Contents
Winter fun
Skiing / cross country / snowshoeing / backcountry
● Shawnee Peak / Pleasant Mountain – 11 minutes, 14 miles. Skiing and snowboarding. The oldest ski resort in Maine with over 40 trails with snow-making on 98% of their terrain. Shawnee Peak is also home to the most night skiing in New England! With 6 lifts servicing 19 trails and three terrain parks. Whether it’s Racing with the Moon, or a few runs followed by good time in their Blizzards Pub, night skiing at Shawnee Peak is a huge part of what they to too. Night skiing starts at 3:30pm six nights a week (and holiday Sundays). Contact: GPS –119 Mountain Road Bridgton, ME 04009; Pleasant Mountain / ki@shawneepeak.com / Phone: 207-647-8444.
● Stark’s Mountain, Nordic Skiing – 21 minutes, 15 mile. A privately owned and maintained Nordic trail system. The trails are for Nordic skiing only. The public may use the trails on WEEKENDS ONLY with the following conditions: *Trail donations are $5.00 per adult (over 18) per day. Lockbox for cash donations is located at the trailhead. *No skiing mid-week. *No dogs permitted. No walking, no fat bike or snowshoe on the trails. *No skiing after dark. *Park only in designated areas only. *If the trails are closed – DO NOT ENTER. *SKI AT YOUR OWN RISK. GPS: Stark’s Mountain Nordic Trails, Quarry Rd, Fryeburg, ME 04037 / Directional Map / Stark’s Mountain.
● Jackson Ski Touring Foundation (Jackson XC) – 50 minutes, 33 miles. Jackson XC offers state of the art well groomed trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing designed to suit every taste and ability; whether you prefer quiet striding through old growth New England forest or all out skate skiing and an international race course. You can visit on-trail destinations: the warming cabin and Cocoa Cabin on the Ellis River Trail and numerous eateries and pubs and inns. All this is contained within a charming New England village that takes pride in its long established traditions of great skiing and warm hospitality. GPS: 153 Main St, Jackson, NH 03846 / JacksonXC.org / 603-383-9355.
● Five Fields Farm — 31 minutes, 21 miles. A beautiful apple farm in the nearby town of Bridgton offering opportunity for snow shoeing and cross-country skiiing. An elevation of 850 feet on the foothills of the White Mountains helps put them on the right side of the “snow line”. Start at their winterized retail stand. They have rental equipment in all sizes including snowshoes. The trail system loops around the orchards, connecting with the logging roads between them, with established links with lands owned by abutters including the Loon Echo Land Trust on Bald Pate Mountain. Guidance and terrain is available to start the inexperienced, and the trail system is designed such that new skiers will rapidly be able to access all portions. Contact: GPS — 720 S Bridgton Rd, Bridgton, ME 04009 / Five Fields Farm
● Sunday River – 39 minutes drive, 29 miles. This is one of Maine’s largest and most visited ski resorts. Its vertical drop of 2,340 feet is the second largest in Maine and the sixth largest in New England. Not just for skiing, they offer a large variety of both winter and summer fun — scenic lift rides, zipline tours, mountain biking, golf, disk golf, bungee trampoline, ice skating, snow tubing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, Contact: GPS -Sunday River Ski Resort, 15 South Ridge Road, Newry, ME 04261, / Sunday River / 800-543.2754.
● King Pine – 44 minutes drive, 30 miles. King Pine is part of the Purity Spring Resort, a one hundred years old resort is located in East Madison, New Hampshire. Winter activities include cross country skiing, nigh skiing, ice skating, snowtubing and snowshoeing. GPS: King Pine Ski Area, 1251 Eaton Rd, Madison, NH 03849; KingPine.com / 603-367-8896.
● Cranmore Mountain Resort – 39 minutes, 27 miles. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, 1 mile from downtown North Conway Village lies New Hampshire’s favorite skiing and snowboarding destination. Cranmore Mountain is a family-friendly New England ski resort, known for perfectly manicured snow conditions, sunny, south-facing slopes, terrain and trails for all ability levels, and festive atmosphere. operating in the summer as Cranmore Mountain Adventure Park. GPS: Cranmore Mountain Resort, 239 Skimobile Rd, North Conway, NH 03860 / Cranmore.com / 1-800-SUN-N-SK.
● Bear Notch Ski Touring – 52 minutes drive, 35 miles. Authentic cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Explore spectacular riverside views, pristine waterfalls, picturesque flat meadows and challenging hills. Recharge along the way in their many “Warming Hut” offering hot chocolate, teas, coffee, soups and snacks. Contact: GPS – 1573 U.S. 302, Bartlett, NH 03812; Bearnotchskitouring.com / 603-374-2277.
● Granite Backcountry Alliance (GBA) – The goal of Granite Backcountry Alliance is to advance the sport of backcountry skiing in New Hampshire and Western Maine by providing a network of low-impact human-powered backcountry skiing opportunities to the public through the creation, improvement and maintenance of ski glades. GBA helps to maintain and develop skiing glades in the White Mountains and western Maine with various landowners, while educating people about the importance of the backcountry responsibility code, i.e., — ski no trace, ski self-reliant, ski inclusive, ski aware, ski respectful, ski smart and ski kind.. GBA oversees eight glade zones and four Civilian Conservation Corps trails, including Baldface in the northeast corner of the White Mountain National Forest on the Maine/New Hampshire state line, Maple Villa Glade near North Conway Village in the White Mountain National Forest on Bartlett Mountain, Black and White Glade in the Rumford, Maine, area, Cooley-Jericho Glade around Franconia and the Sherbie-GOS Glade around Pinkham Notch. Visit Granite Backcountry Alliance for well maintained backcountry Glade Zones to ski in New Hampshire and Maine and events.
● Ski Maine – the non-profit trade association representing the Maine Alpine and Nordic Ski Industry. Their mission is to increase the availability and enjoyment of Maine skiing and snowboarding for children, families and individuals. Visit Ski Maine for more information.
Sleigh rides
● High View Farm – 31 minutes ride, 20 miles. Enjoy a relaxing sleigh ride during the cooler months. A wonderful sensory experience – your ears are treated to the jingling of sleigh bells; your eyes are treated to scenes of white winter enchantment, and your lungs are treated to crisp fresh country air. Contact: GPS – 48 Leander Harmon Rd Harrison, Maine 04040 / high-view-farm.com / 207-595-1601.
● Nestlenook Farm Winter Wonder Land – 50 minutes ride, 33 miles. Enjoy the winter wonderland created at Nestlenook Estate. This scene right out of Currier and Ives centers around the beautiful Victorian Skate Park. The largest and most breathtaking outdoor skate park in the Mount Washington Valley is an experience you do not want to miss. Activities included snow shoeing, ice skating (around a beautiful three-acre Victorian Skating Park), and their famously fun Chocolate Extravaganza Sleigh Rides. Contact: GPS – Nestlenook Estate and Resort, 66 Dinsmore Rd, Jackson, NH 03846 / Nestlenook Farm / 603-383-7101 .
Snowmobiling
● North East Snowmobile & ATV / UTV – 35 minutes by car, 25 miles. Access the largest trial systems via snowmobile and the best terrain in the area. Ride the Wilds, the nations best interconnected summer time ATV trail system. Complete with the best views, marked trails, and friendly locals. Contact: GPS – Mount Washington Valley 532 Main St, Fryeburg ME 04037 / Northeastsnowmobile.com / 1-800-458-1838.
● Sweet Ride Snowmobiles – 45 minutes ride, 32 miles. Would you like a up-close and personal tour of the Mt Washington Valley, and the Lakes Region in the North Country of New Hampshire? A snowmobile tour with us will get you places you never knew were there. Contact: GPS: 318 Maple Grove Rd Madison, NH 03849; Sweetridesnowmobiles.com / info@sweetridesnowmobiles.com / 603-367-7020.
● Snowmobile Maine – Maine’s snowmobile trail system now includes over 14,000 miles of trail, including 3500 miles of primary trail known as the Interconnected Trail System (ITS). The ITS trails connect across the state and with decent snow a rider may head out from anywhere on the ITS and ride to any other location that is reached by the system. Visit SnowmobileMaine for more information.
Indoor fun
● The Magic Lantern Movie Theater – A beautiful, historic movie theater with old world charm and fantastic new world technology. There rockin’ a pub serving great food and drinks; plus cocktail service in the balcony means you don’t have to leave your seat for refreshments. Contact: GPS – 9 Depot Street Bridgton, Maine 04009 / Magiclanternmovies.com / 207-647-5065 or 207-647-9326.
● Saco Valley Sports Center – An indoor sport center featuring bowling, pool, arcade games. Contact: GBS – 95 Pine St. – Rt. 302
Fryeburg, ME. 04037 / sacovalleysportscenter.com / 207-935-3777.