Day Use Vehicle Limits

Day use has been limited to the parking lot capacity at each campground, trailhead and picnic area in the park. This is not to preserve the parking areas, but to minimize impacts of overuse on the trails. Once a parking lot is filled to capacity, that trailhead is considered full and visitors should choose an alternative hike or activity in the Park. Please do not drop off hikers or park along the road and walk back to trailheads that are already full. Many times, the "secondary" choice becomes a favorite, as these less used trails provide more opportunities for solitude and wilderness, away from crowded areas. The Park has never filled all of the parking lots at once and, around smaller trailheads, spots will open up throughout the day as visitors hike shorter trails or picnic for a few hours and continue on. During our busy times (July, August and fall weekends) Katahdin trailheads can fill for the day early in the morning, but there is always an alternative mountain trail or pond waiting for you to explore just up the road. Park use has eased up in the last few years and, on most days, visitors will find many open trailheads.