Katahdin Woods and Waters

https://www.nps.gov/kaww/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katahdin_Woods_and_Waters_National_Monument Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument spans 87,563 acres (35,435 ha) of mountains and forestland in northern Penobscot County, Maine, including a section of the East Branch Penobscot River. The monument is located on the eastern border of Maine's Baxter State Park. Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Mount Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have attracted humans for millennia. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is located in north central Maine approximately a 2.5-hour drive west of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor and 1.5-hour drive north of Bangor, Maine, both of which are served by regional airports. Lumbermen's Museum From late May to mid-October, National Park Service staff provide information and trip-planning assistance from a desk located inside the Patten Lumbermen's Museum. Maps and brochures are available, as well as the NPS passport stamp. The Patten Lumbermen’s Museum is located just northwest of Patten, ME, on ME-159 at 61 Shin Pond Road, Patten, ME 04765. The museum is located on the Katahdin Scenic Byway on the way to the northern entrances to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Baxter State Park. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is located in north central Maine. Big Seboeis Campsite Backcountry campsite along the scenic East Branch of the Penobscot River. Walk-in, tent-only site 0.00 Walk-in, tent-only, first-come-first-serve. Big Seboeis Campsite Picnic tables and a rustic firepit to the left with a scenic river to the right. The ones who paddle or hike to this campsite get a spectacular view of the East Branch of the Penobscot that so very few have. Big Spring Brook Campsite Primitive backcountry campsite along the East Branch of the Penobscot River that is only accessible by boat. Boat-in, tent-only site 0.00 Primitive tent site with picnic table and fire ring. Big Spring Brook Campsite A forested rustic campsite to the right with a wild river flowing by on the left. The adventurous who float down the East Branch of the Penobscot River may stop here and find solitude along this wild river. Big Spring Brook Hut A beautiful cabin tucked away in the heart of the forests of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument along Big Spring Brook. Available for overnight stays in the winter by reservation, the hut is reached by cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Reservations required through Recreation.gov. A great place to keep warm, find solitude, and enjoy this winter wonderland! Walk-in, hut 0.00 Huts are free. However, to cover the cost of reservations made online or by phone through Recreation.gov, you will incur a non-refundable fee. You will pay $8 if your reservation is made through Recreation.gov online or $9 if made through Recreation.gov's call center, (877) 444-6777 (toll free) or (606) 515-6777 (international) 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. (Eastern Time Zone). Big Spring Brook Hut Three skinny trees in front with a cabin surrounded by forest behind. Tucked away deep in the forest. Big Spring Brook Hut is a great place to escape the daily troubles of civilization. Big Spring Brook Hut's Kitchen Kitchen area with a counter, cabinets, and a stove. A window in the center for light to come in. Plenty of space in the kitchen of Big Spring Brook Hut. Big Spring Brook Hut's Table Kitchen Table with bed bunks behind. All made of wood. A great place to gather to have meals or play games during the cold dark winter nights. Big Spring Brook Hut's Wood Stove Wood stove with stacked wood against the wall to the right within the cabin.. Big Spring Brook Hut has its very own stove for the public to use to keep warm on those cold days and nights. Big Spring Brook Hut Entrance Entrance of the cabin with the wood stove left, kitchen right, and ladder to open space above. There's plenty of space within Big Spring Brook Hut with ladders up to more space. Camping and Huts Twelve campsites, four lean-tos and 2 huts are dispersed throughout the monument. Reservations for Haskell and Big Spring Brook Hut are required and available through Recreation.gov. All other campsites and lean-tos are currently first-come, first-serve. Reservations for those sites will be available through Recreation.gov by summer 2022. Wooden picnic table and stone fire ring at Wassataquoik Campsite along the International Appalachian Trail. Brown wooden sign for Big Spring Brook Campsite on river bank. Wooden picnic tables near metal fire ring at Upper East Branch Campsite. Brown wooden sign for Big Spring Brook Campsite on river bank. Esker Campsite Hike or bike approximately 2.2 miles from the Wassataquoik Gate to the Esker Campsite, located on the bank of Wassataquoik Stream. Walk-in, tent-only site 0.00 No fee required Esker Campsite A picnic table, fire ring, and clearing for a tent on the bank of Wassataquoik Stream. Esker Campsite is located on the west bank of Wassataquoik Stream. Grand Pitch Lean-to A backcountry lean-to along the International Appalachian Trail and Grand Pitch Portage. Walk-in, lean-to 0.00 Backcountry lean-to, picnic table, and fire pit. Robert Neuman Grand Pitch Lean-to Fire pit and picnic table with lean-to in background. All surrounded by forest and vegetation. Whether you're tired from traveling through multiple portages along the East Branch of the Penobscot River or from hiking multiple miles along the International Appalachian Trail, the Robert Neuman Grand Pitch Lean-to is the place to spend the night. Haskell Campsite Backcountry campsite along the banks of Haskell Deadwater and the Haskell Rock Pitch Portage. walk-in, tent-only site 0.00 First-come-first-serve backcountry campsite Haskell Campsite Rustic backcountry campsite with glacial erratic on right and storage shed behind. Whether hiking or paddling, Haskell Campsite is a beautiful spot for all to enjoy. Also a great place for enjoying the wonders of the night sky.. Haskell Hut Rustic cabin with wood stove that can be reserved by groups of up to 8 people. Available for overnight stays in the winter by reservation, the hut is reached by cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Reservations required through Recreation.gov. Walk-in, hut 0.00 Huts are free. However, to cover the cost of reservations made online or by phone through Recreation.gov, you will incur a non-refundable fee. You will pay $8 if your reservation is made through Recreation.gov online or $9 if made through Recreation.gov's call center, (877) 444-6777 (toll free) or (606) 515-6777 (international) 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. (Eastern Time Zone). Haskell Hut Haskell Hut with fall foliage all around. The picturesque Haskell Hut in autumn. Haskell Hut Haskell Hut with beautiful summer foliage surrounding it. Picturesque Haskell Hut during the summer. Haskell Hut Woodstove Woodstove in the middle of a cabin with wood stacked against wall to left and bunks behind. The woodstove within Haskell Hut is a great source of heat during those frigid winter nights. Haskell Hut Kitchen Kitchen countertop and sink with light from window lighting up room. Plenty of space for organizing and cooking meals in Haskell Hut. Haskell Hut Wooden Bunks Wooden raised bunks within Haskell Hut. Plenty of space to sleep and keep warm in Haskell Hut on the wooden raised bunks. Haskell Hut Closed In Porch and Table Wooden round table with chairs placed on within a closed in porch. A table that can serve many purposes on your trip. Katahdin Brook Lean-to The closest backcountry site at 0.4 miles from the Barnard Mountain Trailhead / Southern Terminus of the International Appalachian Trail and the Loop Road. This is a Lean-to site only. Walk-in 0.00 Backcountry Lean-to. Katahdin Brook Lean-to A rustic stone firepit in front of a picnic table and Lean-to. Surrounded by trees and shrubs. Many International Appalachian Trail thru-hikers will stay at the Katahdin Brook Lean-to to begin their journey north. Other visitors stay to enjoy the rustic backcountry for a night or two. Lunksoos Campsites Walk-to campsites near the East Branch of the Penobscot River. Walk-in, tent-only 0.00 No fees are charged. Lunksoos Campsite Sign and Vault Toilet A vault toilet and campsites sign Lunksoos Campsites Sign and Vault Toilet Lunksoos Campsite 1 A campsite with metal fire ring, picnic table, and bear box within a forest. Lunksoos Campsite 1 Lunksoos Campsite 2 A campsite with metal fire ring, picnic table, and bear box within a forest. Lunksoos Campsite 2 Lunksoos Campsite 3 A campsite with metal fire ring, picnic table, and bear box within a forest. Lunksoos Campsite 3 Lunksoos Campsite 4 A campsite with metal fire ring, picnic table, and bear box within a forest. Lunksoos Campsite 4 Lunksoos Campsite 5 A campsite with metal fire ring, picnic table, and bear box within a forest. Lunksoos Campsite 5 Lunksoos Campsite 6 (Group Site) A group campsite with 3 platforms, metal fire ring, picnic table, and bear box within a forest. Lunksoos Campsite 6 (Group Campsite) Lunksoos Campsite 7 (Group Site) A group campsite with 3 platforms, metal fire ring, picnic table, and bear box within a forest. Lunksoos Campsite 7 (Group Site) Lunksoos Mountain Lean-To A rugged lean-to site within the heart of the backcountry of Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. Walk-in lean-to 0.00 Lean-to, picnic table, firepit Lunksoos Mountain Lean-to A wooden rustic lean-to with forest in the background Lunksoos Mountian Lean-to is a great place to stay to enjoy the sights and sounds of the wild while achieving solitude. Lunksoos Mountain Lean-to Picnic Table and Firepit Wooden picnic table on left with firepit to the right. Shrubs and grasses growing along edge. Great spot to socialize or enjoy solitude by a fire and enjoy the dark night skies. Lunksoos Mountain Lean-to Outhouse Wooden outhouse within a forest. The rustic outhouse of the lean-to. Lunksoos Mountain Lean-to Water Source Sign A wooden sign that reads, "water", along the trail. A sign pointing campers to a mountain stream to filter water. Lunksoos Mountain Lean-to water source Mountain stream cascading down a rocky forested slope. This stream is not to far to filter and replenish your water on your backpacking adventure. Pond Pitch Campsite A rustic backcountry campsite overlooking the majestic Pond Pitch and wild East Branch of the Penobscot River. Walk-in, tent-site only 0.00 Rustic campsite with fire pit, picnic table, and place for a tent. Pond Pitch Campsite Picnic table and firepit surrounded by forest with river and waterfall in background. If falling asleep to the sound of a waterfall appeals to your senses, than Pond Pitch Campsite might be what you're after. Sandbank Stream Campground Located approximately 10 miles from the intersection of Route 11 and Swift Brook Rd. Contains 3 sites. Campsite fee 0.00 No fees are charged. Sandbank Stream All Sites Three picnic tables and pit toilet on gravel surface. Sandbank Stream Campground offers three drive-in sites. Sandbank Stream Pit Toilet Pit toilet on concrete pad. Pit toilet at Sandbank Stream Campground. Sandbank Stream Tent Pad Gravel tent pad framed by logs and small rocks. Each site at Sandbank Stream has a gravel surface. Sandbank Stream Picnic Table Fire Ring Picnic table and fire ring on gravel surface with forest in the background. Picnic table and fire ring at a Sandbank Stream Campsite. Stair Falls Campsite A primitive campsite located near the portage trail for Stair Falls. The campsite can be reached by a 2-mile hike from Haskell Gate or by paddling down the East Branch Penobscot River. Walk-in or boat-in, tent-only 0.00 No fee required. Stair Falls Campsite Brown sign with white lettering reading Stair Falls West Campsite Portage in a cleared area. The Stair Falls West Campsite is located on the bank of the East Branch Penobscot River. Upper East Branch Campsite Walk-in campsite along the East Branch of the Penobscot River. Walk-in, tent-only 0.00 First-come, first-serve Upper East Branch Campground Wooden sign at the entrance of Upper East Branch Campground A short walk leads to a large campsite with views of the river Wassataquoik Campsite A beautiful primitive backcountry campsite next to Katahdin Brook along the International Appalachian Trail. The campsite is near the Wassataquoik Lean-to and is 0.9 miles from the trailhead at Wassataquoik Gate or 1.4 miles from the Barnard Mountain Trailhead. Walk-in 0.00 Walk-in primitive tent site. Wassataquoik Campsite A rustic firepit and picnic table in the shade of a trees with a grassy campsite to the right. Many enjoy setting up camp at Wassataquoik Campsite for it's strategic location near many of the national monument's points of interest.. Wassataquoik Lean-to A rustic backcountry Lean-to along the International Appalachian Trail near the Wassataquoik Stream. The site is 0.9 miles from the Wassataquoik Gate or 1.4 miles from the Barnard Mountain Trailhead. Walk-in 0.00 Walk-in primitive backcountry lean-to. Wassataquoik Lean-to Rustic firepit with picnic table and lean-to behind. Trail on the right. Within forested area. Many visitors take advantage of both Wassataquoik Lean-to's close proximity to many of the national monument's highlights and the solitude.. East Branch of the Penobscot River Mirror reflection of Lunksoos Mountain and trees within the water of the river. The East Branch of the Penobscot River is filled with wildness and beautiful scenery for the adventurous few who travel down it. Autumn Foliage Autumn foliage along a dirt logging road. Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument has arguably the best autumn foliage out of any national park unit. Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Ordovician Period—485.4 to 443.8 MYA Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains national parks, along with the Blue Ridge Parkway that connects them, pass through rocks from the core of the Appalachian Mountains. The mountains began forming during the Ordovician and eventually attained elevations similar to those of the Himalayas. rock with fossil brachiopod shells Silurian Period—443.8 to 419.2 MYA Excellent exposures and well-preserved fossils in Silurian rocks of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve provide clues to the timing of the assembly of Alaska’s assembly from a variety of continental fragments. fossil corals in a rock matrix Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Helping a New National Monument: Katahdin Woods and Waters On the eve of the National Park Service’s centennial in 2016, President Barack Obama designated 87,500 acres as the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument – the first national monument to preserve the landscape and honor the history and culture of Maine’s North Woods in Penobscot County. The superintendent of the new national monument asked NPS-RTCA to assist with engaging local communities and leading various planning projects. A wooden interpretive sign reading “Welcome to Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument” Paleontology of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument preserves rocks and fossils from much of the first half of the Paleozoic Era, approximately 540 to 400 million years ago, when what is now the east coast of North America was growing with additions of small continental fragments. Fossils have been occasionally reported from the monument by scientists in the past, but this is the first time that a thorough inventory has been made of the monument’s fossils. Photo of a rock outcrop in a stream with forested banks. Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 14, No. 2, Fall 2022 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> Photo of a person sitting while using a laboratory microscope. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface