As the road swings by Hammond Ridge, an overgrown clear-cut lines the road. The mostly level asphalt, paralleled by a forest access road on the left, runs through dense hardwood forest. After 11 miles mighty Mount Katahdin towers above the surrounding hills. At 13.8 miles is a turnoff to the New England Wilderness Center and Penobscot Outdoor Center , both wilderness outfitters. The road enters Baxter State Park at its south entrance 14.5 miles from Millinocket.
Deciduous forest encloses the road and large glacier-deposited boulders scatter beneath the trees.
At 15.9 miles is a small visitor center on the left. This is a mandatory stop for maps, camping, and park information. Only 0.1 mile past the center, the pavement ends and the gravel road begins. Togue Pond Picnic Area sits on the left alongside Togue Pond. The road gate is just up the road and the Togue Pond Gatehouse is a little farther along.