Trail Updates

05/26/2026

The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) up Katahdin in Baxter State Park opens today, May 26. The A.T., known in the park as the Hunt Trail, is now open for the summer season along with the Abol Trail and Traveler Ridge trails. All other trails on the mountain remain closed until conditions improve.

The park closes Katahdin seasonally to protect the mountain's rare and fragile alpine vegetation. ATC recommends that southbound hikers do not plan to start before June 1 and recommends that northbound hikers finish by October 15. However, the annual opening and closing of the mountain is weather dependent and could happen later than June 1 or earlier than October 15.

Anyone heading southbound on the A.T. from the park is required to have a reservation. For more information, visit the park's website.