Baxter State Park: Mount Katahdin, Baxter State Park, Piscataquis County, ME

Katahdin—Ktàtən (Penobscot) is held sacred by Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot people. It is central to oral histories, traditions, and cultural practices for each tribal community. The mountain has significance in other ways, too. Hikers identify with the personal triumph of arriving at Katahdin’s summit, the terminus of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. It is a symbol of wildness expressed by Thoreau, Governor Baxter, and all who value the 210,000 acres/84,984 hectares of Baxter State Park’s wilderness and public forest that surround the mountain. Katahdin is designated as a National Natural Landmark. According to the National Park Service, it provides “a complete illustration of glacial geology. Virgin forests, alpine-tundra ecosystems, and unaltered lakes and streams add to the scenic and scientific value” ( “National Natural Landmarks: Mount Katahdin” at National Park Service ( https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=MOKA-ME : accessed 11 December 2025). Katahdin, is Maine’s highest peak (5269 ft/1,606 m).