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Day trip to Tekαkαpimək Contact Station
By Brian Hinrichs • May 19, 2026As we anticipate the opening of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station and Loop Road for 2026 this Friday, May 22nd, Executive Director Brian Hinrichs reflects on a day trip from Bangor to Tekαkαpimək with his family last summer. Whenever visiting the monument, please start by downloading the NPS app and checking out nps.gov/kaww for the latest travel… -
March Haskell Hut 3 Day Trip Report
By Elise Goplerud • March 13, 2026This trip report was written and shared with Friends by frequent monument visitors Eric and Elaine Hendrickson. This trip was the fourth of the year and perhaps the last for the season. The first trip was to check on the wood supply where I had the chance to help the ranger fill the wood shed… -
Government Shutdown Impacts
By Brian Hinrichs • October 2, 2025This page has been updated as of 10/29/2025. Due to a lapse in federal appropriations, the federal government has shut down. The National Park Service has announced on their website: “National parks remain as accessible as possible during the federal government shutdown. However, some services may be limited or unavailable.” Additional information on National Park… -
Foliage, Food and Falls: A Fall Day Trip Itinerary in Katahdin Woods & Waters
By Elise Goplerud • September 19, 2025Written by Elise Goplerud, Education Coordinator If you only have one day to soak up fall in the northern Katahdin region, you’ll want it to be filled with the season’s essentials: crisp foliage, beautiful scenery, and good food to keep you fueled along the way. Earlier this September, I set out to design a day… -
Trip Report: Day Hike up Deasey Mountain
By Elise Goplerud • August 5, 2025If you’re looking for a challenging hike, with solitude, fascinating natural history and geology, plus amazing views, you need to check out Deasey Mountain on the IAT in Katahdin Woods & Waters. On a hot and humid day, my good friend and hiking buddy, Cat, joined me for a trek into Katahdin Woods & Waters… -
Three Days, One River, and a Different Kind of Fourth
By Elise Goplerud • July 14, 2025On a stormy 4th of July, while families prepped their fireworks, lit the grill and recounted their favorite floats in their small town parades Joe, Luna (our sometimes chaotic but always loveable pup), and I pushed off and slipped quietly into the East Branch of the Penobscot River. This river runs through the present and… -
An Unforgettable Youth Ski to Haskell Hut
By Elise Goplerud • February 7, 2025Over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, six local middle and high school students joined Friends’ Education Coordinator Elise Goplerud and Outdoor Sport Institute’s Dan Rogan on a journey they won’t soon forget: an overnight cross-country ski trip to Haskell Hut. These students, invited as part of a special leadership program, had proven their… -
Hunting for Grouse in KAWW’s Seboeis Parcel – Trip Report
By Elise Goplerud • January 8, 2025Written by Friends of KWW Education Coordinator, Elise Goplerud In my time working with Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters over the past four years, I’ve prioritized exploring the Monument’s recreational opportunities. From camping to skiing, I’ve done it all—except hunting, an often-overlooked activity in the Monument. Unlike most national parks, Katahdin Woods & Waters… -
For Cross-country Skiing, Cross Your Fingers and Head North
By Sarah Andre • February 29, 2024Development Coordinator Sarah Andre shares some of her favorite ski spots in the Katahdin Region. A resident of southern Maine, traveling to the Katahdin Region in winter is her favorite perk of working for Friends! The photos and words below reflect conditions on January 29th, 2024. As of February 29th, a major rain and warming… -
2024 Grooming in the Monument
By Elise Goplerud • January 26, 2024Looking for a place to cross country ski or snowshoe? Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument provides groomed and tracked trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing! Enter at the North Gate where you will find a plowed parking lot and vault toilet. In the winter, foot traffic only is permitted beyond the gate. Visit…
