What is the shortest route up Katahdin?

Katahdin is like panning for gold in a swimming pool. The Abol Trail, the most direct route to Katahdin's Baxter Peak from a roadside trailhead, is often presumed the “best bet” by novice hikers. That's a losing bet. Consider this: the Abol Trail gains 3,982 feet in elevation over the shortest route.



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The peak has several ways to access its summit which is also the northernmost point of the Appalachian Trail but the trail that gets the most attention is the Knife Edge. This mile long trail offers hikers class 3 and class 2 ridge scrambling with spots of moderate exposure on the northern side of the mountain.

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The Knife edge isn't real difficult, but there is some rock scrambling to do here and there. Only do it if the weather is perfict, there are some narrow sections with 1000 foot drop offs on either side. It is best done as a loop from the Chimeny pond side, otherwise, you'll have to do it twice. Once over and then back.

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Katahdin was by far one of the most challenging hikes we've done due to the amount of rock scrambling and the sheer elevation gain on the trail. But also the most rewarding! Round trip, the hike took us somewhere between 11-12 hours (including multiple stops for lunch, snacks, etc).

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Photo Credit : Cathryn McCann The traverse across Knife Edge is relatively tough and requires focus and agility. Some spots are as narrow as four feet, with 2,000-foot drops on either side. Proper equipment, weather preparedness, and good decision-making are necessities.

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Cathedral Trail is the toughest choice while the Saddle Trail is the least difficult but also the most roundabout. Baxter State Park rangers won't waver from their assertion that most approaches are a ten-hour hike, which is in part a CYA stance.

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The easiest destination on Lookout Trail is South Lookout. It is 200 yards in distance and is accessible to everyone. You can continue on after South Lookout on either the Express Trail or North Lookout Trail. The Express Trail is a shortcut to North Lookout, but it is steeper than the longer North Lookout Trail.

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The Yellow Trail Everyone begins their hike up Mount Major on the Blue Trail. After about half a mile though, the path splits. You have the option of continuing up the Blue Trail to the left or going up the Yellow Trail on the right. The Yellow Trail is the easier of the two.

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1. Southern Maine. For hikers heading north, hitting Maine is a significant milestone, and they are rewarded with this section that's arguably the most challenging on the trail.

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Knobstone Trail
  • The steep, narrow ridges of the terrain can make the Knobstone Trail a challenge to hike.
  • Many different mushrooms can be found along the Knobstone Trail.
  • The DNR staff is dedicated to clearing even the most challenging trees over the trail.
  • Streams along the Knobstone are unpredictably dry.


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