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CLIMB KATAHDIN

“Man is born to die. His works are short-lived. Buildings crumble, monuments decay, and wealth vanishes, but Katahdin in all its glory forever shall remain the mountain of the people of Maine.”

—Gov. Percival Baxter

At 5,267 feet, Katahdin is Maine’s highest mountain, so it was named appropriately by the Penobscot Indians—the name means “Greatest Mountain.” Ownership of Katahdin was given to the state of Maine permanently by Percival Baxter (governor from 1921 to 1925), when he created Baxter State Park.

The mountain’s popularity for hikers increased greatly when the Appalachian Trail was completed in 1937—Katahdin is the northern terminus of the AT. Since most AT hikers travel south to north, Katahdin attracts ever-increasing numbers of thru-hikers. In 1991, there were only 359. By 2015, the number had swelled to 2,137.

In order to protect the park’s alpine zone and ensure good management of the park’s pristine wild nature, the number of hikers allowed on Katahdin’s trails per day is limited. Plan ahead and check the park website (baxterstateparkauthority.com) to reserve your spot on the mountain and check group size limits, trail conditions, and park closure times. Thru-hikers are required to pick up a Long Distance Hiker Permit Card in person when they reach the park.