Experience Maine,  Winter in Maine

Fall in Love with Winter in Maine: Night Skiing, Snow Tubing & More

February 10, 2023 /

It’s the season of love and we invite you to celebrate our beautiful state this winter by trying fun snow-themed activities. Beyond the more well-known pastimes of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, you can try night skiing on an ordinary weeknight after work, snow tubing, fat biking, snowmobiling, and more! Now that we are past the sub-zero temps of last week and snow is blanketing most of the state, it’s time to get back outside.

Night Skiing

Photo Credit: Pleasant Mountain Facebook

Switch it up on the ski slopes of Maine and give night skiing a whirl. The vibes are totally different at night on these ski trails and make for a fun night out with friends or family. Catch the sunset over Mount Washington from Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton, where the scenic lake below the resort glows with reds and purples from the setting sun. Once the sun goes down, a whopping 19 trails and 4 chairlifts are open under the lights. Night skiing hours start at 3:30 pm, Mondays through Saturdays (with Monday night tickets only $24 for a great weeknight value).

Other mountains offering night skiing include:

 

Snow Tubing

You can always go sledding on your local hill, but snow tubing is another special family-friendly outing that’s worth trying this winter. While a few ski mountains that have offered tubing in the past are taking a hiatus this season, including Camden Snow Bowl and Sunday River, there are several spots across the state offering this fun activity:

 

Ice Skating

Another classic wintertime activity is ice skating. We’ve highlighted some of the many places throughout the state to go ice skating, which includes a variety of indoor and outdoor rinks, with some offering skate rentals.

The iconic outdoor skating pavilion at Thompson’s Point overlooking Fore River in Portland is closed this season for renovations and will be open next winter with a new year-round food and beverage outlet, and other site enhancements.

There are also countless frozen lakes across our state, where dedicated locals and municipalities are sure to shovel and plow away the snow to maintain a snow-free skating area, like at Haley Pond Park in Rangeley.

One of our favorite Maine publications, Maine the Way, just released a video about safety tips for skating on “wild ice,” or frozen lakes, ponds, and rivers. Check it out below, and be sure to watch another Maine the Way video about hiking up Tumbledown Mountain earlier this winter to skate on the alpine pond at the summit.

 

Fat Biking

Couple fat biking in the snow

If you enjoy trying new sports, give fat biking a whirl. These off-road bikes are modified with oversized tires that are ideal for riding on terrains like sand or snow. Many trail systems throughout the state groom in the winter to allow for fat biking in what would normally be the “off-season.” The more hardpacked the snow is, the better, so don’t try it on a powder day or when the trails have turned to ice (though some hardcore riders use studded tires to prevent sliding and ride all winter long).

The Bangor Daily News put together this great round-up of places offering fat bike rentals across the state and tips for beginners.

 

Dog Sledding

Spend a quintessential winter day in the woods nestled under a blanket while riding on a sled pulled by a group of energetic huskies. From a few hours of fun to multi-day adventures, here are some dog sled teams across the state that offer a variety of trips:

 

Snowmobiling

Snowmobiling is one of the best ways to see the state. Maine’s incredible snowmobile trail network includes 4,000 miles of primary trail known as the “Interconnected Trail System” or ITS, and many of the state’s 10,000 additional miles of groomed trails also hook up with the ITS. Learn more about snowmobiling in Maine at visitmaine.com. Here are some of the guide services offering snowmobile tours for people looking to explore:

 

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