Maps, Office of Geographic Information Services
Color photos, Jim Henderson
B/W, George French Collection, Maine State Archives

BAXTER STATE PARK

A three-member Authority and a Director govern the Park, administered separately from other state parks. The members of the Baxter Park Authority are the Attorney General, the Director of the Bureau of Forestry, and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. They make policy based not only on the Director's recommendations and public requests, but on guidelines set forth by Percival Baxter. 

While some of his intentions are clear, others are not. A substantial literature of Baxter's writings and statements, along with interpretations offered by others, are often consulted, especially in controversial situations. The Authority, in its annual report, has quoted Baxter's desire that the park " . . . shall forever be retained and used for state forest, public park and public recreational purposes . . . shall forever be kept and remain in the natural wild state . . . shall forever be kept and remain as a sanctuary for beasts and birds." 

The Park hosts approximately 80,000 people each summer and nearly 2,000 during the winter season. With an average stay of just under three days, the summer total of visitor-days hovers close to 150,000. The number of visitor-days is limited to minimize the human impact on the park. Ten campgrounds are located within the Park, along with numerous out-lying sites offering basic overnight facilities. 

Mount Katahdin is the centerpiece attracting most visitors with hiking trails leading to the summit from the major Campgrounds. 

During the 1930's, the Civilian Conservation Corps workers from Camp Millinocket worked on access roads in the Mount Katahdin region, including a gravel road from Lake Ambejejus northward between the Togue Ponds and Windy Pitch on the east side of Katahdin. 

Baxter Park operates on fees from visitors and income from a trust fund. No state or federal taxes support its operations.

After failing to convince the legislature to buy the area surrounding Mount Katahdin during his two terms as governor, Baxter purchased 6,690 acres around the mountain in 1930. He gave this land to the people on the condition that it "be forever left in its natural wild state, forever to be kept as a sanctuary for wild beasts and birds, and forever to be used for public forest, public park, and public recreational purposes."  Until his death in 1969, Baxter purchased and deeded to the state the remaining tracts of land which make up the park today with the exception of a recently acquired parcel of approximately 1,000 acres.

Additional resources

Hakola. John W. Legacy of a Lifetime: The Story of Baxter State Park.