The Dwelley Pond Trail and Park Tote Road are two ideal places to ride bikes. Please enable Javascript in your browser to use all elements of our website. This route will take you along the Wassataquoik Lake Trail and is over 14 miles, so more suited to advanced outdoors people, particularly in winter. 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. Youll see a sign for Kidney Pond on your left, and the drive in is about a mile. Established cutoff time for leaving to hike to Russell is 2:00 p.m.* There are no bridges over Wassataquoik Stream rock hopping and wading. This is a nice cute cabin for 2 people. Some of the other sites that will require reservation either by phone, mail or in person during the month of May due to park slowly opening up or allowing for traffic on the soft dirt roads: Once you have your dates and site figured out, your best bet at success is to take a chance with the online reservation system. This was the furthest site in. Variable opening date. Three of the cabins you have to walk in a bit. Irving O. Call our Reservations office at My only complain is that you dont get a good idea of the scale until you arrive. **Must stay the night before either at Russell Pond, Pogy Pond, Chimney Pond, Wassataquoik Stream, Wassataquoik Lake, Wass Lake Island or Little Wassataquoik Lake. 439 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. Backcountry Hike-in Campgrounds Russell Pond and Chimney Pond campgrounds offer hike-in and backcountry camping in wild settings. // ]]> 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. Please bring a sleeping mat. All water should be treated. You will also find wheel barrows that you can haul your gear from your car to your site. 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. This campground is one of my favorites in Baxter State Park. Some points seem shorter and somepoints seem longer. Foster Field. PREV. There are no cooking or bathing facilities. No cooking or sleeping supplies are available for purchase within the park. Great swimming holes within the park include South Branch Pond, Abol Pond, Matagamon Landing, and Ledge Falls, a natural waterslide north of 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. This cabin didnt appear to have access to the lake, rather walk towards the library and access it that way. Baxter State Park offers its visitors a full wilderness camping experience that requires careful preparation. 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. With new location and focus, Carnaval Maine hopes third time is the charm. The next group of cabins are to the right of the library and required a bit of a walk. *Communal fireplaces are provided for most cabins, only 3 cabins have own firering. to Oct 15, WebTogue Pond rental canoe: Employees at the Visitor Center or Togue Pond Gate can rent this canoe, life jackets and paddles for only $1/hour! See your next adventure at CampgroundTour.com! Please do not modify the structure in any way (nails, hooks, etc.). WebBaxter State Park - Reservations Make a Reservation event Date Camping Parking Non-Resident Fees Attention Baxter State Park Customers - Please Read the Information Below Prior to Making a Reservation Baxter State Park See fee schedule for pricing. The Cabins At Kidney Pond in Baxter State Park Baxter State Park is a fantastic model of an independent park and reserve that many land managers here in Canada should be looking at. All cabins will have the following items: The park recommends that you store your food & cooler in your car overnight so that large black fur critters dont come knocking. Directions: The best place to pick up all these trails is at the Kidney Pond parking area, at the end of Kidney Pond Road, a short dead-end road that leads to the cabins on the pond and a largish parking area. The policy for use of backcountry sites allows for advance reservations to be made through the mail, by phone, or in person at Baxter Park Headquarters in Millinocket. Ive only seen bear scat along the trail at Chimney Pond once. WebLuckily Baxter State Park has a number of cabins and seem to be adding a few more with each year. The detailed grid to help you plan is right here. Cabin 5 The Landing (wheel chair accessible). 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. *Communal fireplaces are provided for most cabins, only 3 cabins have own firering. Booking Baxter State Park cabins and hotels is the first step to your adventure in the wild country of Maine. Roaring Brook, 3 sites Kidney Pond in Baxter State Park is a 95-acre lake, 33 feet at its deepest. That means no waiting when nature calls. There are no cooking or bathing facilities. It is closest to the Ranger station cabin. Check your reservation form for the maximum capacity of your site. The camp ground consists of 13 cabins that you can rent. 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. 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. If there are more people than the maximum capacity, an additional site will need to be reserved, keeping in mind that the group size limit in any campground is 12 people. There are no trash cans, no running water, no waste water drains, no electricity, no cell phone coverage and no showers. Articles about Maine history, government, ecology, economy, recreation, towns, natural features, famous people, sports, with maps, photos, and videos. Kidney Pond Cabins has 12 total sites. Great swimming holes within the park include South Branch Pond, Abol Pond, Matagamon Landing, and Ledge Falls, a natural waterslide north of We didnt have to go far for a great camping experience. Hike along the shores of lakes and picnic with the backdrop of the great Mount Katahdin in There is also a wood stove table and chairs. Sites for groups are located at Bear Brook, Foster Field, Nesowadnehunk Field, and Trout Brook Farm. This was our first experience at Daicey Pond. However, the AT trail runs about 100 feet from the outhouse right behind the cabin. Daicey Pond is one of the Parks most popular destinations and offers great views and fishing on Daicey Pond and hiking access to many other backcountry ponds and mountains. 9 lean-tos The nice thing about these sites is they are the only ones with their own fire rings. From Togue Gatehouse, drive 11 miles west along the Park Tote Road. Backcountry Hike-in Campgrounds Russell Pond and Chimney Pond campgrounds offer hike-in and backcountry camping in wild settings. Hunt and his brother Lyman began building camps near the pond in 1899. Slaughter Pond My favorite of the many small, remote ponds sprinkled around Kidney Pond. My only complain is that you dont get a good idea of the scale until you arrive. Backcountry sites are scattered through the Park, allowing individual parties the opportunity to camp in isolated and primitive areas. Governor Baxters first priority was to protect the wildness of the Park. Boston. We stayed here, also because of the fire ring at camp. Baxter State Park. If you have a thermacell, might want to bring it for those early mornings and late evenings. You must check-in at the gate no later than 8:30PM on your first night of camping. Directions: One place to catch the trail up Sentinel is from the parking for the Kidney Pond cabins. WebOne of the most scenic state parks in the country, this popular Maine park is a huge nature preserve located in Piscataquis County, north Maine. Draper Pond The closest of the ponds the circle Kidney Pond its just 0.5 miles from the Kidney Pond parking area. Group site reservations must be made by mail or in person at BSP HQ in Millinocket. 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 Kidney Pond, in southern Baxter State Park, has several trails spiraling away from it. As daylight hours shorten in the fall, posted cut-off time is earlier for these areas. Straight line from the woodshed loading area. Also there are 13 cabins not 12. 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. This is often a complicated aspect when planning a trip to Baxter is navigating the camping reservation system. This cabin along with #1 would be great options for late fall extended stays. Trout Brook Farm, 4 chilkoot. Most have a porch on the front and many of them are right on the water. 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. Their camps attracted sports with an interest in fishing and hunting. They will post the weather forecast each morning and will alert campers of other park news. Capacity: Unless otherwise noted the tent site and lean-to capacities are four (4) person. Required fields are marked *. Celia, Jackson, and Little Beaver Ponds Celia Pond is about 1.5 miles from the Kidney Pond parking area, through a pretty forest. We started looking at some of our favorite campgrounds and everything seemed to be all booked up in Read more, Barnes Field is a group site located near Dolly Copp Campground in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire. One western-facing ledge is called Sunset Ledge, and I imagine the spectacle is wonderful from here. First week of August is great as the bugs are mostly gone and not really an issue. 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. All leantos were moved to the former group area field and the bridge over Newowadnehunk Stream is open to foot traffic only and is used to access several walk-in tent sites. And the water access is a bit smoother and easier than some of the others. Baxter State Park has no potable water but what they do have is an abundance of water sources and minimal industrial pollution. Kidney Pond Cabin View High-Resolution Image Cabin #9, called "Woodchuck Hollow," on the shore of Kidney Pond - the perfect place to spend a quiet week. Capacity of each is listed at the top right. Another small 2 person cabin where the walking path to cabin #2 & #1 passes within a few feet behind it. Download the PDF here. They have great knowledge of the park, and their time estimates to accomplish a number of trails are spot on. 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. Millinocket is located 20 miles from Togue Pond gate at the south entrance and Patten is located 24 miles from the Matagamon gate at the north entrance. 10 person bunkhouse Check out time: 11:00 am on departure day. WebLife & Culture. WebDaicey Pond and Kidney Pond campgrounds offer private cabins with beds with mattresses, propane lanterns, and woodstoves. Usually we go to Daicey Pond, but we reserved at Kidney Pond and found it to be a great alternative depending on your party. Some of the other sites that will require reservation either by phone, mail or in person during the month of May due to park slowly opening up or allowing for traffic on the soft dirt roads: Once you have your dates and site figured out, your best bet at success is to take a chance with the online reservation system. Differences over how to renovate the area in keeping with Percival Baxters vision delayed action for several years. By then the campground, now part of Baxter State Park, had fallen into disrepair. Neff, John W. Katahdin: An Historic Journey. Irving and Lyman had worked as guides and trappers in the 1880s. One really nice thing about this cabin is, you get your own out house. Kidney Pond Published by Outdoor Odyssey on August 9, 2020 This campground is one of my favorites in Baxter State Park. Group sites Firewood is provided. Whether at a campground or a backcountry campsite there are items that visitors should and should not bring. on Aug 28, 2006 6:10 am. 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. Box 322, Belfast, ME 04915 | (207) 331-4164 | info@friendsofbaxter.org. Nesowadnehunk is the most remote of the Parks roadside campgrounds and provides easy access to Ledge Falls, a popular swimming spot during hot summer weather. There are views in every direction. On those truly terrible days, the campground has a cabin dedicated to books, board games and other distractions. Hike along the shores of lakes and picnic with the backdrop of the great Mount Katahdin in the distance as you explore Baxter State Park. roll back the clock 70 years or more and you will find that Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were the outdoorsman playground, not Maine. roll back the clock 70 years or more and you will find that Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were the outdoorsman playground, not Maine. Directions: One place to catch the trail up Sentinel is from the parking for the Kidney Pond cabins. 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. 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. Bear Brook -3 sites (#1,#2,#3) each hold 14 people; Foster Field- (3 sites) #1 holds 12 people, site #2 holds 13 people, and site #3 holds 25 people; Nesowadnehunk Field- (3 sites) #1,#2,#3 all hold 16 people. This cabin is further up on the hill, out of view of the main path towards cabins 1-3. on Aug 28, 2006 6:10 am. Not all sites are available for online reservation, depending on the time of year. WebLife & Culture. [CDATA[