Nature of the Park

The Park is home to numerous mountains, the two most notable clusters being the peaks comprising and surrounding the Katahdin Massif and the more northern Traveler Range. Pink and white Katahdin granite make up the rugged mountains on the southern end of the Park, while the Traveler range further to the north is composed of Rhyolite with prominent columnar jointing. The north end also features sedimentary rock in certain localities. Glacial features are abundantly evident throughout the Park in the form of kettle ponds, eskers, moraines, erratics, the Knife Edge arête, the glacial cirques of Katahdin, and the splendid U-shaped valley running north to south from the Travelers to South Turner. The mountains combine with a wide array of ponds, lakes, streams, waterfalls, and bogs to create a varied and beautiful landscape. Popular waterfalls include Katahdin Stream Falls, Big and Little Niagara Falls, and the remote Green Falls. Two of the most significant streams are Nesowadnehunk Stream and Wassataquoik Stream. Ponds such as Kidney and Daicey Ponds, Grassy Pond, Rocky Pond, and the Fowler Ponds provide excellent fishing in most cases and the chance to canoe with friends and family with scenic northern woods in the background. There are numerous bogs supporting plants, birds, and wildlife unique to the area. In the forested areas, wildlife includes moose, deer, bear, otter, mink, marten, fisher, weasel, coyote, bobcat, beaver, muskrat, raccoon, woodchucks, snowshoe hare, squirrels, chipmunks, flying squirrels, mice, and voles. Avid bird watchers will enjoy the wide variety of wood barbers, thrushes, flycatchers, and game birds that are supported by equally diverse park environments. Several species of owl, hawk, and wetland birds may be spotted, as well. Young explorers will be buoyed by encounters with indigenous New England amphibian and reptile life. Insect life is abundant and diverse, including some beautiful beetles, dragonflies, and butterflies. The insatiable black fly, however, seems to have achieved the greatest notoriety in the memories of some of our campers! The plant life in the Park is as varied as the terrain and fauna. Park visitors will want a plant guide as they encounter a diverse population of wetland vegetation, woodland ferns, alpine plants, and colorful wildflowers native to the park. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries campus the park, and they have proven to be popular amongst summer visitors.Just remember to check the other side of the bush to find out if a resident black bear has prior claims on the bush! Baxter State Park was originally conceived as a park "for those who love nature and are willing to walk and make an effort to get close to nature" Unlike some parks which are designed for vehicle access with groomed viewpoints along the road for convenient travel by automobile, the features of Baxter State Park are best seen on foot. The Park was designed to be a hiking park with vehicular access on the limited and very primitive road system intended not as a means to experience the wilderness, but only as a way for visitors to reach their starting point. There are over 200 miles of trail maintained by the Park. These trails range from the heavily-used boardwalks around Sandy Stream Pond to the remote and little traveled Freezeout and rugged Northwest Basin Trail. There are moderate trails around ponds, pleasant trails to waterfalls, and challenging boulder-strewn pathways up many of our mountains. All these trails must be marked, brushed out and repaired regularly by Baxter's Trail Crew. Each season, roughly 10 people, usually volunteers from the Student Conservation Association, along with the Trail Supervisor and two Baxter Trail Crew Leaders, maintain park trails. They are joined each summer by dozens of individuals who volunteer either as a group or alone to contribute their time and effort to maintain quality trail access to this Park.