Forestry Interpretive Trail
- 0.8 mi
- loop
- 11 ft
- climb
- 822 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
The Forestry Interpretive Trail is a short, easy loop in Baxter State Park in northern Maine, managed by State Park and Recreation. The trail is about 0.8 miles long, with a one-way climb of 11 feet from a low point of 790 feet to a high of 822 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.6 miles in, with a grade of about 4 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Patten put July highs around 76°F with lows near 55°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. Trout Brook, a canoeing spot, lies about 0.4 miles away, and Park Tote Road, a cross-country ski route, is about 0.7 miles off. South Branch Falls Trail and Ledges Trail are both within about 2 miles.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Forestry Interpretive Trail
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
22° / 3°
Feb
25° / 6°
Mar
34° / 16°
Apr
48° / 29°
May
62° / 40°
Jun
72° / 49°
Jul
76° / 55°
Aug
75° / 54°
Sep
67° / 45°
Oct
53° / 35°
Nov
41° / 25°
Dec
29° / 13°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Patten 2, ME, 22 mi away at 820 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Pat Spinney, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)North Peaks Trail
~24 min drive
5.16-mile point-to-point trail in Maine with 243 ft gain and 3,332 ft loss
Photo: Pat Spinney, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)North Basin Cut-Off
~24 min drive
North Basin Cut-Off is a 0.61-mile point-to-point trail in Maine with 26 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
Fowler Brook Trail
~5 min drive
1.23-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 169 ft gain and 324 ft loss.
HIKE
Traverler Mountain Trail
~6 min drive
8.00-mile point-to-point trail in Maine with 3,349 ft gain and 3,625 ft loss.
HIKE
South Branch Falls Trail
~2 min drive
0.45-mile out-and-back hike to South Branch Falls in Maine.
HIKE
South Branch Mountain Trail
~6 min drive
4.17-mile point-to-point trail in Maine with 1,970 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Middle Fowler Pond Trail
~6 min drive
4.71-mile out-and-back hike in Maine with 627 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Ledges Trail
~3 min drive
0.65-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 204 ft gain.
HIKE
Frost Pond Trail
~7 min drive
6.17-mile point-to-point trail in Maine with 1,075 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Burnt Mountain Trail
~9 min drive
1.28-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 106 ft gain and 727 ft loss.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
