Maine Fall Color 2

Baxter State Park

On Tues, we were going to head out to Acadia National Park, but we heard on the news that it was going to be quite windy and we were afraid that if we did we might miss the peak of the fall color with all the leaves having blown off the trees.  So, we decided to go inland, first, where it had been colder, bringing out more color than was on the coast.  We headed north to Baxter State Park and then to the the face of Maine's pate (when looking at the map) and then down the flat side of his forehead back to Bangor.  We would save Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor for Wednesday.  

Photo by:  Cherri

This first photograph is of the color we found just outside the park itself, since there are no paved roads inside the park.  I guess we timed it about right!

West Side of the Park

"After the Fall"

The park is a large wilderness area permanently preserved as a state park, located in in north-central Maine. It was a gift to the people of Maine established from donations of land from Governor Percival P. Baxter, creating a Park of over 200,000 acres in size. 

Kidney Pond

 

Duck Lunch - Bottoms Up!

Baxter Park is not part of the Maine State Park system. It is governed by the Baxter State Park Authority, consisting of the Maine Attorney General, the Maine Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Director of the Maine Forest Service. The Park is independently funded through a combination of revenues from trusts, user fees and the sale of forest products from the Park's Scientific Forest Management Area. 

 

The park is home to the state's highest peak, Katahdin which is a cluster of mountains.  It has many bodies of water and streams and is a great place for families to visit.  

Rock Formation within the Park

There are no stores or gas stations inside the park. Access and use are strictly regulated in accordance with Gov. Baxter's expressed desire to keep the Park "forever wild."  He has made the following quote, "Man is born to die, his work short lived; buildings crumble, monuments decay, wealth vanishes, but Katahdin, in all it's glory, shall forever remain the mountain of the people of Maine. Throughout the ages it will stand as an inspiration to the men and women of the state."