Facilities
The park has eight campgrounds that are accessible by car, and three that are accessible only by foot. There are no utilities, but there are some cabins available. Most sites are tent sites, but there are some lean-to type structures available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken for most sites for camping May through October 15. One third of the sites are held for Maine residents, and some of those become available if not used.
Plan Ahead
By July most of the reservations are made for the rest of the year, so it will be hard to get a site. By mid-July and for the rest of the season, it is very hard to get a site by just showing up.
Size
Baxter State Park has 200 miles of trails, and 46 mountain peaks and ridges. The highest peak is at 5,267 feet. It is also the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
Water
The only water available is untreated water in streams. You must either bring your own water, or purify what is there. All camping at the park is primitive.
Considerations
The main purpose of the park is nature preservation, not promotion of use. During busy seasons areas are closed when a certain number of people are using the park.
Article Written By James Jordan
James Jordan has been a writer and photographer since 1980. He has worked for newspapers in Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kansas, winning state press association awards for writing, photography and page design. In 1995 he received his master's in Christian education and completed two years of Ancient Greek at the graduate level. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
