Katahdin - what time to get to BSP gate on weekdays?

[marty]

Hi all -

I am debating whether to dayhike Katahdin or camp in the park this summer. Appreciate if anyone can advise what time one should get to the BSP gate on weekdays in July/August.

Also wondering the same for weekdays after Labor day.

Many thanks.
Marty

 

[king tut]

If you're hiking in June or july during the week, there's probably no rush to get to the trailhead. Schools are usually not out for the summer, and the black flies will bother you, if not kill you. seriously. I am usually in a hurry to hike katahdin in june or july, but i usually regret it after all the bugs. In peak season, august and september, it's a good idea to be at the gate by 6 in the morning to get a parking spot at roaring brook. That is the most spectacular hike, to include the knife edge and chimney pond. If you are forced to park at Abol or the Hunt trail, then you still have one of the best hikes in the entire northeast as well. You can't lose. I also think that camping inside the park is part of the experience, and definitely worth the $18 or whatever the price is. it's also fun to start the hike before sunrise, and watch the sun come up and illuminate the skies. My favorite picture that i have taken was when i started hiking before sunrise and when i got up to one of the ponds before chimney pond, i had the northwest basin of katahdin shining into the pond making a perfect reflection across the pond.

 

[TJ aka Teej]

Hi all -

I am debating whether to dayhike Katahdin or camp in the park this summer. Appreciate if anyone can advise what time one should get to the BSP gate on weekdays in July/August.

Also wondering the same for weekdays after Labor day.

Many thanks.
Marty

Camp! Two nights if you can, turns a long day of driving/climbing into a mini-vacation. The gate hours vary, sometimes opening at 5 in mid-summer instead of 6. No telling in advance when a dozen cars will line up outside. Non-holidays, Mondays to Thursdays, cloudy cool weather, and no lines most likely.

 

[Raymond]

Unless you have Maine tags on your car, you'll have to pay the entry fee each day if you're not camping in the park.

You pay just once if you're camping more than one night (consecutively).

 

[roadtripper]

I arrived at 6:15am on a Tuesday in August two years ago when the forecast was 72 degrees and sunny. We were the 3rd or 4th car that had to be redirected elsewhere because the Roaring Brook trailhead was already full.

I'd say arrive by 5:45 during the week to be absolutely sure you'll have a spot if you want to do the Knife's Edge. FYI, The gate was opening at 5am during the summer this year.

If you are hiking on a Saturday or Sunday, and the forecast is positive, I would shoot for 5:30am-ish to guarantee a spot.

- Greg

 

[onestep]

I'd say arrive by 5:45 during the week to be absolutely sure you'll have a spot if you want to do the Knife's Edge. FYI, The gate was opening at 5am during the summer this year.
- Greg

Even if you stay *in the park* heed this advice. Spending the night in the park does not guarantee you a parking spot anywhere in the park other than at the campground where your camping!
In other words, if you stay at Katahdin Stream CG and want to hike Katahdin from Roaring Brook you still need to get up and moving early!

Onestep

 

[king tut]

Last year i hiked on june 26th. They didn't open the gates till after 6 that morning. Not sure if it was b/c it was a weekday or b/c it was still early season.

 

[SteveHiker]

last August, I went on a Sunday and Monday. The gate opened at 5.

on Sunday, I got there at 4 and was 3rd in line. Obviously I had no problem with Roaring Brook. Some people I met later in the day said that they stopped letting cars into the park at 9 that day.

On Monday, I was headed to the Marston Trail, so I slept in. I got to the gate at about 5:20 and there were about 6 or 7 cars ahead of me. Judging by the average time it took for each car ahead of me to get thru, there couldn't have been more than 2 or 3 others that had already gone thru.

It was very hot those days (~92 for the high). Not sure if that mattered.

hope that helps.

 

[marty]

Thanks for all your great advice, folks! Regards, Marty