Baxter State Park

1st day in Baxter state park. Throw out all your conceptions about  state parks when you enter here. It really  isn't like any other I've been too. I lived in Maine for a long time and never came here mainly due to all the rules. Reasoning being they treat everyone like an idiot. Years ago to come in winter you'd have to submit a climbing resume, etc. to climb it in winter. They've loosened up about that I've read. Getting here your greeted at the gate and get grilled about entering the park, what you have,etc. 1st time here with a reservation, yes you can't enter without one, be here no later then 8:30 A.M. But here's another stupid rule they have. We have  campsite  reservation but you can't go to the site till 1:00 P.M. So we killed some tine looking for the A.T. trail at Katahdin stream campground. Then rode around some to check out nearby areas. Came back to our campground about 12:00. Waited awhile and went and checked with a ranger to see if we could get in as the site was empty. Rather gruffly :"Check in is at 1:00". End of conversation. Nice customer service. 
There is no visitor centers. All roads are narrow dirt lanes. Campsites are pretty nice some with small lean to's.

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