Topo/Diagram , Informational. Nesowadnehunk Field Campground to Russell Pond Campground. WebKidney Pond Click to download area trail head map. These cabins will be close to traffic and some have access to the lake. for cooking and picnic tables are provided. As with cabin 6, you have a front porch looking over the open field along with a deck looking over the lake. *As daylight hours shorten in the fall, posted cut-off time is earlier. The big selling point of the park is its rustic nature. See fee schedule for pricing. A rain fly or tarp is a welcome shelter over a cooking area during bad weather. You will also find wheel barrows that you can haul your gear from your car to your site. 10 person bunkhouse Nesowadnehunk, 3 There is also a wood stove table and chairs. Larger flat area around the fire ring than other cabins, Cabin 7 & 9 make great pairings if want to come with another couple or family. First week of August is great as the bugs are mostly gone and not really an issue. Early June is great as the season is just starting and not as busy in my opinion. We didnt have to go far for a great camping experience. You will need a sleeping bag or sheets, blankets and pillows. Meandering through the forest and ending up at a pond where wild cranberries grow. Lily Pad Pond Trail The trail portion of this hike is .9 miles from Kidney Pond Campground. It is closest to the Ranger station cabin. With a lean-to or tent site, you can cook over a wood fire (except at Chimney Pond and David Pond), but a camp stove offers greater flexibility. Image Type (s): Topo/Diagram , Informational. Bear Brook -3 sites (#1,#2,#3) each hold 14 people; Foster Field- (3 sites) #1 holds 12 people, site #2 holds 13 people, and site #3 holds 25 people; Nesowadnehunk Field- (3 sites) #1,#2,#3 all hold 16 people. // However, as Im getting older, I do prefer the comforts of the cabin as compared to crawling out on my knees from a tent in the morning. Kidney Pond Cabin View High-Resolution Image Cabin #9, called "Woodchuck Hollow," on the shore of Kidney Pond - the perfect place to spend a quiet week. Trail access may be closed from Roaring Brook during times of high water. WebDaicey Pond and Kidney Pond campgrounds offer private cabins with beds with mattresses, propane lanterns, and woodstoves. 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