buckyball1
New member
While I'm mostly a lurker, the Traveler Loop in Baxter Satae park was too good not to share.
The North Traveler with it quick ascent and long open stretches with excellent views has long been one of my favorite hikes. The Traveler itself always seems enticingly "close" and in the past I've descended into the col to the thick stuff on the ridge before deciding a solo bushwack would be pretty rough.
Since BSP recently opened a loop trail across the Traveler which connects the N Traveler Trail to the Center Ridge Trail, I decided it was time to give to give it a shot. I left home about 330AM and headed north on 95 under almost clear skies; got to the Matagamon Gate (north gate of Baxter) right at 6AM (it opens an hour later than the southern gate-much lower usage). The park day use fee is now $12 for non-residents, free for Mainers.The perimeter road to South Branch Campground is in excellent shape this year and I was ready to hike about 635-sky clear, wind gentle.
While the descent from the North Traveler is steep, the descent from the Center Ridge is a real rockpile, so I decided to try the loop counterclockwise and would recommend same. The loop is about 10.7 miles and you can get info and a decent map at the gate or from an interior ranger.
The first 1.4 miles on the Pogy Notch Trail take you along the shore of the first of two large lakes accessible from South Branch Campground. The walk is almost level over moderate rock/roots. At about 1.4 miles the trail swings up on a small height of land between the 2 lakes and the Center Ridge Trail leaves left and immedialtely begins a steady, grinding climb of about 2.1 miles. You are alternately in the woods and scrambling over rock/ledges for the entire trail with open rock becoming predominate the higher you go. The trail is fairly steep (vertical rise of about 2250 to Peak of Ridges) and the views of the lakes and surrounding mountains very nice--Katahdin and the Knife Edge were shining in the morning sunshine. The last section of the Center Ridge Trail is all jumbled rock and the false tops seems endless. When you reach the Peak of the Ridges (sign), the views are stunning and there is a sense of isolation/remoteness not found on the more traveled peaks. (i saw nobody all day until i reached the N Traveler near the end of the loop).
The new trail ( 4.5 miles between the Peak of the Ridges and the North Traveler) proceeds toward the Traveler. It is well marked the entire way and someone has done a tremendous amount of work to put this in. Much of the loop, especially the ascent and descent of the Center Ridge and the descent of the Traveler toward the N Traveler are rock piles which require a lot of care for boot placement. The trail leaves the Center Ridge on a rough, rocky section section some call a "mini-Knife Edge". It's a great scramble down to an alpine meadow, but there are no sheer drops or problems-more like say Airline in the Whites than the real Knife-Edge. After the meadow in the col between the Peak of the Ridges and the Traveler, you ascend the Traveler through alternate sections of nice woods and scree fields (all fairly easy going with again superb views).
The Traveler has a large, totally open top with great views of the lakes and mountains in the park. I think you'll find the top (and the hike) a real gem. Not as spectacular or "in your face" as K, but certainly one of the best hikes I've found in the NE.
The trail then descends toward the N Traveler over very rough rocky terrain to the Traveler Ridge and follows the ridge through open and wooded sections. The amount of trail mostly/totally open on this hike is very high (more than half?)--great views, but very hot if the sun's out--I'd suggest tanking up before the hike and 3 quarts of water. After a long ridge walk, the trail descends again into the woods and the col before the N Traveler, then rises out of the woods to a moderate climb up slab rock to the N Traveler
The trail down from the N Traveler to South Branch (maybe 2.7 miles) is a great finish, steep and scrambly here and there, but with long stretches in the open, and some excellent walking on flat slabs-reached the parking lot about 130.
A challenging (don't underestimate it because of the relatively low peak heights) hike in a fairly remote area, but very worthwhile--will do it again.
I've also recently done Snow (COP) and Kibby near Eustis and Sally and #5 near Jackman if anyone wants current road/trail info.
The North Traveler with it quick ascent and long open stretches with excellent views has long been one of my favorite hikes. The Traveler itself always seems enticingly "close" and in the past I've descended into the col to the thick stuff on the ridge before deciding a solo bushwack would be pretty rough.
Since BSP recently opened a loop trail across the Traveler which connects the N Traveler Trail to the Center Ridge Trail, I decided it was time to give to give it a shot. I left home about 330AM and headed north on 95 under almost clear skies; got to the Matagamon Gate (north gate of Baxter) right at 6AM (it opens an hour later than the southern gate-much lower usage). The park day use fee is now $12 for non-residents, free for Mainers.The perimeter road to South Branch Campground is in excellent shape this year and I was ready to hike about 635-sky clear, wind gentle.
While the descent from the North Traveler is steep, the descent from the Center Ridge is a real rockpile, so I decided to try the loop counterclockwise and would recommend same. The loop is about 10.7 miles and you can get info and a decent map at the gate or from an interior ranger.
The first 1.4 miles on the Pogy Notch Trail take you along the shore of the first of two large lakes accessible from South Branch Campground. The walk is almost level over moderate rock/roots. At about 1.4 miles the trail swings up on a small height of land between the 2 lakes and the Center Ridge Trail leaves left and immedialtely begins a steady, grinding climb of about 2.1 miles. You are alternately in the woods and scrambling over rock/ledges for the entire trail with open rock becoming predominate the higher you go. The trail is fairly steep (vertical rise of about 2250 to Peak of Ridges) and the views of the lakes and surrounding mountains very nice--Katahdin and the Knife Edge were shining in the morning sunshine. The last section of the Center Ridge Trail is all jumbled rock and the false tops seems endless. When you reach the Peak of the Ridges (sign), the views are stunning and there is a sense of isolation/remoteness not found on the more traveled peaks. (i saw nobody all day until i reached the N Traveler near the end of the loop).
The new trail ( 4.5 miles between the Peak of the Ridges and the North Traveler) proceeds toward the Traveler. It is well marked the entire way and someone has done a tremendous amount of work to put this in. Much of the loop, especially the ascent and descent of the Center Ridge and the descent of the Traveler toward the N Traveler are rock piles which require a lot of care for boot placement. The trail leaves the Center Ridge on a rough, rocky section section some call a "mini-Knife Edge". It's a great scramble down to an alpine meadow, but there are no sheer drops or problems-more like say Airline in the Whites than the real Knife-Edge. After the meadow in the col between the Peak of the Ridges and the Traveler, you ascend the Traveler through alternate sections of nice woods and scree fields (all fairly easy going with again superb views).
The Traveler has a large, totally open top with great views of the lakes and mountains in the park. I think you'll find the top (and the hike) a real gem. Not as spectacular or "in your face" as K, but certainly one of the best hikes I've found in the NE.
The trail then descends toward the N Traveler over very rough rocky terrain to the Traveler Ridge and follows the ridge through open and wooded sections. The amount of trail mostly/totally open on this hike is very high (more than half?)--great views, but very hot if the sun's out--I'd suggest tanking up before the hike and 3 quarts of water. After a long ridge walk, the trail descends again into the woods and the col before the N Traveler, then rises out of the woods to a moderate climb up slab rock to the N Traveler
The trail down from the N Traveler to South Branch (maybe 2.7 miles) is a great finish, steep and scrambly here and there, but with long stretches in the open, and some excellent walking on flat slabs-reached the parking lot about 130.
A challenging (don't underestimate it because of the relatively low peak heights) hike in a fairly remote area, but very worthwhile--will do it again.
I've also recently done Snow (COP) and Kibby near Eustis and Sally and #5 near Jackman if anyone wants current road/trail info.
Last edited:
