Maine sits in essentially the most northeastern a part of the US and is well-known for being a winter sports activities sizzling spot. There are various snowboarding alternatives right here, and the circumstances can typically be higher than in different areas in New England.
Since I used to be a child, I’ve been an avid skier and have had the possibility to ski at many various resorts in North America. I’ve skied a number of resorts in Maine and have researched one of the best snowboarding locations right here.
This put up will spotlight the entire greatest ski resorts in Maine. I’ll break down what every location presents, what sort of facilities can be found, and what snow circumstances may be anticipated. Whether or not you reside within the space or wish to go to, that is good data to know.
Let’s dive in.
1. Sugarloaf
Resort WebsiteOpening Day: November 22 (Common)Closing Day: Might 1 (Common)Finest Recognized For: Giant resort, dependable snowfall, technical terrain
The perfect ski resort in Maine amongst most skiers right here is Sugarloaf. This is likely one of the largest ski resorts within the Japanese US, with over 1,200 skiable acres throughout quite a lot of terrain. It’s a prime vacation spot for locals and guests for the standard of snowboarding it presents.
Sugarloaf additionally sees dependable snowfall and averages over 200-inches of snow yearly. That’s significantly greater than another fashionable resorts within the space and ensures that there shall be loads of protection all season lengthy.
The resort has quite a lot of technical terrain, making it ideally suited for knowledgeable skiers who desire a good problem. You could find steeps, bumps, and timber all around the resort. There may be additionally loads of newbie and intermediate runs for individuals who simply wish to cruise.
Sugarloaf has a high quality ski faculty the place you’ll be able to take a lesson, and leases are available proper on the base space. There are additionally just a few nice resorts close by and loads of rental houses accessible on your journey.
The most important draw back to this resort is that it’s far-off from the foremost metropolis facilities within the area. You’re looking at a couple of 4-hour drive from Montreal or Boston if you’re flying into a type of airports.
2. Saddleback Mountain
Resort WebsiteOpening Day: December 4 (Common)Closing Day: April 20 (Common)Finest Recognized For: Trendy facilities, steeps, glades
Saddleback Mountain is one other one of many prime resorts in Maine. This vacation spot is getting extremely popular once more after it was closed for a number of years because of the want for updates and a change of possession.
The renovations made Saddleback one of the trendy resorts in Maine, and this implies speedy lifts and cozy facilities all around the mountain. It’s shortly turning into a favourite for individuals who dwell within the state.
Saddleback can also be well-known for having steep and technical terrain that skilled skiers will love. The resort has a whole facet of the mountain stuffed with steep chutes, snow-filled glades, and different distinctive terrains.
There isn’t an enormous lodge for skiers to remain at proper on the base of the mountain, however there are many rental houses and condos that make for a superb solution to spend an evening or every week right here. Many meals choices dot the slopes and surrounding space as nicely.
You can even benefit from a high quality ski faculty to get a lesson and enhance your expertise, and leases are straightforward to seek out proper on the base.
Saddleback Mountain can get fairly crowded, so that you’ll wish to ensure to guide every part nicely forward of time to be sure to can benefit from every part this high quality resort has to supply.
3. Sunday River
Resort WebsiteOpening Day: November 21 (Common) Closing Day: April 15 (Common)Finest Recognized For: Household-friendly ambiance, good snow, many various runs
Sunday River might be essentially the most family-friendly ski resort in Maine, making it a particularly fashionable vacation spot for households who wish to ski collectively and discover recent snow. It has quite a lot of straightforward groomed terrain for newbie skiers to benefit from.
The resort itself consists of eight completely different mountains. Whereas that seems like so much, 18 lifts make it straightforward to entry the entire open terrain. You possibly can ski practically 900 acres of runs right here, spanning a vertical drop of two,340 ft.
There are a number of resort lodging properties to remain in while you go to Sunday River, and you may get a reduction on raise tickets while you guide a room. The resort employees is keen and completely satisfied that can assist you determine one of the best place for the household to remain.
Being a family-focused location additionally implies that the ski faculty is superb right here. Whether or not you’re a full newbie or simply need somebody that can assist you enhance your on-snow expertise, loads of group and particular person classes can be found.
The meals at Sunday River can also be price mentioning as a result of there are a lot of eating choices to benefit from. It has among the greatest meals of any resort I’ve visited within the East. There are additionally many enjoyable occasions the resort hosts all through the winter months.
Regardless that Sunday River is stacked with facilities and really handy, it is a bit more costly to ski right here than different resorts in Maine. It’s not a really budget-friendly location.
4. Camden Snow Bowl
Resort WebsiteOpening Day: December 21 (Common)Closing Day: March 20 (Common)Finest Recognized For: Number of terrain, reasonably priced, close to a number of metropolis facilities, views of the Atlantic Ocean
If you need a extra simply accessible Maine ski resort, Camden Snow Bowl is fairly near a number of metropolis facilities. This makes it a very good day journey snowboarding vacation spot for folks residing across the Portland space.
One other unbelievable characteristic of this resort is that you just get to take pleasure in wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean while you’re on the prime of the mountain. There aren’t too many places on the planet that provide this, so it’s nicely price placing in your bucket record.
Camden Snow Bowl additionally has a very good number of terrain, providing one thing for almost each sort of skier. There are about equal quantities of newbie, intermediate and superior terrain to discover right here.
There’s a lodge, however it doesn’t have in a single day lodging, so that you’ll want to seek out that some place else close by. However there are tools leases and a ski faculty for classes proper on the base.
Camden Snow Bowl is fairly small, with solely three lifts and 9 trails. It’s not essentially the most expansive resort in Maine, which may result in crowds throughout busy occasions.
5. Shawnee Peak
Resort WebsiteOpening Day: December 15 (Common)Closing Day: April 1 (Common)Finest Recognized For: Evening snowboarding, beginner-friendly, near metropolis
Shawnee Peak is the oldest ski resort in Maine and has been internet hosting skiers for many years. It’s a small however well-known location that’s simply accessible simply over an hour exterior of Portland.
The resort has wonderful snowmaking protection to permit for good snowboarding all season lengthy and is an effective place for inexperienced persons to be taught or go to due to the not-too-technical terrain you’ll be able to discover right here.
Evening snowboarding can also be fashionable at Shawnee Peak, and the resort activates the intense lights practically every single day of the season. If you wish to have a extra prolonged ski day or simply attempt evening snowboarding, it’s a very good location to do it.
It is a small mountain with solely about 250 acres of skiable terrain. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to simply arrange a bunch or personal lesson and get leases in the event you don’t personal ski gear. There isn’t a lot technical terrain for skilled skiers to take pleasure in, which is a little bit of a bummer.
Further Ideas for Snowboarding in Maine
Being thus far north, the winter days in Maine may be fairly quick. If you wish to benefit from your ski days, make sure to arrive on the resorts early or ensure they’ve evening snowboarding so you’ll be able to maintain at it after darkish.
You’ll additionally wish to price range time for driving, as lots of the resorts listed here are a number of hours from the closest airport or bigger metropolis. They’re price visiting however take slightly extra planning and preparation with that distance in thoughts.
Last Phrases
Maine is a enjoyable snowboarding vacation spot with a number of wonderful resorts to discover. The places listed right here provide one of the best snowboarding within the state and provides skiers of all types good terrain, useful classes, and an total stable expertise.
