Mount Katahdin via the Knife Edge + Hamlin Ridge Trails

This route starts and ends at the Chimney Pond Trailhead. From the parking lot, begin on the Chimney Pond Trail. Around 0.2 miles, bear left onto the Helon Taylor Trail. Begin climbing 3,400 vertical feet over 3.0 miles to the summit of Pamola Peak. Turn left onto the Knife Edge Trail. Descend into the Chimney, a steep gap requiring class 3/4 scrambling, and climb back out to the narrow, highly exposed ridge. Follow the Knife Edge Trail to the summit of Mount Katahdin, reached at around 3.9 miles. From the summit, head northwest, continuing straight through intersections with Cathedral Trail, Baxter Peak Cutoff Trail, and Saddle Trail. Around 5.7 miles at the junction, turn right onto the Hamlin Ridge Trail, passing Caribou Spring to reach Hamlin Peak at 4,756 feet. Descend over steep, open rock, until reaching the junction with North Basin Trail around 6.9 miles. Turn right onto the North Basin Trail, then left onto the Chimney Pond Trail at 7.3 miles to return to Chimney Pond Trailhead.