Maine is one of the best states on the East Coast for winter skiing. From Fort Kent to Kittery, you’ll find many small “mom and pop” ski hills and large award-winning resorts that the whole family will enjoy. Many Mainers have grown up skiing on the local mountains and many have gone back to those same mountains to teach their kids how to ski. With winter approaching fast, it’s time to start planning your winter family ski vacation.
Located within an hour of Portland, Shawnee Peak has been a family-favorite mountain for over 75 years. It offers New England’s largest night skiing and a large ski school for all ages. Thousands of kids across Maine and New England have grown up skiing this family-owned mountain. With 43 trails and 1,300 vertical feet, Shawnee Peak is a great value for the whole family.
While Lost Valley may not be the first mountain you’ll want to ski, this spot has offered fun for kids after school and on the weekends for decades. Lost Valley has been family-owned and run for over three generations. Just five minutes from downtown Lewiston/Auburn, this 240-foot ski hill offers family fun day and night. During the week, many town recreation programs have after-school ski programs at Lost Valley making it super kid-friendly.
Nestled in the old mill town of Rumford, Black Mountain is a small family mountain with 1,150 vertical feet. This super affordable mountain has five lifts, including a classic T-bar and handle tow. Kids in second grade and younger always ski free at Black Mountain.
Skip the crowds at the busier mountains and head to Mount Abram for some relaxed family fun. Mount Abram offers a large ski school and beginner ski area and weekly ski races for those who love a little speed. For the daredevil, there is even backcountry skiing. Lift tickets and passes are affordable for the whole family.
Sunday River Ski Resort offers 870 acres of terrain over eight interconnected mountain peaks with a vertical drop of 2,340 feet. With 135 trails and glades, new lifts, and extensive snowmaking, Sunday River is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Sunday River has a large ski school catering to skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities.
Nestled in the western mountains in Carrabassett Valley, Sugarloaf is the largest ski mountain east of the Rocky Mountains with over 1,240 acres of extensive terrain and glades for all ability skiers and snowboarders. Burnt Mountain Cat Skiing offers adventurous families the opportunity to enjoy the deep powder of Sugarloaf’s backcountry. The resort is always hosting family-friendly activities so check out their calendar of events for offerings.
The Camden Snow Bowl is a true hidden gem in coastal Maine. It’s the only place you can ski next to the ocean! The Camden Snow Bowl only offers 850 vertical feet and 20 trails, but both the Spinnaker and Northeaster trails provide excellent views of Penobscot Bay below. The mountain offers day and night skiing, snow tubing, and ice skating, making it the perfect family-friendly ski resort.
Titcomb Mountain is the oldest club-operated ski mountain in the country. Today, the mountain is operated by the Farmington Ski Club. Offering just 350 feet of vertical drop and 16 alpine trails, Titcomb Mountain is perfect for all levels of skiers from beginners to experts. There is a ski and snowboard rental shop on site and lift passes don’t cost more than $24!
Big Rock Ski Area is Maine’s most northern ski mountain located near Presque Isle and Houlton. Offering both day and night skiing, Big Rock Ski Area provides almost 1,000 vertical feet and 35 trails for beginners to experts. There is even snow tubing for the non-skiers. Big Rock Ski Area has taught many of northern Maine kids how to ski and snowboard over the years.
Operating since 1963, Big Squaw Mountain in Greenville is your classic New England small-town ski mountain. Run by the non-profit Friends of Squaw Mountain, Big Squaw is a local favorite and a perfect place for young children to learn how to ski or snowboard in the Moosehead Region area of Maine. The small mountain has 30 alpine trails and tons of cross-country ski trails.
