BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 10, 2025
There’s a particular rock in the Katahdin Region that holds special meaning for outdoor fanatics. Pockwockamus Rock is surrounded by wilderness and within view of majestic Katahdin, but you don’t need a canoe or even a pair of hiking boots to reach it. Situated on the access road into Baxter State Park’s south entrance, it is a massive boulder, which has a primitive folk-art-style depiction of a Maine woods scene with an inscription: “Keep Maine Beautiful.” The rock had become a target for vandals who coated it with profanities and other unsavory content. In 1979, a teenage girl and her Youth Conservation Corps buddies came up with a scheme to paint the rock with an inspiring scene and a simple yet compelling invitation. They did. Nearly a half century later, Pockwockamus Rock stands as a beacon and a landmark in Maine. Its message has stood the test of time.