Getting there
- Flights to Bangor (BGR) 120 km from the start
- Flights to Boston (BOS) 430 km from the start
Treks / USA (Maine)
Katahdin (Knife Edge)
USA (Maine) · Nearest city: Bangor (also Portland, Maine)
TypeDay hike
Days1
Distance≈ 15 km
Climbing≈ 1,200 m
Highest point1,606 m
Maine's highest mountain and the northern end of the Appalachian Trail, with the airy Knife Edge ridge.
Fitness
Very hard
Best seasonJune to October
High pointBaxter Peak
Watch out: Baxter State Park limits day-use parking. The Knife Edge is exposed and closes in bad weather.
Why people choose it
It's the northern end of the Appalachian Trail and Maine's highest mountain, with the famous Knife Edge.
What makes it different
- End of the Appalachian Trail
- The Knife Edge ridge
- Remote Baxter State Park
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Roaming in USA is expensive on most phone plans. A data eSIM bought before you fly gets you online as soon as you land.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
In national parks, overnight stays need a wilderness permit and camping is often limited to designated sites. On most national forest and BLM land, dispersed camping is allowed.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Katahdin
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Get the required permit, reservation or ticket. Popular dates sell out.
- Best time to go: June to October.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Bangor.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early and set a turnaround time. Be back down before the weather turns or daylight fades.
- Carry water, food, a warm layer and a rain jacket even on a sunny day.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: June to October
April to June
Spring
Mud season in the north, blackflies in May and June, and fresh green forests.
Bring
- Waterproof boots
- Insect repellent
- Warm layer for summits
July to August
Summer
Warm and humid in the forests, with thunderstorms and cool, windy summits.
Bring
- Rain jacket
- Plenty of water
- Warm layer above the treeline
September to October
Autumn
Famous fall colours and crowds, with early snow and ice on higher summits.
Bring
- Warm layers, hat and gloves
- Microspikes late in the season
- Headlamp
Be ready for
Scrambling
You'll use your hands on steep rock. Sticky-soled boots help, and it's no place for a big, top-heavy pack.
What you'll see
4 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Katahdin (Knife Edge)
Photo credits: Katahdin by Rubyk at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Looking Down Knife's Edge From Baxter Peak - panoramio by Spenceregan7, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View north from Mount Katahdin's South Peak in Baxter State Park, Piscataquis County, Maine by Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View south from Mount Katahdin's South Peak in Baxter State Park, Piscataquis County, Maine by Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
