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Mt. Katahdin Trail
Mt. Katahdin has several trails leading up to either Pamola or Baxter Peak. There are two trails, Hunt and Abol, accessible from the South side of the mountain each having its own separate parking lot. These trails start right up the mountain, but each trail on the mountain ends up taking eight to ten hours depending on ability. The rest of the trails go up the North side or West side of the mountain. These are accessed from the Chimney Pond Trail. For these trails, Hikers must park at the Roaring Brook Campground and hike in. All trails are maintained by the Baxter State Park Authority who run the State Park. All of the trails on the mountain are classified as very strenuous, the highest classification the Park Authority gives, except for Saddle (strenuous), Hamlin Ridge trail (moderate), and Chimney Pond (moderate).

Abol
Abol is one of the trails on the South side of the mountain. It is a 3.8 mile trail to Baxter Peak. It is the fastest way to Baxter Peak. It doesn’t get much traffic because it is not the trail of choice for hikers hiking the Appalachian Trail Hikers. It is a steep trail composed of small looser rocks. The top of the trail is known as the Abol Slide. It is a half mile section of loose rock that slides underneath climbers’ feet. Many hikers compare it to hiking up a steep beach or taking two steps forward and three steps back.

Hunt
Hunt is the other trail accessed from the backside of the mountain. It is a 5.8 mile trail to Baxter Peak. It is the longest trail up the mountain and takes the longest amount of time, generally closer to ten rather than eight. The beginning mile and a half is not that steep. Hikers pass over mountain streams and numerous waterfalls. It takes a while for the trail to become steep. Once the tree line is reached, however, Hunt is known for its boulders. These giant rocks are very difficult to traverse. Hikers must use metal handlebars secured in to rock to progress through the latter part of the trail. The last section of the trail is considered a very difficult climb.

Helon Taylor
Helon Taylor is a trail on the West side of the mountain. This trail is 3.2 miles in length. Hikers still must park at Roaring Brook, but the trail splits off from the Chimney Pond Trail. The trail is named after a longtime overseer of the park. The trail climbs up to Pamola Peak where hikers must climb Knife’s Edge to get to Baxter Peak.

Dudley
Dudley is a trail on the North side of the mountain. This trail is 1.3 miles, and goes to Pamola Peak. It is known for its boulders that hikers must climb between instead of over. The top section of the trail is all loose rock. It is the location of a notable landmark on the mountain, a rock that is halfway down the trail. The rock is a few hundred feet in length and juts out the side of the mountain. From the other side of the mountain, this rock is the only one distinguishable.

Cathedral
Cathedral trail is a trail on the front of the mountain that goes to Baxter Peak. It is 1.7 miles in length. It is one of the more steep trails. It is known for its three giant granite structures named Cathedrals 1-3. It is a style of hiking similar to rock climbing called scrambling because one must traverse huge rocks the entirety of the trail. It is not recommended that hikers climb down this trail because of its steep nature.

Saddle
Saddle trail is on the front of the mountain and goes to Baxter Peak. It is 2.2 miles in length. It is one of the easier trails on the mountain. It is accessed from the Chimney Pond Trail and Roaring Brook Campground. It has looser rocks, but does not have the big rocks to traverse. It is recommended for beginners, and it is often the safety net of hikers who encounter bad weather. Jordan Romero, the youngest hiker to climb all seven of the continents highest mountains, hiked this trail on Katahdin. After completing Everest at the age of 13 and all the highest points on each continent at 15, the California native went across America hiking the highest points in each state. He started his trek in Maine by climbing Saddle in the pouring rain.

Knife’s Edge
The Knife’s Edge is the trail that connects Pamola and Baxter Peak. It is 1.1 miles in length. It is the most notable feature of Katahdin. Along with being the terminus of the Appalachian Trail, the reason Mt. Katahdin is such a popular hike amongst hikers is because of this trail. The path stretches roughly a mile and is all sharp granite rocks. It is surrounded on both sides by steep cliffs and at sections is only three feet wide. It is a dangerous part of the mountain and accounts for the most deaths. The Baxter State Park Authority close the trail in any wind or rain and only recommend the trail be hiked in the best of conditions.

Hamlin Ridge
The Hamlin Ridge Trail is accessed from the plateau on the top of the mountain accessed by Cathedral and Saddle Trails. It is 1.5 miles long. The trail goes to Hamlin Peak, a smaller and less popular peak. It is gradual and short.

Chimney Pond
The Chimney Pond trail is the trail used to access the front of the mountain. It is 3.3 miles in length. It begins at Roaring Brook Campground and ends at Chimney Pond in the base of Katahdin. It is a three mile trail that is not as difficult as the mountain trails. It passes by a large number of lakes and streams. Hikers get the occasional view of the mountain along the way.