From Lost Valley to Sugarloaf, Maine has many ski areas and resorts for various different levels and experiences. That’s one of the advantages of going to college in Maine. Sienna Lightman `28 said, “I think Maine is different. Being in college and being able to go skiing with your friends is so special.” Being only about an hour away from campus, Sugarloaf is a popular pick among students, but many other ski areas in Maine are worth trying out.
Under two hours from campus, Sunday River is a popular choice for students. The resort is home to the Iglu, which is located in the Jordan Bowl at the base of the Jordan 8 for a unique snow igloo and ice lounge experience. You will also likely find Eddy and Betty the Yetis around the slopes, likely taking photos with younger skiers. The resort also offers lots of dining options in case visitors did not pack a lunch, and the Coffee Hound at South Ridge Lodge offers specialty espresso drinks and mini donuts.
Beyond the fun amenities and atmosphere, the resort offers more than a hundred trails with eight interconnected peaks: White Cap, Locke, Barker, Spruce, North Peak, Aurora, Oz, and Jordan. With a total of 19 lifts, 140 trails, and 884 acres, Sunday River has many trails, peaks, and amenities to keep you busy for a fun time.
Lightman elaborates, “I really like skiing at Sunday River because my friend has a house there, so it’s fun to be able to hang out with all my friends and go skiing with them.” While she mentioned that she prefers the trails at Sugarloaf, she clarifies that she likes to ski tree runs at Sunday River more.
For novice skiers, Lost Valley and Pleasant Mountain (formerly Shawnee Peak) are great places to start. With the College’s yearly tradition of renting out the entire Lost Valley ski mountain for a private evening, you have the opportunity to try out skiing for free for a low-stakes experience. As purchasing rentals and securing lessons can sometimes be discouraging, this event provides lessons and rentals to students (keep in mind that the lessons and rentals have limited availability). This ski area has three chairlifts and a “Cub Carpet” for beginners, serving all levels and emphasizing their strong ski school. Being a smaller mountain, Lost Valley is a fun and comfortable ski area to learn to ski and have a good time with friends.
About the same distance from campus as Sunday River, Pleasant Mountain is another ski resort worth your time. This resort is the longest-running ski resort in Maine, and it reports 44 trails and glades, six lifts, and 20 night trails. With magic carpets and slow lifts, Pleasant Mountain is a safe and fun place to learn. The mountain offers ski and snowboard lessons for all levels and is generally known for its welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere. So whether you are drawn to its night skiing, beginner areas, or friendly atmosphere, Pleasant Mountain is another great pick.
No matter where you go, skiing in Maine is a fun time. Lightman concluded by saying, “Growing up being from the South, none of my friends knew how to ski, so I’d always just go skiing with family, which is fun, but being able to ski with friends is much more fun.” She even enjoys the commute, which she spends listening to music with friends.
As ski conditions are currently good in Maine and with the winter months wrapping up soon, now is a good opportunity to take advantage of our proximity to many ski slopes.
~ Haley Hegarty `28
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