Mount Katahdin, Baxter Peak

Mount Katahdin is the highest mountain in Maine.
Named Katahdin by the Penobscot Indians, the term means "The Greatest Mountain".
Katahdin is the centerpiece of Baxter State Park, an area around the peak formed by Governor Percival Baxter in the 1930s.
Katahdin is most famous as being the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, located at the end of a stretch of the trail known as the Hundred-Mile Wilderness.
It's summit is also the southern terminus of the newer International Appalachian Trail.
Most famous route to the summit traverses the Knife Edge ridge between Pamola Peak and South Baxter Peak.
Has 2 main peaks: Baxter Peak is the highest peak of Katahdin. Lower Hamlin Peak is also recognized as a New England 4000 footer.
At the summer solstice and vernal and autumnal equinoxes, Katahdin is the first place in the United States mainland to receive sunlight in the morning.

Routes

Helon Taylor, Knife Edge

16 summits • 11.4 mi • 3,886 ft gain • 11 hr 33 min

Saddle

9 summits • 10.6 mi • 4,249 ft gain • 5 hr 42 min

Mount Katahdin, Baxter Peak 10.0 mi route

1 summit • 10.0 mi • 4,107 ft gain • 8 hr 40 min

Mount Katahdin, Baxter Peak 11.2 mi route

1 summit • 11.2 mi • 4,389 ft gain • 10 hr 33 min

Mount Katahdin, Baxter Peak 14.4 mi route

1 summit • 14.4 mi • 4,731 ft gain • 11 hr 23 min

Mount Katahdin, Baxter Peak 9.9 mi route

1 summit • 9.9 mi • 4,419 ft gain • 9 hr 0 min

Latest summits

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"We headed out of Daciey Pond to attempt Katahdin via the Abol Tr. It was windy on the way up. The trail itself was do able, but it was exposed and steep. We eventually reached the Tablelands and slowly reached Baxter Peak. The Abol Tr really zapped us of energy. We then headed off to Hamlin Peak and there was no wind on the way over. We reached Hamlin where 3 of us finished winter lists. I finished my NE67w and NEHHw. We then headed to the Baxter Cut Off and looped around Baxter Peak to reach Abol Tr. There was no wind on the way down and it was sunny and in the mid 40s. It took us a long time to descend to the treeline. We then walked back to Daicy Pond. " — newenglandwarrior • Feb 21, 2023

"After spending the night at Davis Pond, we came up the NW Basin Tr and hit Hamlin Peak first. This completed my 2nd loop of the NE67. Then we went over Baxter Peak. Concern about storm clouds on horizon made us go down Abol Slide Tr, then road walked up to Katahding Stream Campground to our lean-to for the night. " — newenglandwarrior • Aug 4, 2022

"Baxter State Park can be tricky, we were lucky to get a reservation a few weeks in advance. Started from Katahdin Stream Campground early on a really beautiful morning. Such an awesome scramble section for about a mile in the middle, so much fun. After that it was pretty gentle, walking through the tableland was a nice break after scrambling a while. Heard the AT'ers celebrating throughout our approach to summit and could smell them when we got there, hah. Views were incredible, peak autumn foliage in every direction." — jodola • Oct 4, 2021

"Started from roaring brook and started up chimney pond trail, then ascending cathedral trail to baxter peak. Then went down saddle trail, and up the Hamlin peak trail to Hamlin peak. Then descended Hamlin ridge trail and chimney pond trail." — noahthackeray • Aug 25, 2021

"Generally a great weather day for Katahdin summit. No bad weather and pretty clear skies. Negligible winds. It was hot on the Tablelands, but not oppressive. Summited via Hunt trail. This trail is extremely difficult and requires a great deal of physical exertion. The Hunt Spur is steep and basically has a lower large boulder section where the use of iron rungs is needed, and an upper section where the rocks are smaller but require a lot of hand and foot scrambling. However the views of surrounding mountains from the Hunt Spur are absolutely phenomenal. " — Alohabuffy • Aug 10, 2021

"Roaring Brook -> Helon Taylor -> Pamola -> Knife Edge -> Baxter -> Saddle -> Chimney Pond -> Roaring Brook Noah, Baxter, Charlotte. Kate, Sophie. Michelle, Myah. Ron, Sarah, Aiden, Anthony" — rwthacke • Aug 28, 2020

"Excellent weather, great hike ascending Hamlin Ridge Trail. Have only gone down Hamlin in the past. But loved going up, always fantastic views of both the North and South Basins. On to Baxter Peak and finally down Saddle." — Alohabuffy • Jul 21, 2020

"The weather gods were unkind on this trip. I brought my son for his first trip to Katahdin. Hiked to Chimney Pond and stayed overnight, intending to summit the next day. It rained 3" overnight and just wrecked everything. Trails completely washed out, views completely obscured even from the ground. There were people who did the summit, but I couldn't bring myself to drag an inexperienced hiker up that beast in those conditions. We had fun despite being trapped in a lean-to most of the time. The hike out was treacherous, and wet. He handled himself extremely well, and impressed me. We rewarded ourselves with a big seafood platter in town." — mikewilliamsjr • Sep 24, 2019

"Climbed the Abol Trail to Baxter Peak, took the Saddle Trail across to Hamlin Peak and back to the Baxter Peak Cutoff Trail before descending the Hunt Trail into the Katahdin Stream Campground." — ducati996 • Aug 13, 2019

"Got a nice early start at 6am, but had to turn back due to one of the guys forgetting the keys to our vehicle posted at Roaring Brook. Back on trail at 6:45. Great hike up Abol, which turned out to be a real bruiser over the last 3/4 mile up. Underestimated how tough it would be. Hike from Thoreau Spring was easy, but were surprised by a black bear coming up behind us. He took off when a few more people came down the trail. Summit of Baxter around noon. Hiked over to Hamlin Peak and down Hamlin Ridge, which was way tougher than I was told it would be. We were pretty gassed at that point and finally dragged ourselves off the trail around 8:40. Long day, but it was beautiful weather, so it was worth it." — mikewilliamsjr • Jul 8, 2019