Getting into Baxter SP in August

On another post, it was suggested that one may have to arrive at Baxter SP as early as 6 am to be able to park! I have a teenage daughter (16) who%26#39;s impossible to wake up! Couldn%26#39;t we go later in the day, maybe as some people are leaving?

Getting into Baxter SP in August

I would check with the park service - but I believe once the lots are full they are full for the day, they allow just so much traffic each day. I do know that Maine residents can call ahead and have a spot reserved for them because we did that last year in order to ensure a spot at the Sandy Stream Pond lot. I found this on a information site:

To protect the wilderness resource, the park limits access to parking lots/trailheads. Access is based on a first-come, first-served basis when parking lots fill up, that area is closed. Early arrival is recommended for day-use.

I suggest you put the 16 year-old to bed nice and early the night before you want to go, and get an early start. :-) It%26#39;ll be worth it.....

Getting into Baxter SP in August

I would check with the park service - but I believe once the lots are full they are full for the day, they allow just so much traffic each day. I do know that Maine residents can call ahead and have a spot reserved for them because we did that last year in order to ensure a spot at the Sandy Stream Pond lot. I found this on a information site:

To protect the wilderness resource, the park limits access to parking lots/trailheads. Access is based on a first-come, first-served basis when parking lots fill up, that area is closed. Early arrival is recommended for day-use.

I suggest you put the 16 year-old to bed nice and early the night before you want to go, and get an early start. :-) It%26#39;ll be worth it.....

Correction - its not the Sandy Stream Lot - I am referring to the Roaring Brook lot, you access Sandy Stream Pond via the Roaring Brook lot.

Once the lots are full they won%26#39;t let anyone in. You MUST get there early. Are you comfortable leaving the 16 year old at Five Lakes alone for the day? Baxter is a wilderness park, and while it is very beautiful, it might not be a 16 year olds cup of tea, especially if you drag her out of bed before daylight. If you are not going to hike, it%26#39;s alot of driving around.

ejan--I read your post on ';help planning a hike.'; You sound a little concerned. When you originally posed the question ';Greenville or Millinocket'; I opted for Greenville for you and your family. However, you chose Millinocket, and 5 Lakes Lodge DOES sound like a great place. However, if I were in your shoes, and had two teenagers, I would still choose Greenville. Baxter State Park is lovely. But, it is not exactly an action packed destination unless you want to camp or hike. That is what people DO there. Other than that it is a lot of woods and slow driving through them. Now, all you Baxter lovers out there, don%26#39;t scream at me. I AM a nativemainer, and I am as proud of Baxter as the next person, but I still maintain that Greenville is the best choice for ejan. There is just more to do there. Like take a sunset ride on the steamship around Moosehead, go over and hike Mt. Kineo (a reasonable hike on a small island---easy to get to, not too strenuous), gift shops, places to eat. You can still take a ride on the Golden Road and hunt for moose. Moosehead is and enormous lake, worth seeing. I just think your particular family would have more fun there.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Yes, I am confused. I%26#39;m excited about 5 Lakes, but unsure if this area%26#39;s for us. No, I would not leave my 16 year old son back at the lodge, nor my 13 year old son. What I%26#39;m thinking now is maybe rethinking my trip - 2 nights Greenville, 2 nights 5 Lakes Lodge, and 2 in Bar Harbor. We%26#39;re actually used to driving trips, where we don%26#39;t stay too long in one place. What do you guys think?

Nativemainer%26#39;s characterization of Baxter is dead-on. It%26#39;s not an action-packed destination--unless you make it one yourself. Instead, it%26#39;s a mostly-developed wilderness per Gov. Percival Baxter%26#39;s directive that the land he donated to the state remain ';forever wild.';

It is not your typical state park; you won%26#39;t find concessions, restaurants, organized activities, paddleboat rentals. Heck you won%26#39;t even find electricity, running water or even flush toilets!

Baxter is basically a preserved wilderness with controlled access. There is a rudimentary road system, marked trails for hiking, parking lots, some campsites with very rustic cabins or lean to, and latrines. And, that%26#39;s about it. There are some areas where you can swim, and you can rent canoes on the honor system (leaving your dollars in a can), but that%26#39;s about it.

If you show up without a plan you%26#39;ll be sorely disappointed because you%26#39;ll probably end up just driving the minimally maintained dirt roads at very slow speeds (25 mph?) and seeing not a whole lot.

Go to Baxter, it will be a great experience, most likely different from any other vacation you%26#39;ve taken. However, it will pay if you do your homework ahead of time and hit the front gate with a plan for what you%26#39;ll do that day. And, you%26#39;ll need to take your lunch and plenty of drinking water. And dress appropriate for hiking and for bugs.

Don%26#39;t show up expecting someone to help you plan an agenda for the day. While there are some helpful rangers, this isn%26#39;t going to be like the visitor%26#39;s center at Acadia where there are dozens of rangers to help you plan your trip, sign you up for tours, show you movies,e tc. Best bet it so contact the Park Headquarters in advance and order a book, or pamphlets to help you plan what you%26#39;ll do each day you are in the park.

Sorry, meant to say ';mostly-UNdeveloped.';

I guess I have secretly always harbored a desire to be a tour director instead of a history teacher, so here goes----

Day One. Arrive in Bangor, Maine. If you are going to be here between the dates of July 26th and August 6th go the the Bangor State Fair that evening. It is wonderful and you will all love it. A typical Maine fair on steroids. Huge. Great fun. Food that is really bad for you, but delicious. Make sure to eat fried dough with sugar.

Day Two--Drive to Greenville. Check in hotel of choice (make reservations, of course). See Greenville. Drive to Rockwood. Spend megabucks on foolish Maine sourveniers, like T-Shirts that say things like, ';We shoot black flies with 22%26#39;s here.';

Day Three--Take ten minute boat ride over to Mt. Kineo and hike it. (About 2 mile hike, but lovely). Call 1-888-876-2778 for details of boats that leave the town dock for the island and when. Return to mainland for lunch. After lunch, go to LIly Bay State Park for a refreshing swim in the day use area. In the evening take the SS Katahdin (restored steam ship, much history here) scenic cruise around Moosehead.

Day Four--Leave Greenville and drive the Golden Road to Millinocket. Take a lunch and plan to stop at one of the primitive picnic areas (they do have tables). Drive along the West Branch of the Penobscot. There are a couple of little stores (stress on LITTLE) here, one at Rip Dam about 50 miles from Greenville. They sometimes serve hotdogs, fries, and hamburgers. They sometimes have gas, but best gas up before you leave Greenville. See Rip Dam. Very interesting. Pick up strange driftwood pieces and then ponder how you will get them home on plane. Eventually, leave pieces beside the road so others will muse on how they GOT there. View Mt. Katahdin from a distance. Still spectacular to see. Brings a lump to any Mainer%26#39;s throat. Arrive at 5 Lakes Lodge. Be warmly greeted by hosts. Swim, kayak, canoe. Rest.

Day 5--Call 207-723-5465 to arrange a moose tour. You might want to do this before you leave home. They are popular. Take moose tour. Be amazed at moose. It does not matter how many times you see one, they are still breath taking to see. Return to 5 Lakes Lodge and take advantage of the great things they have to offer there.

Day 6--Leave for Bar Harbor. There is plenty to do there. More than you will have time for. Acadia is a must, of course, and don%26#39;t forget the popovers at the Jordan Pond House in the park.

BON VOYAGE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are going to be here at the end of August instead of the beginning (last week) check out the American Folk Festival in Bangor. It is wonderful, too. Much to do and see.