Winter Towns
You’ll probably never be able to choose just one favorite Maine winter town. But you’ll have great fun trying. Here are some contenders.
Bethel
With Sunday River north of town and Mt. Abram to the west, skiers and snowboarders have a great variety of terrain and terrific apres-ski, dining and lodging. Nordic skiers can enjoy the trails at Carter’s Cross Country Ski Center and the Bethel Village Trails.
Carrabassett Valley
Sugarloaf has more skiable acres than any other Maine ski area and the only above tree-line skiing in Maine. It also boasts an extensive cross-country ski network. Also in town is Maine Huts & Trails, which gives Nordic skiers and snowshoers the chance to travel to well-appointed wilderness lodges.
Fort Kent
In this northern Maine town you can ski on more than 30km of Nordic trails and enjoy the gentle slopes at the Lonesome Pine Trails alpine ski area. In March, the annual Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races begin downtown. The 250-mile segment is a qualifier for the Iditarod race in Alaska and the Yukon Quest in Canada.
Greenville
Anchored beside Moosehead Lake, the state’s largest, Greenville is a center for snowmobiling, ice fishing and downhill skiing and snowboarding.
Rangeley
What happens when you put a snowmobile parade, radar runs, races and a host of other snowmobile events together? You get Rangeley’s annual Snodeo, which attracts thousands of people each winter. Not into snowmobiling? Check out the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center for backcountry and Nordic skiing, fat biking and snowshoeing.
Millinocket
Near the base of Katahdin, Maine’s tallest mountain, Millinocket sports an extensive network of Nordic ski trails as well as snowmobiling, and ice fishing.
Camden
This coastal town could have come out of a snow globe. Its ski area, Camden Snow Bowl, offers unsurpassed views of the Atlantic. It’s also home to the fun and wacky U.S. National Toboggan Championships every February.
Kennebunk/Kennebunkport
These south-coast towns try hard to enjoy their winters. In Kennebunk, check out The Waterhouse Center for some ice skating under cover downtown. If you’re lucky enough to visit during the holidays, consider Kennebunkport’s annual Christmas Prelude, which is being 'reimagined' for 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.