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TAKE A MONUMENTAL TRIP TO KATAHDIN WOODS & WATERS Text & Photos JOHANNA S. BILLINGS
I
f you want to get away from it all, consider a trip to the new
However, the U.S. Interior Secretary
you enter true wilderness. Be sure
Ryan Zinke said in late 2017 he would
to pack your lunch, plenty of water
not recommend eliminating any of the
and anything else you might need for a
National Monument.
27 national monuments.
day. If you forget something, you’ll just
This location in Penobscot County,
of conserved land offering hiking
established by former President Barack
and other outdoor activities. You
Obama in August 2016, offers few of
could easily spend an entire vacation
currently free. Access to Baxter State
the amenities of modern life. You will
exploring just the national monument
Park is free for Maine residents but
find no large shopping centers and
and experience only a fraction of what
non-residents will have to pay a $15
cell service will be spotty at best. On
the 87,563 acres have to offer. If you
entrance fee per vehicle. Access to the
the other hand, it’s the perfect spot for
want to cover more ground, you can
North Woods is $10 per person per day
the person whose ideal vacation is to
visit the adjacent Baxter State Park,
for Maine residents and $15 per person
spend the day in nature without seeing
land owned by the Nature Conservancy
per day for non-residents.
another person. Because of its remote
or the North Woods, all of which also
location, there’s a good chance you will
offer a plethora of outdoor activities.
Katahdin Woods and Waters
Katahdin is part of a large region
get to see wildlife during your visit.
Katahdin’s main draw is the fact that
have to do without or lose the better part of the day going back for it. Admission to the monument is
Whichever area you visit, home base will most likely be Millinocket, which offers lodging, including hotels and
it is still totally undeveloped. At this
cabins, as well as restaurants. Perhaps
was in danger of having its designation
time, there is no park office or ranger
the most famous of the eateries is the
rescinded following the Trump
station, and no restaurants, snack bars
Appalachian Trail Cafe, a favorite stop
administration’s scrutiny of 27 of the
or even little stores on the property
nation’s national monuments.
yet. Millinocket is the last town before
Recently, the Katahdin monument
54 summer / fall | 2018
[ see “Katahdin,” page 56 ]