Maine’s wilderness is nearly synonymous with Baxter State Park: you can’t rightly say you’ve explored the state’s wild areas without a trip to this unique park. The 200,000-acre area encompassing its own mountain range, including Katahdin, was a gift to the people of Maine from Percival P. Baxter, former state governor. While the state’s largest mountain is the park’s jewel, drawing climbers from far afield who summit the 5,269-foot peak, there are myriad family-friendly areas to explore below treeline.

Daicey Pond Campground is an excellent home base for families visiting the park. The campground has ten rustic cabins of various sizes, all equipped with beds and mattresses, a woodstove, and gas lights. Picnic tables are provided for outdoor cooking and dining. The pond-side campground offers great views and fishing opportunities, as well as hiking access to multiple backcountry ponds and mountains. Canoes, paddles, and life jackets are available for rent. Children will delight in the kids’ programs that take place here most Saturdays throughout the summer. Activities range from tree bark rubbing to pond explorations with dip nets.

Favorite kid-friendly hikes originating from Daicey Pond Campground include the 1.8-mile Daicey Pond Nature Trail. Flat terrain, plentiful wildlife, and varied habitats make this a perfect adventure for even the smallest travelers. Start from the day-use parking area by heading out on the white-blazed Appalachian Trail (AT) for 0.5 mile. Continue straight ahead on blue-blazed Daicey Pond Nature Trail, leaving behind the AT as it veers right. As the hike continues around the pond, numerous trail junctions present themselves, including those for three family-friendly trails, Grassy Pond Trail and Little and Big Niagara Falls trails. Unless you’re planning to venture out on one of the adjoining trails, follow blue blazes to stay on Daicey Pond Nature Trail. Along the way, enjoy great views of Daicey Pond and the surrounding mountains, including Doubletop, Barren, Owl and, of course, Katahdin!

Kidney Pond Campground also offers rustic cabins and plenty of family-friendly activities. Great swimming holes within the park include South Branch Pond, Abol Pond, Matagamon Landing, and Ledge Falls, a natural waterslide north of Kidney Pond Campground.

Stock up on provisions in the town of Millinocket, 18 miles from the park’s southern entrance.