Maine
With Maine's land mass larger than the other five New England states combined, it's natural that its ski areas are spread far apart, but most Maine communities have skiing nearby or within a reasonable drive. The big resorts are well known and each year draw skiers from within Maine and from neighboring states.
The northernmost areas are found in Aroostook County, a place known more for flat potato fields that mountains but whose largest ski area, Big Rock, has 980 feet of vertical drop. Lonesome Pines is close to Canada in Fort Kent, so expect to hear some French spoken in the lodge and in the lift lines.
Camden is known for being a quaint coastal village, and the Camden Snowbowl, operated by the town, has real skiing and you just might spot a schooner in the Atlantic from the upper slopes. Bangor skiers hit nearby Hermon Mountain night and day or head west to Sugarloaf for some real big mountain skiing.
There are only two mountains in the Northeast with sufficient vertical and pitch to host a World Cup men's downhill, and Sugarloaf is the only one in New England. This towering peak hosts the U.S. National Alpine Championships on a regular basis.
Not far away in Rangeley is Saddleback, another of Maine's 4,000-foot peaks. It overlooks a vast expanse of lakes and mountains. Under new ownership the last few years, this giant mountain has seen expansions in every way — lifts, trails, base lodge and lodging — and this is just the beginning. And it won't be crowded because the resort has 8,000 acres.
Maine's other giant resort is also found in the Western Maine Mountains, a region larger than New Hampshire and Vermont combined. Sunday River sprawls over eight peaks, with lifts and trails streaming down from each, spreading its many skiers out with plenty of room.
Black Mountain in Rumford and Mount Abram in Locke Mills are family areas and along with Shawnee Peak in Bridgton are all busy. Lost Valley, within the city limits of Auburn, creates new skiers for the bigger mountains. Wherever you may be in Maine, there is skiing not far away.
