Maine · Hiking

Northwest Basin Trail

7.8 mi
one way
3,597 ft
climb
4,655 ft
high point
Point to point
route

The Northwest Basin Trail is a hard hike in Baxter State Park in Maine, about 7.75 miles long with a one-way elevation gain of 3,597 feet. It's a back-loaded climb, with the high point at 4,655 feet and the low point at 1,326 feet. The trail starts at about 4,618 feet, and the climb and descent both total roughly 3,600 feet. The route is a point-to-point hike rather than a loop. Bikes and horses are not allowed, so plan on walking. The trail links with other paths in the area, including the North Peaks Trail, the Hamlin Peak Cut-Off and the Hamlin Ridge Trail, all within a quarter mile. The trip takes about 4.5 hours. For more time on the mountain, the North Basin climbing area is about a mile away, and Katahdin is about 4 miles off.

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Route details

Distance
7.8 mi
Climbing
About 3,597 ft
Summit
4,752 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 3 hours

Other routes up Hamlin Peak

Questions about this route

How long is the Northwest Basin Trail on Hamlin Peak?

About 7.8 mi.

How much elevation gain is on the Northwest Basin Trail?

About 3,597 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Northwest Basin Trail?

It is rated hard.

How long does the Northwest Basin Trail take?

About 3 hours round trip.

How many routes go up Hamlin Peak?

3: Hamlin Peak Cut-Off, Hamlin Ridge Trail and Northwest Basin Trail.

Conditions and forecast on Hamlin Peak

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors