Northbound AT Hiker Guide & Services

Hikers intending to finish their trek at Katahdin need to be up to date on current park policies, exit strategies, and the most economical way to get home. We help facilitate this process as you finish up your epic journey.

How to Get Home After Your Hike

The northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail lies in the remote Maine Wilderness far from towns or resources. The easiest way to get home is to utilize our northbound hiker services.

We offer a once a day shuttle out of Baxter State Park around 4:00 - 4:30 p.m. EST. We pick up from Katahdin Stream Ranger Station and Abol Campground. We can sometimes pick up from Roaring Brook by advanced reservation only.

Every morning at 9:00 a.m. EST we offer a shuttle from our Hostel to Medway, Maine to catch the Cyr Bus south to Bangor, Maine. The Cyr bus leaves from Medway at 9:30 a.m. EST. This $12 bus drops off at the Concord Trailways in Bangor at roughly 10:45 a.m EST. It is one mile to the airport from Concord Trailways. We also offer a direct shuttle to the airport with an arrival time of 10:15-10:30 a.m. EST.

From there you can fly out of Bangor International Airport, take a bus from Concord Trailways to Portland/Boston, take  Greyhound cross country, or get a car rental. Make sure to schedule your air travel reservation for after 12:30 p.m. EST. Greyhound is located at a different location across town. In Medway you can purchase an express ticket to South Station or Logan Airport in Boston, you do not need to purchase a ticket in advance.

 

To Make a Reservation

Call/Text from Rainbow Ledges (mile 2176.2) or Nesuntabunt Mountain (mile 2161.0) to reserve a spot on the afternoon park shuttle and accommodations. For most people, this will be one to two days before your summit. There is also signal at Antler’s campsite (mile 2145.8). Many peaks within the 100 Mile Wilderness have signal as well.

Please do not call weeks or months in advance to make a reservation, unless family or friends will be coming up to stay with you at our Hostel and you know exact dates for your summit. Due to all the situations that could delay your summit date, we suggest waiting until at least Monson, preferably one to three days before your summit to make a reservation. We typically don’t fill up until the day of, sometimes one day out.

Please have a credit/debit card in hand when calling to make a reservation. Private rooms, bunkhouse guests, and shuttles have a 24 hour cancellation notice policy. Groups (4+) have a 48 hour cancellation notice policy. Check-in is 2pm-8pm.

Shuttle from Baxter to the AT Hostel (1 Hour): 

$80 for 1, $40pp for 2, $26.75pp for 3, and $20pp for 4+

Shuttle from AT Hostel to the Medway Cyr Bus:

$24 for 1, $12pp for 2, $8pp for 3, and $6pp for 4+

Shuttle from AT Hostel to Bangor International Airport:

$165 for 1, $82.50 for 2, $55 for 3, and $41.25 for 4+

*Pricing above is for guests of the Hostel. Please call, text, or email for non-guest rates.*

Baxter State Park & 100-Mile Wilderness Info for NorthBound Hikers

The 115 miles heading north from Monson to Katahdin, through the 100-Mile Wilderness & Baxter State Park, is the most remote section of the Appalachian Trail. Hikers aiming to hike this section of the trail and finish at Katahdin need to be prepared for a tough, yet rewarding journey.

  • Hikers wishing to summit Katahdin must abide by Park rules. Even if you have hiked all the way from Springer Mountain in Georgia, Park rules and regulations apply to your finish. The only exception, is the privilege to utilize “The Birches” campsite.

  • All northbound AT hikers are required to check-in at Katahdin Stream ranger station to obtain an AT hiker permit before attempting to summit.

  • Northbound hikers entering Baxter via the AT are able to sign up for the Birches campsite. This campsite is located within Baxter, 5.2 miles from the summit, and is the ideal stopping point the night before your epic finish. The Birches can only accommodate 12 hikers per night and has a $10 cash only fee. In addition, you can only stay one night. The sign up sheet is located at the southern boundary of Baxter, one mile north of Abol Bridge.

  • During peak season it is possible for the sign up list for the Birches campsite to fill up in the morning. Once full, there are limited options. If the ranger is present, they may be able to check with Katahdin Stream to see if space is available. If there is no space at the Birches campsite, Katahdin Stream Campground, or potentially Abol Campground (in Baxter) then you have two options. Option 1: spend the night at Abol Bridge and try again the next day. Option 2: hike the 9 miles into Katahdin Stream, check in with the ranger, climb the 5.2 miles to the summit, descend the mountain, and exit the Park all in the same day. It is roughly a 20 mile day but doable for a NoBo thru-hiker.

  • If there is no room available in Baxter and you choose to hike to Katahdin Stream anyways, you will have to exit the Park for the night through the main gate. Technically, if you leave the Park through the main gate you will need a reservation to be driven back in through the main gate.

  • If you shuttle or hitch into town from Abol Bridge and want a shuttle or ride into Katahdin Stream to summit, you must have a campsite or day-use parking reservation for a Katahdin Trailhead. If you walk into the Park via the AT you do not need a reservation. If you plan to be driven into the Park, you are considered a day-hiker just like everyone else and will need a reservation. These reservations/passes are difficult to obtain and can sell out weeks or even months in advance. In this situation, if you are not able to obtain a reservation, you will have to return to Abol Bridge and hike into Baxter. For this reason, we suggest staying on trail until you finish your hike.

  • AT Hostel & Outfitters and other shuttle services can only take you into Katahdin Stream if you have the proper reservation. There is no way to bypass this requirement.

  • If family or friends want to join you for your summit they must obtain either a campsite or day-use parking reservation for a Katahdin Trailhead. Typically, this means planning several weeks or even months in advance in order to obtain a reservation. As a long distance hiker, this puts you on a schedule to finish on a specific date and is not ideal.

  • Hikers are encouraged to finish prior to October 15th. Camping within the Park is not available after October 22nd and access to Katahdin can close around this date as well.

  • During the months of May, June, & July bugs can be a serious issue in the Wilderness. Hikers need to be prepared for not only rugged terrain, but mosquitos and Maine’s “defender of the wilderness,” the black fly.

  • Please note that pets are also not allowed in Baxter State Park, as it is a wildlife sanctuary. However, Katahdin Kritters Pet Resort will house your dog while you summit Katahdin or stay with us.

Do I need a reservation in Baxter State Park?

It depends - All NoBo hikers backpacking the 100 miles from Monson do not need a reservation and can utilize the 12 person Birches campsite, as long as you stay on trail and continue along the AT into Baxter. If you know which day you will summit, you can plan ahead and obtain a campsite reservation to bypass the need to stay at the Birches. All SoBo, Flip-Flop, and Section Hikers starting at Katahdin need reservations to camp in the Park the night they summit Katahdin. Reservations can be made online at https://reservation.baxterpark.org or by calling (207)-723-5140.

Do I need a day-use parking pass for a Katahdin Trailhead?

All hikers wishing enter through the main gate to climb Katahdin are required to have a day-use parking reservation or a campsite reservation to be shuttled to a Katahdin Trailhead. Using a shuttle service does not bypass the need for a reservation within the Park. If you enter through the southern boundary, by hiking the AT, you do not need a parking reservation. However, family or friends wishing to meet you in the Park and hike Katahdin with you would need one. If they are just picking you up after your summit they do not need a reservation.

If I am a NOBO should I stay in Baxter State Park before hiking Katahdin?

It depends - The climb to Baxter Peak and back takes NoBos on average 6-10 hours, with some hikers taking more. You should attempt to get on the Birches sign-up list. If you are comfortable with hiking the extra 9 miles to Katahdin Stream from Abol Bridge, climbing to the summit, and exiting the Park in the same day, then you do not have to stay in Baxter.

How far is Baxter State Park from AT Hostel & Outfitters?

It is 25 miles (1 hour) from Katahdin Stream Ranger Station to Millinocket.

Looking for more information?

Check out this blog post for additional information on finishing a northbound AT hike.