Baxter State Park Photography Locations

Baxter State Park is a large wilderness area permanently preserved as a state park in the North Maine Woods region, located in Piscataquis County in north-central Maine.

The park was established by 28 land donations, in trust, from Park donor Percival P. Baxter between 1931 and 1962, eventually creating a park of over 200,000 acres in size. Baxter Park is not part of the Maine State Park system.

The park is home to the state’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin. The number of visitors to the park declined from 75,000 in 2000 to 55,000 in 2005, but visitor numbers have been slowly increasing since then.

Baxter State Park is located in the vast and rugged Piscataquis County region. It is 200 miles from Portland, mostly via highway, and 71 miles from Bangor.

We photographed Acadia National Park before heading to Baxter State Park, which is only 116 miles away.

One of Photography Magazines Favorite Places to Stay – 2018. A moose tour at New England Outdoor Center is an absolute must! The cabins are incredible and the tour starts just a short walk from your cabin!!

BEST TIME TO GO

For the best chance at capturing the celestial wonder of the Milky Way, plan to visit during its peak season. In this remote location, the sky is filled with a blanket of darkness, providing optimal conditions for stargazing. Although any time during spring, summer, or fall offers good viewing opportunities, we chose to go on an extremely hot day when wildlife was scarce and uninterested in venturing into the viewing area. We got to photograph some move moose, but not as many on this birdly hot day.

HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH

Stay overnight for this location if you go during the Milky Way season; otherwise, plan on a few hours here for the Moose Tour.

HOW TO GET THERE

64 Balsam Dr. Millenocket, Maine

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PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR LIST

A sturdy tripod will be vital for getting Milky Way and milky water blur shots.
A wide-angle lens will help you fit the majestic lighthouse and the surrounding area into your frame. For this area, the wider the better.
Bring a telephoto lens and a monopod to help stabilize your camera for Moose and wildlife.
Pack plenty of extra batteries and memory cards, as you’ll likely take a lot of pictures.
Bring your macro lens for the vast and intricate details of the surrounding nature.
Pack an array of filters, from UV to polarized, to reduce glare on the water and neutral density filters for long exposures to achieve milky water effects.
Bring a spare set of fully charged batteries and extra memory cards; you never know when a perfect shot will present itself, and the last thing you want is your camera battery.

WHAT ELSE TO BRING – A PACKING LIST

Organic bug repellent. (Non-organic is very toxic)
Organic Sun protection. (Non-organic sunscreen is a cancer cause.)
Durable hiking boots for any trail or terrain you may encounter.
Have a waterproof backpack or rain cover to protect your equipment.
Packaging a rain jacket and long pants.
A hat and sunglasses to shield yourself from the elements.
A thermos for Milky Way viewing nights.

Baxter State Park Photography Basics

Here are some photo basics to know before you go.

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Think Tank Camera Bags

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HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH BAXTER STATE PARK, MAINE

Lens: This location is ideal for using both wide-angle and zoom lenses.

Gear: Be sure to bring your tripod and circular polarizing filter (CPL). The CPL will enhance the white puffy clouds and intensify the blue sky around them. It will also reduce glare off the water, allowing for better reflections. Since this area is a great spot for dark sky Milky Way photography, definitely pack your tripod! If you plan to photograph moving water, don’t forget to take your neutral density (ND) filter.

Gear List at a Glance: Circular polarizing filter, neutral density filter, tripod, shutter release, wide-angle lens, and zoom lens.

When to Go: Weekdays are best when it is slightly offseason. Keep in mind that this is also a Milky Way dark sky area, so you might want to plan your trip around a new moon or the week before during Milky Way week.

SHUTTER PRIORITY

When you photograph moose, you’ll want to shoot in shutter priority to ensure your shutter speed is high enough to keep your subject in sharp focus. If it’s a bright, sunny day, set your shutter speed as high as 1/1200th of a second. Remember, the higher your shutter speed, the less light comes into the camera. It should not be an issue outside during daytime hours. For More Details, see our Shutter Priority Page.

MANUAL MODE

You have moving waters here. You can do your long-exposure running and milky water shots. You’ll need to use a tripod for this effect. Your settings will vary depending on the lighting and the neutral density filter you use. You will shoot in manual mode for the milky waters.

APERTURE PRIORITY

Aperture Priority is often used to blur the background of your images, which is often used in macro photography. It controls your depth of field (how much from the subject to the background is in focus). So you would shoot in Aperture Priority for macro. For more information, see our Aperture page.

ISO

When adjusting the ISO setting, remember that a higher value allows more light during the exposure of an image. However, increasing the ISO can also introduce more digital noise. To avoid this, try to keep the ISO below 800 whenever possible. If you must raise it for a particular shot, you can use software like Topaz Denoise later to reduce any digital noise that appears.

New England Outdoor Center

Boat Photo taken at New England Outdoor Center before our moose boat tour.

New England’s Top Adventure Resort

We wouldn’t stay anywhere else! The New England Outdoor Center is the home of Twin Pine Cabins, the Penobscot Outdoor Center, and the River Drivers Restaurant. Voted Top Adventure Resort in New England by Yankee Magazine, NEOC comprises all the essential pieces for an unforgettable Maine spring and summer vacation.

Amid New England Outdoor Center’s sprawling landscape, endless summer and winter adventures await. We embarked on a moose tour on this particular day, eager to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. Our guide navigated us through a serene lake past thick forests. We watched in awe as the tranquil water lapped against the sides of our boat, carrying us deeper into the wild. As the sun beat down on us with its unrelenting heat, we couldn’t believe our luck as not one but two magnificent moose emerged from the treeline. Moose and other animals usually stay in the woods during intense heat. Their hooves splashing in the water echoed around us as they gracefully waded through the lake, pausing occasionally to graze on leaves from overhanging branches. With cameras on the boat clicking furiously, we captured every moment of this unforgettable journey and returned to shore with hearts full and memories to last a lifetime.

BAXTER STATE PARK INFO

Entrance Fees:

Baxter State Park – $15.00, Season – $40.

Daily Park Conditions Report (Trail, Water, Roads and Fire Updates) – 207-723-9500

Reservation Office 207-723-5140

Monday – Friday, 8 AM-4 PM

CAMPING

Baxter State Park Camping – All sites have natural water sources, and none have spigots. All water should be treated. This is a wilderness area. No cooking or sleeping supplies are available for purchase within the park. There are no showers, only outhouses.

You must check in at the gate no later than 8:30 PM on your first night of camping. Most campgrounds are open May 15

FOOD

NEW ENGLAND OUTDOOR CENTER – 30 Twin Pines Rd, Millinocket, ME 04462, USA

The rustic lodge in the heart of Baxter State Park welcomes weary travelers with the inviting aroma of freshly cooked meals. The rich scent of woodsmoke and sizzling meats filled the air as hungry patrons eagerly lined up to taste the park’s renowned cuisine. The chefs worked tirelessly, their skilled hands expertly crafting each dish to perfection. As the sun set over the towering trees, we gathered around wooden tables adorned with flickering candles and charming wildflower centerpieces. Amidst laughter and lively chatter, every plate was quickly cleared and every stomach satisfied. It was a dining experience not to be missed in this breathtaking wilderness.

Lunch: 11 am – 4 pm

Dinner Service: 4 pm – 9 pm