Extended Weekend Getaways By Michael C. Upton
Freelance Arts & Leisure Writer
Students in Western Maine have been known to ride snowmobiles (or as they call them in these parts, snow machines) to school. Winter is just another season, and snow is as commonplace here as sunshine is in southern Florida in summer. So, it is no surprise Maine’s Western Foothills welcome visitors to the state’s plentiful ski options and rich history of outdoor recreation (all year round). A world away from lobsters and lighthouses, Western Maine offers unique experiences for winter travel.
SKIING
The biggest names in Maine skiing are the three Ss: Saddleback, Sugarloaf, and Sunday River. My college PE classes were held on the runs of Sugarloaf, where big-mountain energy has the terrain to match. Sugarloaf holds the only lift to above-treeline skiing in the northeast but caters to all skill levels with long-running green trails and an extensive selection of intermediate and expert runs.
Saddleback is the laid-back mountain many locals prefer for its old-school feel. Started with a single T-bar lift in 1960, the mountain has seen significant upgrades over the years. The most recent upgrades include new chairlifts, expanded snowmaking capabilities, and a mid-mountain restaurant called The Nest.
Sunday River is a bustling resort with extensive terrain spread across eight interconnected peaks. State-of-the-art snowmaking and quick-moving lifts provide locals and weekend warriors with as many runs as they can handle during a visit. Sunday River is a wonderful place to learn skiing, whether young, older, or adaptive. My favorite features are the family-friendly activities through the winter.
THE TOWNS
Western Maine is dotted with charming New England towns ready for their spotlight in any nostalgic film. I spent a few years living in Farmington, where locals celebrate Chester Greenwood—the inventor of the earmuffs—with a winter parade and downtown celebration. A short drive from the slopes, this town makes a perfect off-mountain destination as it is loaded with locally owned eateries (including some of the best bagel sandwiches at Java Joe’s Corner Café), breweries and bars, and an independent movie theater. Downtown shopping is quaint, and the town is lively with the presence of student activities from the University of Maine at Farmington. Locals enjoy the tiny Titcomb Mountain as a secret spot to get in a couple of hours of skiing.
Nestled between Rangeley Lake and Haley Pond, the town of Rangeley is the best spot for a Saddleback vacation. A good snow, and Rangely looks like a perfect postcard of winter with snow-buried pines and frozen lakes. For those who want to experience the outdoors during the majority of their Maine adventure, Rangeley is the place to be.
SNOWMOBILING
Thousands of miles of groomed trails crisscross Western Maine as part of the Interconnecting Trail System (or ITS), making this area a premier snowmobiling destination in New England. And no matter where homebase is during a Western Maine vacation, visitors can find businesses and clubs providing rentals and tours. In the north, check out The Forks, and in the south visit Fryeburg.
First time visitors should start in Rangeley, which is a major snowmobiling hub with over 150 miles of local groomed trails connecting to the ITS. Northeast Snowmobile Rentals offers self-guided Polaris snowmobile rentals with helmets, GPS, and an emergency beacon, while Rangeley Snowmobile Rentals offers a variety of Ski-Doo and Arctic Cat models, and Mountain View Adventures offers half-day and full-day rentals, with guided tours available upon request. If choosing to add snow machine adventures to a Sunday River ski vacation, visitors should inquire about guided tours from Newry Trails (run by Registered Maine Guides).
ICE FISHING AND MORE
There is something majestically relaxing about boring a hole in the ice, dropping in some bait, and waiting for a lazy trout to hook on the line. When the flag pops the ice fishing crew all get excited. Join a guide for an all-inclusive trip on one of the region’s large, frozen lakes. Many Registered Maine Guides offer all-inclusive ice fishing trips and provide the gear, heated shelters, and local knowledge needed for a successful day.
If you like your animal sport a bit furrier, try dogsledding. Many guides and kennels in Maine are involved in competitive mushing, with some having connections to the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. I lucked out to spend a weekend with a group of competing mushers, and the stories they can tell are amazing. Check out Mahoosuc Guide Service (Newry), the Ultimate Dog Sledding Experience (Canton), or New England Dogsledding (Bethel) to learn more.
For a nice walk in the woods, Rangeley Lakes Trails Center offers groomed snowshoe trails and rentals. Plus, check local bulletin boards and Facebook for activities for woodland sleigh rides, festivals, and winter farm activities.
Take the time to explore all the little towns and cities of Western Maine. There is a place for everyone to fall in love with.
This article also appears in our Jan. 2026 flip-page magazine on page 58.
