Katahdin, Mountain in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States
Katahdin is a granite massif in Piscataquis County, Maine, whose highest point, Baxter Peak, reaches 5,269 feet (1,606 m). Its summit is a rocky plateau of pale, lichen-speckled boulders and reddish-brown earth, with a jagged ridge descending steeply to the left and a high rocky shoulder to the right.
Katahdin was known to Europeans by 1689, when captive John Gyles passed near "Teddon" with Abenaki hunters. The first recorded climb was made in August 1804 by surveyors Zackery Adley and Charles Turner Jr., guided by two Native Americans. The Appalachian Trail's northern terminus is Baxter Peak, and the trail was completed in 1937.
The name comes from the Penobscot language and describes what travelers see: a massive peak rising above the forests. Local communities still regard the summit as a landmark and symbol of wilderness in northern Maine.
Trails remain open from mid-May to mid-October, when snow and ice do not block the routes. Winter visits require alpine gear and experience, as storms regularly hit the summit and reduce visibility.
A narrow passage called Knife Edge connects two summits across a ridge that drops steeply on both sides. Hikers move slowly there and sometimes hold onto the rock to keep their balance.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,328 contributors worldwide.
