Baxter State Park (Rum Pond, Abol Falls and Kettle Ponds Trails and Abol Campground)

Every year since 2019 (except last year when it was cancelled due to weather) I've organized a group hike in Baxter State Park for people who work at my company. This year the group hiked up the Abol Trail. In addition to organizing the event, I camp the night before, meet the hikers in the morning, and then hang out at "base camp" in the event that someone gets injured, ill, or decides to come down early. Once hikers return we provide dinner, dessert, and water. This weekend was the annual trip.

Rum Pond Trail

I arrived at the park an hour before sunset on Friday and did a quick hike on the western half of the Rum Pond Trail. I managed to get a mile into the 1.9 mile trail before having to turn back due to the approaching darkness.

This is a well maintained trail that most people visiting the park drive by without even noticing. There's a spot for one car along Park Tote Road and a discreet sign leading into the woods.

Despite it's proximity to the road and the park's busy Togue Pond entrance, the trail becomes very quiet and remote feeling as it skirts along the base of Abol Mountain through a forest of tall trees.

There was enough daylight at the end of the hike to quickly stop at Caverly Pond.

View from Caverly Pond

Rum Pond Trail

Abol Campground and Abol Falls Trail

I spent Friday night at Abol Campground and met the group Saturday morning prior to their trip up Katahdin. This helps people recognize me when they later return to the campground.

I took a quick hike to Abol Falls, the only other trail leading from the campground. The 1.6 mile (round-trip) trail begins with a small stream crossing and then travels through the forest before reaching the 15 foot falls. My hike was slightly longer as I missed a turn at the 1/2 mile mark and hiked a few hundred feet before checking the map (the well-maintained trail suddenly turned less maintained, although by the looks of it many others have made the same mistake.)

Abol Falls

I returned to the campground in time to meet up with one of the group that had become mildly ill shortly after starting the hike.

Kettle Ponds Trail

I spent the day preparing to and providing dinner to the group when they finished the hike. This year's group was remarkably fast, with the first hiker returning after 5.5 hours and the entire team arriving before 1:30 pm. Once the activities ended and everyone left, I packed up and headed out of the park, stopping to hike a portion of the Kettle Ponds Trail in the remaining daylight.

The eastern end of the trail shares the trailhead with the Rum Pond Trail. I hiked along the trail before seeing a well-worn game trail leading down to one of the Kettle Ponds. I followed the trail to the pond's edge, marveling at the tranquility of the pond despite its proximity to the Tote Road.

Kettle Ponds Trail

View from the shore of one of the Kettle Ponds

I stopped again at Caverly Pond after the hike to watch the sunset before heading home.

Here is a map of all of my hikes this weekend.