Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike P.  Oddly, I rarely see people fishing in the summer on my way to the trailheads. I've probably passed a couple but outside of the several ponds & streams in Baxter State Park, no other trail location has me thinking fish.
Therefore, Baxter State Park would be my first choice. You need to get reservations & the camping is usually more of a car set up but you proabbly could arrange to switch a couple of locations. Typically, now it is too late to get reservations but mid-week & away from the bustle of the campsites near Katahdin, you may do okay. |
3 suggestions for BSP:
1) Freezeout Trail in the northern end of the park. Nice 3 or 4 day loop, mainly along lakeshore, streams, and small ponds. Very few people; you have a good chance at being able to reserve tent or lean-to sites, especially Sun - Thurs nights.
2) The 5 Ponds Loop, also in the north end of the park. Easy hiking, very picturesque ponds with tent sites. Also the possibility of some easy and moderate climbs. Again, an uncrowded area of the park, which should make it easier to reserve sites. When doing the 5 Ponds Loop, I would recommend a day or 2 at South Branch Ponds; where the Traveller Loop would make an ambitious, but very rewarding dayhike (largely above treeline).
3) The Russell Pond area. There are often available sites at RP campground, especially during the week. The trail from Roaring Brook to Russell is largely along beautiful streams. If you can, try to reserve a lean-to at Wassataquoik Stream, which is on the way from Roaring Brook to Russell. Also, a side trip from Russell to spectacular Wassataquoik Lake is well worth it. If possible, try to reserve the Wassataquoik Island site (used to be a small cabin; I believe it was recently replaced with a lean-to) for a night. Take a canoe up to the short trail that leads to Greene Falls. Also, if you take the trail towards Little Wassataquoik, there will be a side trail on the left that climbs up to one of the best view points in the park.