| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Kidney Pond (Baxter State Park) , ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Sentinel Link Trail, Kidney Pond Trail, Colt's Point Trail, Lily Pad Pond Trail, road walk |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, July 13, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
$16 for a day pass for non-ME residents, and $42 for a season pass for non-ME residents. The roads in the park are narrow and can have large potholes but are kept in drivable condition for any car. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing of Nesowadnehunk Stream on the eastern end of the trail was, of course, a wade. I might have had to go thigh/hip deep at one point, had I not carefully climbed up some rocks underwater so that I could stay closer to my knees. I'm not sure there were any other water crossings, and, if there were, they were rock hopable. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I believe all trails in BSP that aren't part of the AT are blazed in blue. I don't recall the blowdown situation. The trail is NOT signed at its eastern end presumably because the bridge is out. That being said, the despite the trail being incredibly overgrown on the far side of the bridge, and seemingly abandoned for a short ways, the park has not seemed to have closed it. Just west of the water crossing, the trail is totally grown in with brush. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are not allowed in BSP. |
|
 | Bugs: |
They were luckily not as atrocious here as they were on Slaughter Pond Trail. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
2nd day in Millinocket and second hike of the day after Slaughter Pond. My route: Sentinel Link --> Kidney Pond Trail --> OAB on Colt's Point Trail (not needed for redlining but shown on Gaia) --> Kidney Pond Trail --> OAB on Lily Pad Pond Trail (needed for redlining) --> Kidney Pond Trail --> OAB on side trail to Kidney Pond Trail (not needed for redlining and not shown on Gaia) --> Kidney Pond Trail --> Road Walk (Daicey Pond Access Road, Park Tote Road, Kidney Pond Access Road). There's a real nice cabin and herd path off of Colt's Point Trail as well. Sentinel Link has some rough footing but these trails are all very flat. Lily Pad Pond Trail was interesting as it has an extended section of bog bridges through a wetland before ending where it meets the pond's inlet (Beaver Brook) but does not actually take you to the pond. The road walk was 2.7mi. Gaia had me at about 5.9mi, 100ft of gain, 2hr5min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-07-15 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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