When asked ‘What are the largest ski areas in Maine’, any weekender will automatically say the big three; Sunday River, Saddleback, and Sugarloaf. All three areas offer something the other one doesn’t; but one thing they all have in common is some of the best skiing in the North East. Between high speed lifts, extravagant lodging, and raving apres-ski life, these mountains are neck and neck for the top position.
With 193 trails and 884 acres of terrain, Sunday River offers a very diverse trail map for skiers of all levels. As one of New England’s largest and most reliable ski areas and it being just three hours away from Boston, the resort harbors millions of skiers from all over the world every season. Compared to its surroundings, Sunday River has some of the cheapest prices on lift tickets, starting at $67. “Theres more intermediate terrain sprawled across all eight peaks of the mountain.” Says math teacher Mr. Maxwell Girouard. “They have a lot of good glades but not many steep trees. They are very good at moving people around so lift lines are never excessive like other mountains can be. But I’ve been snowboarding there before Ikon bought them out and it has gotten better since then, you can see more investment.”
Roughly four hours from Boston, Saddleback is one of the best family ski resorts, according to Boston.com. The hefty variety of beginner all the way to advanced terrain assures an enjoyable experience for the whole family. For dare devils, Saddleback also is home to some of the most gnarly tree skiing in the area. Unfortunately, lodging can be a bit of a struggle due to snowmobiling being so popular in the small town of Rangely which results in hotels booking quickly. With 600+ skiable acres and a 2,000 foot vertical drop, Saddleback has it all. “Saddleback is a really big mountain with all level terrain and it has really nice open glades.” Sophomore Carolyn Silva explained. “It is in the middle of nowhere and there aren’t really any places to eat, but it’s worth the really long drive in the end. One thing that I really like about Saddleback is how easy it is to navigate. After skiing there for a morning, you’ll know the mountain by the afternoon.”
Lastly, known as one of the most lively mountains in the east, standing at an overwhelming 4,237 feet, is Sugarloaf. Offering the largest vertical drop in the region, Sugarloaf is the second highest peak in Maine that attracts tourists year round. Between its winter specialties and its summer mountain-biking trails, Sugarloaf is never a dull moment. With fabulous lodging, excellent terrain, and a raving party scene, you really can’t go wrong in any category. “Sugarloaf is my absolute favorite mountain,” says English teacher Mr. Allen. “It’s where I grew up and learned how to ski. In my junior year of high school, a few buddies and I bought season passes for about $200 dollars and made the two hour drive every weekend.” Allen then explained that over all the mountains Maine offers, Sugarloaf is the true ‘Mainers’ mountain. “It has amazing above line skiing and it’s a big enough mountain where you can get lost.”
The ‘Big Three’ aren’t just the biggest mountains in Maine, but they are some of the highest peaks in New England. With expert to beginner level skiing, thousands of tourists make the trip across these areas each winter. From the first snow flakes, to the last bit of slush, Sunday River, Saddleback, and Sugarloaf offer a good time and great skiing.
