Maine’s been clobbered with the snow this past week. The Super Bowl was yesterday. So what better time to write about Maine’s “back bowls” (Vail, Colorado reference) and ski resorts?
Let’s start with the “Big Five”, and then we’ll move on to some of the smaller ski areas.
Sugarloaf – Carrabassett Valley, Maine
Largest ski area east of the Rockies. One of the top year-round destinations in New England. Enough said. And Maine Correspondent Simone L.’s personal favorite. Follow the resort on Instagram @sugarloafmountain – the photos are fantastic.
High elevation and rustic alpine experience. But don’t get discouraged by its toughness – it’s ski-in and ski-out for all lodging on the mountain.
Sunday River – Newley/Bethel, Maine
Large ski area. Summer and winter fun and excitement. Cool nearby town of Bethel (5 miles from the resort). 870 acres of skiing.
Shawnee Peak – Bridgton, Maine
Smaller, but still just as awesome. 19 trails are lit for night skiing. Lots of snowmaking equipment.
Near Sunday River. Small, but great for families.
Here’s an interactive graphic I created, mostly to show the sheer size of Sugarloaf.
Sugarloaf Mountain Resort. Photo courtesy of Simone L.
Beyond those five, read this article on MaineToday for some other local favorites (including some of competitive skier Anne M.’s picks!). There will be a follow up article on MaineToday with the remaining few ski areas they say they will mention, so I will post that as an update when it comes.
Well, that’s it for now. Thanks for reading another edition of Off the Maine Road!