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TJ aka Teej
12-18-2003, 18:49
Baxter State Park will begin processing reservations for the upcoming camping
season on January 2, 2003. Mail order and in person only, no reservations via
phone. Camping season starts May 15th, but the AT might not be open. You
should be able to climb Katahdin by June 1st, after some trail
work and Park Rangers inspect the trail to Baxter Peak.
Fees have increased again this year. $9 per person, $18 min per site. Out of state
vehicles will pay $12 at the gates, Maine residents drive in for free.
Southbound and Flip-flopping thruhikers are not allowed to stay at the AT
lean-tos at The Birches. You must have a reservation, and you'll want to stay
at Katahdin Stream Campground. The AT passes right through KSC. Tent site #
19 is the quietest, tent site #16 is the first/last campsite on the AT, and
walk-in lean-tos #1-2-3 are my favorites.
Flip-Floppers please note: When you get to the ATC at Harper's Ferry you can
call ahead to Baxter to inquire about open spots. I suggest planning a
midweek stay at Baxter, staying at least two nights. You can mail your
reservation request & check ahead, and have it mailed to a maildrop (allow
three weeks). Or, you could just flip ahead to Millinocket and take your
chances on reservations at Park Head Quarters!
The official web page:
http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/

this link takes you right to next year's reservation information:
http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/camping/nextyear.html

Phone and address:
Baxter State Park Reservation Clerk
64 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, Maine 04462
1.207.723.5140

This should be the last year the reservation system at Baxter relies on huge ledger books and shoeboxes. Next year they go digital!

Peaks
12-19-2003, 09:44
For those that haven't been there, the Birches is set aside for thru-hikers. In their defination, a thru-hiker is anyone who hiked though the 100 miles from Monson.

It's limited to 12 persons. First come, first served basis. The sign up is just inside Baxter State Park after crossing Abol Bridge.

TJ, other than the fee increase of $1.00, any other changes?

TJ aka Teej
12-20-2003, 12:10
For those that haven't been there, the Birches is set aside for thru-hikers. In their defination, a thru-hiker is anyone who hiked though the 100 miles from Monson.

It's limited to 12 persons. First come, first served basis. The sign up is just inside Baxter State Park after crossing Abol Bridge.

TJ, other than the fee increase of $1.00, any other changes?
Peaks is right, it's set aside for northbound long distance A.T. hikers, to be specific. No IAT hikers allowed either. Nice tent platform, good hammocking trees. 12 person limit, but I heard not one hiker was turned away this summer. The Rangers go out of their way to find spots for all the hikers somewhere.
That's all the info thruhikers and their familys picking them up /dropping them off might need, I think Peaks.
Though not a change, something for hikers to keep in mind is that on Labor Day weekend the entire Katahdin Steam Campground and parking area is set aside for a tribal gathering of the Penobscot nation. Lucky hikers might get fed, and witness a blessing ceremony that includes thruhikers as pilgrims to the Sacred Mountain.

TJ aka Teej
01-04-2004, 19:13
http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D7VS3LOO1-3.shtml

"MILLINOCKET, Maine — A record 300-plus people lined up for the annual ritual of reserving cabins, lean-tos and tent spaces at Baxter State Park for next summer."

New systen in place, reservations for after Aug. 7 won't be taken until April 7th.