The Binocular Site
Baxter State Park, Maine
Baxter State Park covers an area of approximately 209,500 acres in Piscataquis County, Maine. The Park was established through 28 separate donations of land which took place between 1931 and 1962. It is not administered by the Maine State Park System, and is instead independently funded, and run by the Baxter State Park Authority. Part of its funding comes from user fees, and the sale of forest products harvested from the park's Scientific Forest Management Area. Its highest peak is Mount Katahdin, measured at 5,268 feet, which is also the highest mountain in the state of Maine.
Several activities are allowed in the park, including hiking and camping. Many people also climb Mount Katahdin. Baxter Park offers over 200 miles of hiking trails, some of which are more than 100 years old. There are eleven campgrounds within Baxter Park, and reservations are recommended, especially during the summer. In an effort to control the prevalence of harmful insects, it is prohibited to bring firewood into the park. Any firewood needed should be collected from within the park. Fishing is permitted in the park's ponds and streams, and hunting is allowed as well. State limit rules apply, so check before you go.
Wildlife is abundant in Baxter Park, and it's not uncommon to see animals such as deer, moose, and black bears, although they're rarely seen by park visitors. Wildlife photography is permitted, but park visitors are required to remain on established trails, and to show proper respect to all animals within the park. It's also an excellent birdwatching area, offering views of many species including the yellow-bellied sapsucker, bohemian waxwing, white-winged crossbill, red-eyed vireo, ring-billed gull, and the red-tailed hawk.
See the Baxter State Park website for more information.
The state bird of Maine is the Black-capped Chickadee and you can find a checklist for birding activities in Maine here.
Photo credit to pjmorse, used with permission under the creative commons license.
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