Katahdin Lake is on an extension of Baxter State Park in Maine. I believe it is borrowed land or access land from whoever owns the Katahdin Lake Wilderness Camps nearby. I’ve made this trek for back country camping twice now and have liked it a lot. The hike in is an easy flat 3 miles that takes about 1.5 hours. When you arrive the lean-to is set into the woods a bit but you can see a hint of water through the trail.
The first time I went on this hike, the best sight was how golden the water appeared from the shallow section with sand just below it. The sun was hitting the water perfectly to make it glow.
The “amenities” available at this site include:
- Lean-to that can easily fit 4.
- Fire ring
- Canoe with paddles and life vests
- Outhouse within 1 minute of walking
- Bear bag line
- Bench on the water edge
That is about it and all you need too. Firewood would be nice, but I was able to scrap what I needed on one occasion with just a small knife and on the other occasion I brought a saw.
I would say the only downside to this spot is PEOPLE. Throughout the day several peoeple had also taken the trail and their stopping point is at this leanto. One my second trip to this spot we at one point had 12 people all hanging out on the small beach and in the water. Kids screaming, splashing, adults talking etc. People asking to use our sites Canoe. Not quite the true back country experience. However, once evening set in, they disappeared. I’ll post the video of my first time visiting below:
