Baxter State Park in Maine runs its own backcountry campground and campsite system, separate from Maine's state park reservation system, with roughly 30 interior lean-to and tent sites plus Chimney Pond and Russell Pond. This page gives sourced trip info and a link to book.
“Maine's Baxter State Park runs its own backcountry campground system, separate from every other state reservation in this catalogue.”
Plan your Baxter State Park (ME) trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Plan your trip
How to get Baxter Backcountry
Baxter State Park runs its own separate reservation system; PermitSnag has no adapter for it yet.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we alert on.
Baxter Backcountry reservation dates
- route distance, varies by route
- 220mi
Plan your Baxter State Park Backcountry Camping camps, night by night
You book a camp for each night.
Camp
Chimney Pond Campground
Designated sites, booked by nameThe park's oldest backcountry campground, established 1938, the main base for climbing all of Katahdin's peaks.
Baxter State Park Backcountry Camping landmarks, Chimney Pond Campground to Matagamon Lake backcountry area
How to get a Baxter Backcountry permit
As of September 2026, Baxter Backcountry in Baxter State Park (ME), Maine requires a permit issued via reservation. Baxter Backcountry rates 5/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The Baxter Backcountry route covers 220 miles.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- north-central Maine, Piscataquis and Penobscot counties, ME
Step 1: Create a baxterstatepark.org account
Sign up at baxterstatepark.org if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
More on Baxter Backcountry: Live availability activityWhen Baxter Backcountry permits open up
How much a Baxter Backcountry permit costs
Baxter Backcountry permit fee: Nightly camping fees apply (varies by site type); a per-vehicle day-use fee also applies at the gatehouses for non-Maine-resident vehicles.
The Baxter Backcountry hike
- Distance
- 220 miles
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- varies by itinerary; multi-night backcountry trips of up to 14 consecutive nights are permitted park-wide
Maine's Baxter State Park runs its own backcountry campground system, separate from every other state reservation in this catalogue.
About this permit
Baxter State Park runs roughly 30 interior lean-to and tent sites plus Chimney Pond and Russell Pond, on a reservation system separate from Maine's state park system. Roaring Brook and Katahdin Stream Campgrounds are the standard roadside trailheads.
The feeling
Chimney Pond, established in 1938, is the main base for climbing Katahdin's peaks; Russell Pond is the park's most remote campground, reached via Wassataquoik Stream.
How hard the Baxter Backcountry hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required5/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Experienced hikers with excellent fitness and relevant technical skills.
Recommended experience: Should have completed 10+ mile day hikes with significant elevation gain.
Baxter Backcountry rules, gear and safety
Rules & regulations
- 01Davis Pond is a single-night-only site, and only after a night at a named neighboring site
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Baxter Backcountry.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Baxter Backcountry · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Baxter Backcountry FAQ
Can you book a Baxter State Park backcountry campsite online?
No. Baxter's own camping page says in-person, mail-in, and call-in reservation requests are still required for backcountry campgrounds like Chimney Pond and Russell Pond; only the park's roadside campgrounds use the online 4-month rolling reservation portal.
How many nights can you stay at one Baxter State Park backcountry site?
The park caps a stay at 7 consecutive nights at a single site or campground, and 14 consecutive nights total within the park, per Baxter's own reservation rules.
How far in advance do Baxter State Park online camping reservations open?
Reservations open on a 4-month rolling window; starting with the 2026 season, the online portal opens at 6:00 a.m. Eastern instead of the previous 12:01 a.m.
Is the Baxter State Park permit the same as the Katahdin hiking permit?
No. This page covers Baxter's own backcountry campground reservation system (Chimney Pond, Russell Pond, and interior lean-tos). The day-use trailhead parking reservation for climbing Katahdin via the Appalachian Trail's Hunt Trail is a separate permit.
How many miles of trail does Baxter State Park have?
Baxter State Park's own site states the park has 220-plus miles of trail, of which only 16 percent are on Katahdin itself.
What backcountry campgrounds does Baxter State Park have?
The two backcountry campgrounds are Chimney Pond, established in 1938 below Katahdin's peaks, and Russell Pond, the park's most remote campground, plus roughly 30 additional backcountry lean-to and tent sites scattered through areas like Wassataquoik Stream, Fowler Pond, Webster Lake and Matagamon Lake.
Baxter Backcountry trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Baxter Backcountry permit
Where to stay near Baxter Backcountry
- Humboldt Redwoods Sp Baxter Environmental CampHumboldt Redwoods SP
- Humboldt Redwoods Sp Hamilton Barn Environmental CampHumboldt Redwoods SP
- Humboldt Redwoods Sp Cuneo Creek Horse CampHumboldt Redwoods SP
- All Maine campgrounds
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