Maine Ski Areas: The Complete Guide to Downhill Skiing
From big-mountain resorts to volunteer-run rope tows, the best places to ski in Maine.
When most people think of skiing in Maine, they picture Sugarloaf, Sunday River, or Saddleback. They're big mountains with slopeside lodging and enough terrain to fill a long weekend. If you're planning a ski trip from out of state, that's probably where you'll end up, and that's a great call.
But there's a lot more to Maine skiing than the big three. At the Camden Snow Bowl, you ski with a view of Penobscot Bay. At Black Mountain in Rumford, spend the day in surprisingly tough glades, then grab a meal in a base lodge that feels like a community clubhouse. All over the state, towns, clubs, and nonprofits run small hills that look and feel a lot like they did decades ago. That's a big part of the charm.
This guide covers Maine's alpine ski areas, from the big resorts to a rope tow in South Berwick powered by an old Ford truck engine. I hope it inspires you to visit a few, especially the local hills. They keep skiing affordable for their communities, and they could use the support.
Use the map and filters to find Indy Pass mountains, night skiing, uphill access, and community-run hills.
Sugarloaf
Maine's biggest mountain, with 2,820 feet of vertical and the only lift-served skiing above treeline in the East. The Snowfields, deep glades, and cat skiing on neighboring Burnt Mountain keep experts busy for days. Every spring, Reggae Fest brings live music and sunny laps to the base.
Sunday River
Eight connected peaks spread across three miles, with 2,340 feet of vertical and one of the biggest snowmaking systems in New England. It's usually one of the first Maine mountains to open each fall. Slopeside hotels, endless groomers, and big terrain parks make it a family favorite. Lights keep a couple of lifts spinning into the evening on weekends. Expect company on holiday weekends, including a few hundred skiers in Santa suits on Santa Sunday.
Saddleback
A high, independent mountain above the Rangeley Lakes, with 2,000 feet of vertical and some of the best steeps and glades in the East. It closed in 2015 and reopened under new owners in 2020. The Appalachian Trail crosses the summit ridge, and skinners get their own uphill route. From the summit, you can see across the Rangeley Lakes and the mountains of western Maine.
Pleasant Mountain
A favorite for Portland locals and families, since it's the closest big mountain to the city. It has 1,300 feet of vertical in the Lakes Region. It opened in 1938 and was home to the state's first chairlift. It claims the most night skiing in New England, which makes it an easy after-work sesh. Every winter, the Moonlight Challenge night race raises money for the Maine Children's Cancer Program.
Mt. Abram
A laid-back, family-owned mountain near Bethel, with just over 1,000 feet of vertical. Beginners get their own base area on the Westside, away from the main mountain. Family-friendly ticket deals pop up throughout the winter. Uphill skiers get one of the most welcoming policies in the state, and Inclusive Ski Touring runs beginner ski touring days here.
Black Mountain of Maine
A nonprofit mountain in Rumford with 1,380 feet of vertical and hundreds of acres of boundary-to-boundary glades. Free ski nights pop up on select Wednesdays through the winter. An uphill trail leads to the Black and White Glade, a public glade with no lift. Cross country trails wind through the base area too.
Camden Snow Bowl
A town-owned ski area on Ragged Mountain, and one of the only places on the East Coast where you ski with ocean views. About 1,000 feet of vertical looks out over Penobscot Bay, with glades, terrain parks, and night skiing. Every February, it hosts the U.S. National Toboggan Championships, where costumed teams bomb down a wooden chute onto a frozen pond.
Lost Valley
Lost Valley sits in Auburn, an easy trip from Lewiston, Portland, and much of central and southern Maine. Three chairlifts and full snowmaking serve 240 feet of vertical, with night skiing and a brewpub in the base lodge. The calendar stays packed with family days, learn-to-ski camps over the holidays, discounted ski nights, and costume theme days.
Titcomb Mountain
The Farmington Ski Club has run this hill since 1939, making it the oldest club-run ski area in Maine. Two T-bars serve 350 feet of vertical, with night skiing and friendly prices.
Big Rock Mountain
The biggest mountain in northern Maine, with nearly 1,000 feet of vertical on Mars Hill. A nonprofit runs it, and it draws skiers from across the New Brunswick border. Night skiing, tubing, and a terrain park round out the day.
Hermon Mountain
Bangor's hometown hill, with 350 feet of vertical and snowmaking on every trail. A local group of families whose kids learned to ski here owns it now. Night skiing, snow tubing, and a terrain park make it an easy after-school stop.
Spruce Mountain
Billed as the largest rope tow mountain in New England, Spruce is owned by the towns of Jay, Livermore, and Livermore Falls and run by a volunteer club. Its three rope tows climb about 300 feet. Every trail is lit for night skiing. Bring sturdy gloves for the tows.
Big Moose Mountain
Big Moose was once one of Maine's big resorts, until its summit chairlift failed in 2004. Volunteers reopened the upper trails in 2023, and now you reach them by snowcat or on skins. A triple chair serves the lower mountain, with views of Moosehead Lake. A nonprofit runs the ski area.
Quoggy Jo Ski Center
A volunteer-run T-bar hill outside Presque Isle, with wide, gentle slopes and a terrain park. The Quoggy Jo Ski Club has been skiing in the area since the 1930s. It's a great first stop for new skiers in the County. It relies on natural snow, so check conditions before you go.
Lonesome Pine Trails
The northernmost ski area in New England sits on a hill right above downtown Fort Kent, just across the river from Canada. A nonprofit has run this T-bar hill since 1964. It has about 440 feet of vertical, a youth race program, and a few trails lit for night skiing.
Powderhouse Hill
An old Ford truck engine powers the rope tow on this tiny town-owned hill in South Berwick. Skiers have been riding it up about 150 feet since the late 1930s. Volunteers run everything, and a ticket costs about as much as a coffee. It runs on natural snow only, so check Facebook before you go.
Baker Mountain
One of New England's oldest ski areas, just north of Bingham, where a rope tow first pulled skiers uphill in 1940. Today a volunteer club runs a single T-bar that climbs a bit over 400 feet on natural snow. The lights come on for the occasional night session, and it's about as old-school as skiing gets.
Mt. Jefferson
A T-bar hill in Lee with 432 feet of vertical, steeper trails than most hills its size, and views of Katahdin from the top on clear days. It runs on natural snow and has snow tubing on the side. Note: the hill is for sale and its future is up in the air, so confirm it's open before you make the drive.
Pinnacle Ski Club
A tiny, members-run rope tow hill in Pittsfield that volunteers have kept going since 1954. It's about as low-key as skiing gets, with night skiing and family memberships that make it one of the cheapest ways to get a family on snow. It relies on natural snow, so check the club's Facebook page before you go.
Quarry Road Trails
Waterville's city-run rope tow sits on the old Colby College ski slope, inside a big network of groomed cross country trails. It's short, it has snowmaking, and it's a great place for kids to learn to make turns. Pair a few laps with a cross country loop and call it a full day.
Know before you go
A few things to know before you head out.
When Is Ski Season? The big resorts usually open in mid-November, and Sunday River has opened as early as late October. They typically ski into April, and Sugarloaf has stretched its season into May more than once. Most community hills open once there's enough natural snow, usually around the holidays, and wrap up in March.
Best Time to Go: February is usually the snowiest month in the mountains. March brings a deeper base, longer days, and warmer temps, which makes it a sneaky favorite. January tends to be the coldest. If you don't love lift lines, avoid Christmas week, MLK weekend, and February vacation week.
Checking Conditions: The big mountains make snow on nearly all their terrain, which keeps things skiable through a thaw. Several community hills run on natural snow only, so their seasons swing with the weather. Check webcams, trail reports, and the hill's Facebook page before you drive.
Skiing on a Budget: Lift tickets in Maine range from pocket change at volunteer rope tows to big-mountain prices at the resorts. A weekend at Sugarloaf might strain the budget, but a smaller hill like Titcomb, Mt. Abram, or Black Mountain usually won't. Buying online ahead of time and skiing midweek help too. Multi-mountain passes like the Indy Pass and Ski Maine's Mountain Pass can cut costs, and the WinterKids Passport offers deals for kids. L.L.Bean's Winter in New England program often offers discounted lift tickets on certain days at mountains like Lost Valley, Mt. Abram, and Black Mountain.
Getting Started: You don't need to own gear to try downhill skiing. Most areas rent skis and snowboards and teach lessons, and many sell beginner packages that bundle a lesson, rentals, and a lift ticket. Small hills are a great place to learn, since tickets cost less and the pace is slower. Rope tows and T-bars take a little practice, so watch a few riders before your first ride up.
Uphill and Backcountry: Most Maine mountains that allow skinning require an uphill ticket or pass, and each has its own routes and rules. Read the policy before you go. If you're new to skinning, Inclusive Ski Touring is a great place to start. The Maine nonprofit runs friendly, low-cost intro days at Mt. Abram, with rental gear and groups for women, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC skiers. For earned turns beyond the resorts, Granite Backcountry Alliance and local land trusts have been cutting public glades. Look for the Black and White Glade near Rumford and a glade project on Bald Mountain in Oquossoc.
Pair It With: A sauna session is hard to beat after a day on the slopes, so check out our sauna guide. And if you want to mix some cross country skiing into a downhill weekend, check out our cross country ski guide.
These mountains host races, festivals, and free ski nights all winter. We round up the best ones every week in the newsletter.
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