Baxter State Park

Percival Baxter tried repeatedly as governor to get the legislature to buy Katahdin and was refused, so from 1930 he bought the land with his own money in parcels over three decades and deeded it to the state with conditions attached: it should stay forever wild, be kept as a sanctuary for wildlife, and remain undeveloped. Those deeds still govern how it is run, which is why there is no electricity, no piped water at most campsites, no pets and a cap on daily entries. Katahdin, at 1,606 metres, is the highest point in Maine and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail; the Knife Edge route along the summit ridge is about a kilometre of exposed scramble with drops on both sides.

What you actually see

• Katahdin at 1,606 metres - the Appalachian Trail's northern end.
• The Knife Edge - an exposed ridge scramble with drops both sides.
• No electricity or piped water - required by the founding deeds.
• A daily entry cap - parking must be reserved.

When to go

June to October; the road and gates close for winter. A full day or several.

Honest expectations

Parking reservations are required and release on a schedule that fills within minutes for peak dates. Facilities are deliberately minimal. The Knife Edge kills people - it is not a hiking trail in the ordinary sense. No pets, ever.

Nearby

Millinocket is south; the Allagash waterway is north-west.