The One Place In Maine That Looks Like Something From Middle Earth
The fantastic world of Lord of the Rings, created by J.R.R. Tolkien, is one of pure fantasy. But there’s something strangely familiar about the book’s vividly described landscapes. From the beautiful verdant meadows of The Shire to the unforgiving granite landscape of Mordor, we feel as if we’re reading about Baxter State Park – Maine’s very own living, breathing version of “Middle Earth.” And it’s just as enchanting as it sounds.
Located in Millinocket, Baxter State Park and its 200,000 acres are the crown jewel of Maine's state park system.
It's perhaps most famous for being the home to Mount Katahdin, the tallest mountain in Maine, as well as the northern terminus of the iconic Appalachian Trail.
Once you've conquered Katahdin, you can move on to Baxter's gentler side: miles and miles of green wilderness reminiscent of The Shire. With its beautiful cascading falls...
And crooked paths to nowhere. It's hard to believe this is all real. But it is. And it's ours.
The Shared Experience / Flickr
If you weren’t a fan of Lord of the Rings before, we hope you are now knowing that the kind of beauty and terror described in the book is real…and it exists right here in Maine. Let’s write another chapter together – tell us your best Baxter State Park experiences!
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Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
