Aroostook Wildlife Refuge... I been looking at the site for…read morea while. Being military brat myself, and knowing this is a former military base converted into Wildlife refuge is fascinating. Abandoned bunkers stand here in complete silence, covered under the grassy hills, old mine shops and whole network of buildings spread out in a huge field. This is absolutely best abandoned place to snoop around and photoshoot. Moose, beavers, deer and other wildlife call this place home. It's also great place for stargazing as it gets dark here quickly. There are also few photo blinds - tiny cabins with narrow windows to sit and wait for perfect picture. Pretty cool. Autoroute seems to be still under construction, only small portion is open, but some of old roads that been partially demolished make excellent off-roading trail (do not try this, kids). Accidentally, we make a wrong turn and end up on no road at all, with no possibility to turn around. Running thru churned asphalt rocks, grass and frozen puddles is mad fun! 4x4 stayed on whole time, obviously. There are many hiking trails here, Beaver pond is nice one. This place is twisted. Unexpected. I am still trying to wrap my mind around it - the abandoned military bunkers, trails and roads - it resonates with me somehow.

After weighing some options for hiking in the area, I opted to visit the Aroostook National…read moreWildlife Refuge, and I'm so glad I did. Not only did I have the place pretty much to myself, but it was so well cared for. The trails are wide and well groomed, and there are informational kiosks throughout. I didn't see any critters (just some tracks and poop) but had I encountered a bear, the information I read prior to heading on the trail would have helped me out. Land trusts, wildlife refuges, and other public lands are so important to the surrounding communities and provide valuable education to the public. I highly encourage anyone to come, but if you come on a really hot day like I did, bring plenty of water!

This is an absolutely magical place filled without absolutely draconian rules!…read more You can maybe argue that the second thing enables the first thing but...that is not an argument I would make. I find it a bit silly that a state park in rural Maine built around a 5,000+ peak would model its park rules after Denali National Park, centered around the tallest mountain in North America. I think rules this restrictive only serve to make our parks less accessible to people who aren't affluent white liberals but...enough of my soapboxing. We came here to climb Mt Katahdin. And, for once in my life, when I say "climb", I actually mean it! We did a technical rock climbing route on the peak called "The Armadillo": https://www.mountainproject.com/route/106020335/the-armadillo We stayed at a luxurious lean-to at Chimney Pond. The rangers there were very helpful and friendly. They made the drudgery of the various oppressive rules almost...fun? I highly recommend staying at Chimney Pond yourself, climber or not. The views here feel nothing like New England. They feel more like Alaska, north of the arctic circle. Katahdin is only a little over 5,000 feet but it has big granite walls of rock unlike an other mountain in New England. (yes, including Mt Washington) My only complaint is that I got an insane amount of insect/arachnid bites on this trip. If you're staying in a lean-to, it might be helpful to have some sort of bug net! so many rules, so magical

Park was great, went on a three day two night trip. Only knock was our hike from Roaring Brook to…read moreHamlin peak and back was previously reviewed as intermediate to hard. After my trip I would absolutely say difficulty should be changed to hard to expert, the trip down from Hamlin peak was two miles down the mountain and extremely time consuming. All in all an amazing experience just be prepared for a long, challenging, but rewarding trip!

This campground is a great option for exploring Baxter. Park sites and cabins fill up quickly but…read morethis place had space for booking a last minute trip to hike Katahdin. It's only 10 minutes from the Park gate. The sites were spacious and well taken care of, each with a picnic table and fire ring. Almost all are close to the water -- perfect for waking up with the loons! Outhouses were clean and the staff was chill. At the main lodge you can grab a beer, hang out in the indoor/outdoor communal spaces, or go for a paddle on the lake. I'll definitely consider staying here for my next trip!

We would definitely come back here! The Rapids were super fun, and the guides were very…read moreexperienced. I was terrified, and they made me feel at ease. Ask for Mullens, he's the best.

Loved our tenting camping experience even when it was raining. Lovely area and golf course on…read moreproperty. Lovely waterside chalets available too. Showers were great and had great water pressure. Clean washrooms and nice campsites. There are 3 sections of the campground but section one is closed at the moment. Beachfronts had a lot of geese therefore geese poop. But still lovely scenery.

We truly enjoyed our visit here. Though our site was sloped and it took four tries to get situated…read morethe location was ideal and spacious. Just steps from the beach for swimming or for my husband to launch his kayak. Great trails for hiking, including up and around the golf course. Because of our location we had water and electric. (Site 120) lots of activities for kids and again great hikes. Thumbs up to this park.

Another small little spot that is an absolute worthwhile stop to take in some views of nature…read morewithout having to travel too far from civilization. During my wife and my celebratory post-wedding trip (what we called our mini-moon) exploring the entirety of route 1 in Maine we stopped here back last October. Easy and accessible parking with some spots to sit and enjoy the nature. The highlight for us being the Gateway Crossing Bridge that crosses the Meduxnekeag River. From what I can tell there is some nearby trails for hiking available too. We just had a quick stop here though, so will need to return for any information about that. As you may see from one of my photos this is also the only place in the US you can be on route 1 and route 2 at the same time! So, if I may borrow lingo from the younger generation, you can claim a weird flex. If you find yourself in this neck of the woods of Maine do yourself a favor and take a break, stretch your legs and cross over the bridge and take in the nature.