TOP 25 ATTRACTIONS OF MILLINOCKET &
THE KATAHDIN REGION
Welcome to the Bigroads.com guide to the top 25 attractions of Millinocket and the Katahdin region of Maine!
The Millinocket and Katahdin region is one of my favorite areas of Maine, and I try to spend at least a few days and nights in this region every few years. With access to Baxter State Park and hundreds of miles of nearby logging roads that lead to excellent trails, lakes, ponds, and waterfalls, there's plenty enough to keep me coming back. I hope you enjoy this list. Please let me know if you have any feedback or updates on any of the attractions that I've described below. Take note that the attractions described below are listed in no particular order.
|
WHITEWATER RAFTING THE PENOBSCOT RIVER
|
One of the biggest attractions of the Millinocket and Katahdin region of Maine is whitewater rafting the (class V) West Branch of the Penobscot River.
There are three rivers that are commonly rafted in Maine: Penobscot, Kennebec, and the Dead. The Penobscot is arguably the most scenic. Even if you have already rafted the other two rivers, I highly recommend rafting this one as well. It's a wild ride, especially as it travels through Ripogenus Gorge and over Nesowadnehunk Falls. This rafting trip is certainly one of the finest rafting adventures on the East Coast.
More than a hundred people typically raft this river on a daily basis from late-May through September. When water levels are safe, rafting guides will often bring you to a natural waterslide on Nesowadnehunk Stream, where you'll exit your boat and slide down smooth rocky surfaces into a pool below.
The premier rafting guide companies for the West Branch of the Penobscot River are Northern Outdoors and the NEOC. Both offer day trips seven days per week during the May-to-September rafting season.
Some of the other guide companies that operate in the area as of the time I wrote this article include: Three Rivers, North Country Rivers, Maine Rafting Expeditions, Penobscot Adventures, and Moxie Outdoor Adventures.
Most of the guide companies listed above offer campgrounds and/or lodging (e.g., cabin rentals) so that you can easily stay and enjoy the region for a few days. I particularly like the facilities of NEOC since they are right on Millinocket Lake and are close to excellent mountain biking trails.
|
Whitewater rafting at Nesowadnehunk Falls on the West Branch of the Penobscot River, Maine
|
One of the crown jewels of Maine, and often called the 'Grand Canyon of Maine', Gulf Hagas offers a plethora of scenic waterfalls and swimming holes. You can see them all on an 8.6-mile hiking loop, or you can visit just the first few water features (e.g. Screw Auger Falls) on a shorter hike. To visit these falls, you'll need to access and drive along dirt roads managed by the North Maine Woods organization. A per-person access fee is required to enter, and it's a bit pricy for out-of-state visitors.
On your drive to the trailhead along the Ki-Jo Mary Road, don't forget to stop and peruse around the historic Katahdin Iron Works. You can also camp in this area as well. Visit the website of North Maine Woods for information about camping in this area.
You can find more information about visiting Gulf Hagas on the New England Waterfalls website.
|
Screw Auger Falls, Gulf Hagas, Maine
|
Katahdin is, by many accounts, the finest mountain in the eastern half of the U.S. The alpine scenery is remarkable, exceeding that of Mount Washington in New Hampshire in my opinion.
A network of hiking trails, all of which are difficult, surround the mountain. Hiking this mountain is a right of passage for many hikers, but don't underestimate the challenge of doing so. This mountain is tough and hiking in bad weather is not recommended. Most hikers take 9-11 hours to hike the mountain.
No route is easy on this mountain, but the Saddle Trail is perhaps the easiest. The most challenging rock scramble is the Cathedral Trail. The most famous route on Katahdin is the 'Knife Edge'. This hiking trail is rated class II+ (although arguably class III in one short section called The Chimney) and it offers significant exposure. Those with a strong fear of heights won't enjoy this trail.
If you want a good sense of what hiking the Knife Edge is like, watch this Go Pro video on YouTube.
For more information about Katahdin's hiking trails, visit my online guide to Hiking Katahdin. |
A hiker approaching the end of the Knife Edge on Katahdin, Baxter State Park, Maine
|
HIKING & BACKPACKING IN BAXTER STATE PARK
|
There are more than 200 miles of hiking trails within Baxter State Park, and most hikers, guidebook authors, and blog writers would probably classify nearly all of these trails as "highly recommended". How many other state parks in the U.S. can boast a claim like that for so many miles of trail? Not many...
Here are some of the premier day hikes in the state park. I've broken the list down by the two entrances to the state park. Take note that this list intentionally excludes Katahdin, since that mountain is described above.
SOUTHERN ENTRANCE
- Big & Little Niagara Falls - a moderate 3.0 mile round-trip hike to a pair of waterfalls; parking may be limited (Daicey Pond trailhead)
- Chimney Pond - a moderate 6.6 mile round-trip hike to a gorgeous mountain pond; a 'Roaring Brook' parking permit is required
- Cranberry Pond - an easy 1.2 mile round-trip hike
- Daicey Pond Loop Nature Trail - an easy 1.5 mile loop; parking may be limited (Daicey Pond trailhead)
- Doubletop Mountain - a difficult 7.0 mile round-trip hike and rock scramble from Nesowadnehunk Field Campground to fantastic scenic views
- Katahdin Lake Trail - a moderate 6.6 mile round-trip or 7.5 mile lollipop loop hike
- Katahdin Stream Falls - an easy/moderate 2.2 mile round-trip hike to a 50-plus foot waterfall; a 'Katahdin Stream' parking permit is required
- Little Abol Falls - an easy 1.6 mile round-trip hike to a small waterfall; an 'Abol' parking permit is required
- Mount O-J-I - a difficult 9.0 mile round-trip hike from a trailhead off the Park Tote Road near the Foster Field Group Area
- North Brother - a difficult 9.0 mile round-trip hike from a trailhead off the Park Tote Road
- Roaring Brook Nature Trail - an easy 1.2 mile lollipop loop hike; a parking permit is required (Roaring Brook trailhead)
- Sandy Stream Pond - an easy 1.4 mile round-trip hike to a pond with stunning views of Katahdin; a 'Roaring Brook' parking permit is required
- South Turner Mountain - a difficult 4.0 mile round-trip hike; a 'Roaring Brook' parking permit is required
- The Owl - an extremely difficult 7.0 mile hike; a 'Katahdin Stream' parking permit is required
NORTHERN ENTRANCE
- Howe Brook Trail / Home Brook Falls - a moderate 6.0 miles round-trip hike to a set of seasonal waterfalls and swimming holes
- The Travelers - an extremely difficult 10.4 mile loop hike (having done this hike, I wholeheartedly agree that it is as difficult as Katahdin)
You can find information about these hikes and many more on the Maine Trail Finder website.
Backpacking is also outstanding in Baxter State Park. Some of the premier backpacking destinations include Chimney Pond, Davis Pond, Katahdin Lake, and Russell Pond, but there are many others. Most backcountry sites involve staying at a (3-sided) lean-to that is exclusively reserved for your party. There are also a few backcountry bunkhouses available for rent. Since this is undoubtedly one of the finest places to go backpacking on the East Coast, it can be difficult if not impossible to snag permits for the more popular areas. Maine residents get the first crack at scoring these permits, which can often leave out-of-staters empty-handed.
To visit Baxter State Park, you can either drive in for the day or you can stay within the park. There are several campgrounds and also some cabins for rent within the boundaries of the park.
For information about obtaining backpacking permits and parking permits for trailheads in Baxter State Park (e.g. Roaring Brook, Hunt, Abol), please visit the website of the Baxter State Park Authority.
|
Appalachian Trail sign near Daicey Pond, Baxter State Park, Maine
|
Shin Falls is only a short detour from Grand Lake Road, which is the driving route that ultimately leads to the northern entrance of Baxter State Park. Privately owned, the landowners are gracious enough to allow the general public to visit these falls, and have done so for many years. The main drop of the falls (shown below) is 30 feet, but the total drop is 44 feet.
Reaching the base of the falls is fairly difficult and is not recommended for children or those who are not comfortable with scrambling on steep terrain.
You can find more information about Shin Falls on the New England Waterfalls website.
|
Shin Falls, Maine
|
There are dozens of places that you can go kayaking or canoeing in and around Millinocket and the Katahdin region.
Here is a list of many of the popular spots for this activity:
- Ambajejus Lake
- Daicey Pond, Baxter State Park
- Dolby Pond
- East Branch of the Penobscot River
- Grand Lake Matagamon
- Kidney Pond, Baxter State Park
- Lower Togue Pond
- Millinocket Lake
- Lower Shin Pond
- South Twin Lake
- Upper Togue Pond
- West Branch of the Penobscot River ("Nesowadnehunk Deadwater")
If you don't have your own boat, you can rent boats and set out directly from the docks at these three locations:
- NEOC: River Driver's Restaurant & Pub on Millinocket Lake - eat an an early dinner here and then rent a kayak or canoe from them
- Baxter State Park: Daicey Pond, Kidney Pond, South Branch Pond, as well as several other ponds accessible via car or hiking trails
- Shin Pond Village
|
NEOC Center behind the River Driver's Restaurant & Pub, Millinocket, Maine
|
EXPLORING THE DEBSCONEAG ICE CAVES
|
The Debsconeag Ice Caves are one of the main attractions off the Golden Road, a dirt road that travels from Millinocket to Greenville/Moosehead Lake.
Metal rungs have been installed to allow adventures to descend into the cave. The first part of the cave is spacious and fairly easy to get into, but you'll need to do some crawling and/or scrambling to visit the other smaller chambers within the cave. Take note that foot traction (e.g. Microspikes, Hillsounds, etc.) can be extremely helpful in the cave (even in summer). On our last visit to the caves over Labor Day weekend in 2019, there was still quite a bit of ice present in the cave.
Driving directions: From downtown Millinocket, head northwest on Millinocket Road following signs towards Baxter State Park. About 18-20 minutes from town, bear left onto the Golden Road, which heads towards Greenville. You probably won't see a sign that explicitly states "Golden Road", but a crossover road is obvious and there is usually a sign that points towards Greenville. Continue driving northwest along the Golden Road for about 10-15 minutes until you reach Abol Bridge. Cross Abol Bridge and turn left (south) onto a semi-rough dirt road about 0.1 mile later. Drive 3.7 miles south on this dirt road (bearing left after about 3.1 miles to stay on the correct road) and park at the small trailhead at the end of the road. Parking is a bit limited at the trailhead. GPS: If you put "Ice Caves Trail Parking Area" into Google Maps, it should lead you to the trailhead.
Hiking instructions: A 1.1 mile moderate hike leads to the mouth of the ice caves. The trail is a bit rough and rocky, and it is full of roots. However, I would still say it's generally family-friendly. Once you arrive at the caves, you can climb down into them using the installed metal rungs. A headlamp (or a flashlight) is highly recommended if you want to explore the cave beyond the initial chamber.
While hiking to the ice caves, you will also see two short spur trails. I recommend taking them both so that you can: (a) ascend to see the fine scenic view called "The Lookout" (0.1 mile each way); and (b) descend to visit the rocky shoreline of First Debsconeag Lakes (0.2 mile each way).
|
Entrance to the Ice Caves, Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area, Maine
|
There are currently two fine art galleries that you can visit in downtown Millinocket:
- Moose Prints Gallery and Gifts (featuring the landscape and wildlife photography of Mark Picard and Anita Mueller) - link
- North Light Gallery (featuring the artwork of Marsha Donahue plus more than two dozen other artists from New England) - link
Both of these galleries display exceptional work by local artists.
|
Moose Prints Gallery and Gifts in Millinocket, Maine
|
About 3.0 miles west of the Abol Bridge on the Golden Road, look for a parking pull-off on the left. Across the road, a path heading north will lead you about 300 feet down to the edge of the Penobscot River. There you will find a short but wide and scenic "block" style waterfall, along with partially-obstructed views of Katahdin if you look downstream.
If you time your visit well (12:00pm-1:00pm is recommended), you can watch whitewater rafters float over the northern side of the falls. This is quite a sight to behold, especially if some boaters get ejected out of their boats due to the turbulence.
On one of my recent visits, a bald eagle was circling above the falls.
You can find more information about Nesowadnehunk Falls on the New England Waterfalls website.
|
Nesowadnehunk Falls, West Branch of the Penobscot River, Maine
|
KATAHDIN WOODS & WATERS NATIONAL MONUMENT
|
This national monument was a "gift to the nation" by Roxanne Quimby, founder of the Burt's Bees company. Still in a bit of an infancy state, the monument will continue to grow over the years to its full potential.
All of these activities along the 17-mile Katahdin Loop Road are ready to be enjoyed now, and are recommended:
- Drive the entire 17-mile Katahdin Loop Road. Make sure to stop at all of the various unofficial viewpoints as well as the officially-designated scenic overlook. From late May through early October, this dirt road should be passable to most vehicles. 4WD/AWD is not typically needed.
- Hike 4.4 miles round-trip to the top of Barnard Mountain. The first 2/3rds of this hike is along logging roads and the final 1/3 is a fairly gentle climb on a woods trail. The top offers prime views of Katahdin Lake as well as Katahdin itself. You could mountain bike the first 2/3rds of this hike if you wish.
- Walk the short Lynx Pond Nature Walk, which ends at a wooden platform with unobstructed views of the pond.
- Mountain bike some of the old logging roads (there are some good roads for biking in the areas surrounding Barnard Mountain and Orin Falls)
You can find more information about the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument on the NPS.gov website.
|
View of Katahdin Lake & Katahdin from the summit of Barnard Mountain, Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument, Maine
|
MOOSE WATCHING AT SANDY STREAM POND
|
One of the best places in all of Maine to spot a moose is at Sandy Stream Pond within Baxter State Park. The prime viewing times are 1-2 hours after sunrise and 1-2 hours before sunset.
Parking for the trailhead is at Roaring Brook, which has limited parking and requires a parking permit. Scoring a parking permit can be confusing if you've never gone through the process before (Tip: go on the website of the Baxter State Park Authority several weeks prior to your trip). The good news is that you can sometimes score a "day of" permit for the late afternoon if you arrive at the southern entrance of the park around 4-5pm. The park has a limited number of these "day of" permits, which are set aside for exactly this purpose. The Roaring Brook trailhead and the trail to the pond should be accessible from late-May through early-October.
Hiking to the Sandy Stream Pond and back is fairly easy and is 1.4 miles round-trip. While here, you can also hike the Roaring Brook Nature Trail. Both trails are considered family-friendly.
|
Young Moose at Sandy Stream Pond, Baxter State Park, Maine
|
BREAKFAST AT THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CAFE
|
The best breakfast in the region (by a landslide) is the Appalachian Trail Cafe in downtown Millinocket. The blueberry pancakes are among the best in Maine, especially if you compliment them with their pure maple syrup. Check online for operating hours/days as the cafe is sometimes closed.
If you visit the cafe from August through early October, odds are high you'll see at least one hiker celebrating their completion of the 2,100+ mile Appalachian Trail. Many of these trail completers will inscribe their names into the ceiling tiles of the restaurant. It's very cool to see and feel all that hiking history in one place.
Downtown Millinocket isn't the most charming area, but it absolutely has a lot of potential. I am optimistic that the downtown area will eventually be revitalized and that the cafe will help to anchor that. The nearby Blue Ox is a fun dive bar if that's your thing.
|
Appalachian Trail Cafe, Millinocket, Maine
|
Unwilling or unable to hike Katahdin? This view of Katahdin will still knock your socks off. Drive 19 miles (30 minutes) northwest from downtown Millinocket and park at the Abol Bridge Campground & Store off of the Golden Road. Get out of your vehicle and walk 200 feet west to score a killer view of Katahdin from a pedestrian-only section of Abol Bridge. The Penobscot River will be at your feet and the Katahdin massive will be towering over it. It's a view you won't soon forget.
After you are done absorbing the view, drive 3.0 miles west further along the Golden Road and check out Nesowadnehunk Falls. There's an unmarked pull-off spot that serves as the trailhead. See separate section on this page for more information about these falls.
|
View of Katahdin from Abol Bridge, Golden Road, Maine
|
If water conditions are favorable and you are able to score one of the limited daily parking permits for Ledge Falls within Baxter State Park, you can enjoy one of the finest natural waterslides in New England. Here's a YouTube video to show you the fun that's possible here. Ledge Falls is normally accessed via the southern entrance and is in the western part of the state park.
|
Ledge Falls, Baxter State Park, Maine
|
Also known as the "Keep Maine Beautiful" rock, you can find this large and photogenic boulder about 14.5 miles (20 minutes) northwest of downtown Millinocket on Baxter Park Road (sometimes called Millinocket Road). If you are driving north towards the southern entrance of Baxter State Park, you simply can't miss it.
Painting rocks is often frowned upon by hikers and conservation-minded individuals, but this rock is extremely well-done and frankly it's tough not to like.
|
Pockwockamus Rock, Baxter Park Road, Maine
|
THERIAULT FLIES & CONNIE'S ROCK SHOP
|
This surprisingly large and impressive store is part fly shop, park rock shop. The shop is also set far back on a rural property, to the point you might wonder what exactly you are doing there as you park in someone's backyard for the shop.
This is one of the better rock shops we've ever been to (and we are guilty of of stopping at probably a dozen or two of them across the U.S. over the years).
Address: 21 Lapidary Lane (ME 11), Stacyville, Maine
|
Connie's Rock Shop
|
HAND-CUT FRIES AT NOAH'S ARK
|
My wife and I are obsessed with the hand-cut french fries at Noah's Ark in Medway! We will undoubtedly land here every time we visit the area.
This little establishment (perhaps it could be called a food truck?) serves delicious greasy food. It's an 11-mile drive (15 minutes) from downtown Millinocket, and so it is probably best-visited as you are traveling to and from I-95. I haven't tried their lobster rolls yet, but I'd like to.
Location: 289 Pattagumus Road in Medway (ME 116). Approximately 5 minutes from I-95.
|
Hand-cut french fries @ Noah's Ark in Medway, Maine
|
LAKESIDE DINING AT THE RIVER DRIVER'S RESTAURANT & PUB
|
Many would argue that this restaurant on the shores of Millinocket Lake offers the finest food in the region. Just about everything we've tried on the menu has been good so far. Additionally, after your meal you can walk over to Millinocket Lake and enjoy the views or even a sunset.
The NEOC also offers kayak, canoe, and paddle boat rentals only 300 feet from the restaurant. You can also rent fat bikes too; there's a growing mountain bike trail system in the area that you can ride them on (tip: ride the excellent and flowy Golden Road loop).
More information about the restaurant can be found on the NEOC website.
|
River Driver's Restaurant & Pub in Millinocket, Maine
|
There are two major areas to go mountain biking in the Millinocket area:
- The Penobscot River Trails off ME 11 in Stacyville
- The Katahdin Area Trails ('KAT') in Millinocket (several locations, but the primary area is near the Knife Edge Brewery and the NEOC)
The Penobscot River Trails system is very new (it opened in 2021 I believe), but it is a beauty. It has 15-plus miles of extremely well-maintained stone dust paths that are perfect for hiking, mountain biking, or cross-country skiing. There are three well-constructed "warming huts" here, and two of them offer great views. I rode these trails in 2022 and again in 2025, and I cannot recommend them enough. More information can be found on the Penobscot River Trails website.
The KAT system is still growing, but you can explore some of the trails that have already been built. Eventually, up to 75 miles of trails will be created, which will make it one of the premier mountain biking destinations in New England. We can't wait to see this system become more developed. For now, I highly recommend riding the "Golden Road" loop clockwise, and also doing the Millbilly downhill run in the middle of it. These are some seriously 'flowy' trails. You can park at the Knife Edge Brewing company (and in fact, you should).
More information about the Katahdin Area Trails system and renting fat bikes can be found on the NEOC website.
|
Mountain Biking the Katahdin Area Trails
|
Many local and visitors stop here for snacks, outdoor gear/supplies, and souvenirs. There's also a medium-sized gift shop inside with t-shirts, magnets, and all the other items you'd typically find in a gift shop.
We think the true highlight of this store is their homemade whoopie pies, though. Whoopie pies are the "Official State Treat" of Maine and so you should probably try one if you've never had one. I personally recommend the molasses or peanut butter flavors.
|
Katahdin General Store near downtown Millinocket (en route to Baxter State Park
|
SWIMMING @ UPPER TOGUE POND BEACH
|
Just south of the southern entrance of Baxter State Park ("Togue Pond Gate"), you'll find a parking area on the left (west) side of the road where you can have a picnic and do a little swimming. The edge of the pond is sandy, and children will enjoy themselves here. There are several picnic tables on site. I sometims go for a quick swim here after hiking in Baxter.
|
The NEOC offers moose & wildlife tours, and odds are very high (probably 75% or better) that you'll actually see at least one moose. More information on these moose & wildlife tours can be found on the NEOC website.
Moose Woods Guide Service also appears to offer guided moose tours, but we are not too familiar with their operations yet. Here's a link to their website.
|
REMOTE CAMPING IN THE NORTH MAINE WOODS
|
Some of the best roadside campsites in Maine can be found within the private forests that are managed by the North Maine Woods organization. You can find a list of campsites on their website. A 4WD, high-clearance vehicle may be required to reach some of the campsites, such as those at Hay Brook Falls.
Their website says advanced reservations cannot be made, but we have called and been able to book campsites in the past.
|
There are a impressive amount of cross-country skiing opportunities in the region. Here's a link with a list of cross country ski trails.
|
There's a huge network of snowmobiling trails in this region, including connections from Millinocket to the famed ITS Trail System. Here's an online map showing the impressive network of snowmobile trails in the area.
|
Here are a few additional ideas for things to do in the Millinocket area:
- ATVing on the Katahdin Region Multi-User Trail ("K.R.M.U.T.") system
- Fishing or ice-fishing on nearly any pond or lake in the region
- Golfing at the Hillcrest Golf Club
- Knife Edge Brewing Company
- Blue Ox (a dive bar in downtown Millinocket)
- See the large loon in downtown Lincoln (this is a "roadside attraction") - this is about 40 minutes southeast of Millinocket
- Lumberman's Museum in Patten
- Maine Dog-sledding Adventures
- Picnic at the state-managed Grindstone Falls Picnic Area on ME 11
- Off-road driving on hundreds of miles of lodging roads
- Swimming at Jo-Mary Lake
- Walk around downtown Millinocket on the paved Mike Michaud Trail
Want even MORE ideas? Visit the "101 Things To Do Around Millinocket" page of the NEOC website.
|
Here are few more hiking trail suggestions for the Millinocket and Katahdin region:
- Bait Hole Hiking and Biking Trails
- Day hikes near any of the three AMC wilderness lodges (there are several hiking trails accessible from each)
- Day hike or backpack the Appalachian Trail (AT) or the International Appalachian Trail (IAT)
- Hike up Mt. Chase near the town of Patten
- Horserace Pond Trail
- Rainbow Loop Trail
- River Pond Nature Trails
- Sawtelle Falls near the northern entrance of Baxter State Park
- Tumbledown Dick Falls
The "bible" for hiking trails in Maine is the AMC Maine Mountain Guide. Nearly all of Maine's great trails are described in detail within this legendary guidebook, including most if not all of the hikes we've listed above.
|
Entrance sign of the 17-Mile Scenic Driving Loop within Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument
|
Here is a list of my favorite restaurants in the area:
Downtown Millinocket
- Appalachian Trail Cafe - everything is awesome here, including the blueberry pancakes and donuts
- Scootic Inn - basic comfort food, but it was good/fine when we visited
Between downtown Millinocket and the southern entrance of Baxter State Park
- Knife Edge Brewing - great pizza and the beer is good too
- River Drivers Restaurant - excellent and varied menu, plus beautiful views of Millinocket Lake and Katahdin
- Sawmill Bar & Grill
Medway / I-95 area
- Grandbelly's Country Cafe
- Grindstone BBQ
- Mooseshack
- Noah's Ark Food & Ice Cream - I swear they have the best french fries in Maine; I haven't tried the lobster rolls yet, but hope to
En route to Millinocket, I highly recommend eating at two restaurants in the city of Bangor: Timber Kitchen & Bar and Mason's Brewing Company. Those are two of the best restaurants in central/northern Maine in my opinion. The beer at Mason's is fantastic (among the best in the state).
|
As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
|
