In this snow-less winter season, skiers anxious to carve some turns should head up to Sunday River in Bethel, Maine. They have snow enough to keep any skier happy.
Sunday River has the snow
This week the skiing at Sunday River is just about as good as it can get in New England. The snow on the mountain is plentiful, gorgeously groomed and the very definition of packed powder. While some of the trials had more people on them than others, Sunday River has so much terrain (it’s among the three largest ski areas in the East) that some trails are virtually empty.
Mountain facts
Sunday River has somewhere around 132 trails and glades, most of which are open, and its max vertical is a nice 2,340 feet. About 92% of the trails on its 743 skiable acres are covered by top quality snowmaking; most of what is not covered is in the off-piste glades. My experience this week is that they really know their business. This was some of the best covered and groomed trail skiing and riding I have seen this year. The resort spreads over eight mountain peaks that form two distinct bowls and the cross-mountain trail connections are as smooth as silk. High winds can limit access to a few areas occasionally but these open as soon as conditions permit. High winds one morning while I was there didn’t hinder an active day on the mountain. In addition to top skiing and riding, Sunday River has loads of other activities for non-skiers or anyone who needs a break.
Friendly and challenging to all skill levels
Contrary to what I had heard, Sunday River is very friendly to beginner, novice and intermediate skiers, as well as to those who like a tough challenge. Several of the peaks have novice-rated trails from the top allowing learners and those who need to refresh their skills the thrill and views of top-to-bottom runs. The North Peak area is particularly novice-friendly with a large selection of green runs that do not merge into trails used by higher skilled skiers and boarders. They also have a noted learn to ski and ski lesson program as well as being associated with the Adaptive Skier program.
But experts should not shy from this place. All of the mountains are sprinkled with black and double black trails, the most famed of which is White Heat, a trail that literally falls from the peak of White Cap Mountain. White Heat is the longest, widest, steepest lift –served trail in the East. And it’s only one of several black diamond options for experts. There are four more double blacks on Oz peak and single blacks scattered on the other peaks.
Suggested trail cruise
For starters warm up in the trails off lift 2 into the heart of green territory and beautiful cruising. Make your way over to lift 7, the Chondola, where you have an option of a Gondola or 6 pack chair ride to North Peak. In the morning be sure to stop there for coffee and one of their famous cinnamon buns. Ski over to lift 1, a quad, and get to the top of Barker Mountain, the original part of Sunday River. Take Ecstasy and Wildfire to Roadrunner and lift 11 (quad) and at the top take Moonstruck back down to lift 17. But then, don’t forget the Jordan Bowl. The beautiful and long and wide green Lollapalooza trail runs through the forest and there are two nice blues there as well. www.sundayriver.com/index.html
Getting to Sunday River
Allow about 3.5 to 4 hours to get to Sunday River from the greater Boston area. Take I-95 north through New Hampshire and into Maine on the Maine Turnpike. At exit 63 (Gray Maine) take Route 26 north to Bethel. Pick up Route 2 and take it 2.6 miles onto Sunday River Road at the Sunday River Brewery (a favored place to eat). From Points west of the city follow I-290, I-90 and/or I-495 to I-95 north and then on to bethel. Perfect snow, lots of ski terrain at Sunday River Maine
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