Since the campground was booked solid, we didnt venture down to disturb the other campers (as of August 2019). "Those seeking cold, hard statistics on Maine communities won't be disappointed." Directions: One place to catch the trail up Sentinel is from the parking for the Kidney Pond cabins. However, we have group areas located throughout the Park for all groups of 13 or more people. That means no waiting when nature calls. However once you get into August and fall then things get a bit crazy. *Note that all campers must be at the gate by 8:30 pm on the first night of their camping reservation.*. Overall we found the lake to be more inviting for paddling & swimming than Daicey pond. Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This is often a complicated aspect when planning a trip to Baxter is navigating the camping reservation system. Sites for groups are located at Bear Brook, Foster Field, Nesowadnehunk Field, and Trout Brook Farm. Even if you are not massively into hiking, or want more activities on your trip, there is plenty for families to enjoy. Please enable Javascript in your browser to use all elements of our website. 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 campgrounds, RV parks and more nearby or at thousands of destinations across North America. WebDaicey Pond and Kidney Pond campgrounds offer private cabins with beds with mattresses, propane lanterns, and woodstoves. Please verify these cut-off times with the reservation office and make your plans accordingly. Not all sites are available for online reservation, depending on the time of year. Allow 4 5 hours of daylight if leaving for Hudson or N.W. {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"HomeToGo: Vacation rentals","item":"https://www.hometogo.com"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"United States","item":"https://www.hometogo.com/united-states/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Maine","item":"https://www.hometogo.com/maine/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Baxter State Park","item":"https://www.hometogo.com/maine/baxter-state-park/"}]}. From Togue Gatehouse, drive 11 miles west along the Park Tote Road. Opening dates: All backcountry sites open May 15th Oct 15th except Davis Pond (June 1st) and Wassataquoik Lake Island (variable opening date). Bunkhouse reservations must be made by phone, mail*, or in person at BSP HQ in Millinocket. Davis Pond and Wassataquiok Lake lean-tos must be reservedmust be made by phone, mail*, or in person at BSP HQ in Millinocket. 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. However the crowds change noticeably once Labour Day Weekend, where families are back home to school and is replaced by an older crowd. Kidney has three main parking areas for cars which are easy to find with the signage. Luckily Baxter State Park has a number of cabins and seem to be adding a few more with each year. There is no running water. Youll find a number of Old Town discovery canoes. During our stay we noticed people walking woth their gear and a car driving down. // ]]> No vehicle over 9 feet high, 7 feet wide or 22 feet in length or 44 feet if hauling a trailer/RV, great view of the lake and mountains (Katahdin, double top). My personal favourite is Daicey Pond. Please verify these cut-off times with the reservation office and make your plans accordingly. 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. Learn why this landscape deserves such lifelong devotion. Directly across from Cabin 6,7 is an open field which has a picnic table underneath a shelter and the communal fire pit where you can cook food or have a campfire. Hike | Canoe (rentals available) | Fish | Ski. Chimney Pond and Russell Pond campgrounds 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. 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 Kidney Pond in Baxter State Park is a 95-acre lake, 33 feet at its deepest. We didnt have to go far for a great camping experience. 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. to Oct 15, 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. Bear Brook I grew up only 2 hours from this state park, albeit across the Canadian border, but I would look out the window as we drove down I-95 to visit family in Portland & Rhode Island every Christmas. The Ranger is on duty usually until 9:30pm and if you miss him/her, they will stop by your site to check-in. From Togue Gatehouse, drive 11 miles west along the Park Tote Road. **Must stay the night before either at Russell Pond, Pogy Pond, Chimney Pond, Wassataquoik Stream, Wassataquoik Lake, Wass Lake Island or Little Wassataquoik Lake. My only complain is that you dont get a good idea of the scale until you arrive. Youll find a number of Old Town discovery canoes. It is the furthest cabin, isolated and the longest walk to the pit toilet. Buildings crumble, monuments decay, wealth vanishes. Great swimming holes within the park include South Branch Pond, Abol Pond, Matagamon Landing, and Ledge Falls, a natural waterslide north of Comments & voting. All winter sites must be reserved by mail or in person. On those truly terrible days, the campground has a cabin dedicated to books, board games and other distractions. Sleeping bags, pads, or a mattress are needed except at Kidney and Daicey Ponds, where mattresses are provided. 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. The snow peak of Mount Katahdin was like a mystery. Also best to try reserving the sites very early in the morning. WebAccess to special trips for members, including day hikes and overnight camping trips in Baxter State Park. 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. // ]]> Kidney Pond and found it to be a great alternative depending on your party, thermacell, might want to bring it for those early mornings and late evenings. My personal favourite is Daicey Pond. Its also the farthest away an approximately 2.3 mile one-way walk through beautiful forest and slightly outside the parks boundaries. I havent measured but cabin 1 & from the parking isnt more than 200m. PREV. WebBaxter State Park Hike Along Miles of Trails Camp At One of Campsites Explore Acres of Wilderness Percival P. Baxter Percival P. Baxter made it his lifes magnificent obsession to create, protect, and provide to the people of Maine a wilderness haven encompassing some of the most rugged terrain in the Northeast. Daicey Pond and Kidney Pond campgrounds offer private cabins with beds with mattresses, propane lanterns, and woodstoves. The big benefit of this space was that it was the end of line, so no camper traffic. Find campgrounds, RV parks and more nearby or at thousands of destinations across North America. 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 All water should be treated. // Luckily Baxter State Park has a number of cabins and seem to be adding a few more with each year. They have great knowledge of the park, and their time estimates to accomplish a number of trails are spot on. All cabins may use the community fireplace located in the lawn area. South Branch Pond is the Parks largest campground and is popular with families who return year after year. Before you come out to the pond, you pass a canoe graveyard (I mean, the boats not left to die here, but there are so many scattered near the shore it looks a bit post-canoe apocalyptic). 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. Our site was Cabin 13 (Moosewood). Best Family Activities in Baxter State Park, 4. One western-facing ledge is called Sunset Ledge, and I imagine the spectacle is wonderful from here. However, the AT trail runs about 100 feet from the outhouse right behind the cabin. Other parents. The camp ground consists of 13 cabins that you can rent. Slaughter Pond My favorite of the many small, remote ponds sprinkled around Kidney Pond. Your email address will not be published. WebLuckily Baxter State Park has a number of cabins and seem to be adding a few more with each year. All cabins will have the following items: More about the rules & regulations, you can read them right here. Start your packing list with helpful hints here. Tent sites near a car or boat allow a wider choice in the size of your tent: tent weight determines the limit when backpacking to remote sites. To be honest, we havent seen a black bear so far in from our visits. WebKidney Pond Click to download area trail head map. I love these hand drawings from the Park Authority. 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. Russell Pond and Chimney Pond campgrounds offer hike-in and backcountry camping in wild settings. Nesowadnehunk Field Campground to Russell Pond Campground. 207-723-5140. There are no trash cans, no running water, no waste water drains, no electricity, no cell phone coverage and no showers. The detailed grid to help you plan is right here. I mean theres a mile high mountain and terminus of the Appalachian Trail as one of the main central selling points. Cooking must be done outside the cabins with Coleman-style stoves on the And the water access is a bit smoother and easier than some of the others. But Katahdin, in all its glory,forever shall remain the mountain of the people of Maine.. Baxter State Park is a fantastic model of an independent park and reserve that many land managers here in Canada should be looking at. 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. 10 cabins of varied design and size (wilderness type), Hike | Swim | Canoe (rentals available) | Fish | Ski. 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. Trails to ponds around Kidney Pond are in blue; Sentinel Mountain Trail is in yellow; Doubletop Mountain Trail is in red. This campground provides trailhead access to Russell Pond via the Wassataquoik Lake Trail and day hikes to Doubletop Mountain. Cookingmust be done outside the cabins with Coleman-style stoves on the porch, on picnic tables, or on outdoor fireplaces. PREV. Directions: One place to catch the trail up Sentinel is from the parking for the Kidney Pond cabins. * No Open Fires due to accumulated environmental degradation. Directions: One place to catch the trail up Sentinel is from the parking for the Kidney Pond cabins. This set of outdoor ethics was created to promote conservation in the outdoors and is very important to keeping Baxter Forever Wild.. 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. Other Park campgrounds. View High-Resolution Image. Check your reservation form for the maximum capacity of your site. 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. Then what do you do when nature is calling? There are three options; use an outhouse, dig a cat-hole, or when above the tree line, rock hopping to find a suitable location. 2006. Most of the cabins will have their own dedicated pit toilet which are kept clean by the Park Ranger on duty. Cabin 1 is probably the best cabin to get withing the main groupings. My personal favourite is Daicey Pond. The next four cabins are located directly from the parking lot, so you can can un/load from your parking spot or drive up to the edge. 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. 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. 12 lean-tos To be honest, I think Id be more concerned about running into moose. Another small 2 person cabin where the walking path to cabin #2 & #1 passes within a few feet behind it. With new location and focus, Carnaval Maine hopes third time is the charm. Kidney Pond Cabins has 12 total sites. As daylight hours shorten in the fall, posted cut-off time is earlier for these areas. 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. This is a great way for different generations of family to get together and pass on skills that will be appreciated for a lifetime. 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. Their camps attracted sports with an interest in fishing and hunting. Peace Through Music Hippie Microbus Shower Curtain, Up Ledges-IronMine Trail and down Marges Trail on Gunstock Mountain. Differences over how to renovate the area in keeping with Percival Baxters vision delayed action for several years. Trail access may be closed from Roaring Brook during times of high water. Please refer to our rules for vehicle size limits. From prior experience, it is best to have a plan B and C for sites and dates. Kidney Pond, in southern Baxter State Park, has several trails spiraling away from it. There is also a wood stove table and chairs. Each cabin is outfitted with 2-4 beds depending on which cabin you rent. Also note that as of 2019 that the Ranger station has been replaced with a new building across the road. 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. 7.2 or 7.6mi from Roaring Brook or 9.6mi from South Branch Pond. 9 tentsites. Do the loop and then if you have time, do it again! No trailhead map as of yet for this areaplease see the Parkwide map. WebLuckily Baxter State Park has a number of cabins and seem to be adding a few more with each year. This appears to be a newer cabin that is not listed on the campground map, but you walk past cabin 1. Looks very tempting for swimming (but beware the leeches). See fee schedule for pricing. chilkoot. Kidney Pond Published by Outdoor Odyssey on August 9, 2020 This campground is one of my favorites in Baxter State Park. One of the Parks busiest campgrounds, and the most popular trailhead for hiking to Chimney Pond, and Katahdin. Office hours are subject to change without notice. Fill out and mail our reservation form. 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. This campground is one of my favorites in Baxter State Park. Required fields are marked *. Some points seem shorter and somepoints seem longer. it has a nice landing for your canoe / kayak. Check out time: 11:00 am on departure day. Its a short walk but you can see the pond through the trees. There is also a wood stove table and chairs. Katahdin Lake is privately owned and operates on a lease with the Baxter State Park Authority. I love these hand drawings from the Park Authority. 3 group sites holding 12, 13, and 25 people. Cabins, bunkhouses, tent sites, lean-tos, and group sites. It has a decent canoe launch, large site and you can drive up to the site with your car if the Park Ranger is in a good mood. WebExplore Kidney Pond Cabins, part of the Baxter State Park located near Millinocket in the Piscataquis County region in Maine. Group site reservations must be made by mail or in person at BSP HQ in Millinocket. Trout Brook Farm is one of the Parks quietest campgrounds and provides a great base for exploring Matagamon Lake and backcountry hiking and camping in the northern part of the Park. However it is a short walk and we didnt mind walking . (update- walk in distances from parking are below). 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. 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. Backcountry Hike-in Campgrounds Russell Pond and Chimney Pond campgrounds offer hike-in and backcountry camping in wild settings. WebDaicey Pond and Kidney Pond campgrounds offer private cabins with beds with mattresses, propane lanterns, and woodstoves. As you can see from the images, you are about 12 feet from the main path. (in the back). 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. Box 322, Belfast, ME 04915 | (207) 331-4164 | info@friendsofbaxter.org. 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