Cross-country Skiing

Imagine it: Just you, the trees, and an expanse of snow. Cross-country skiing is a fine winter way to get outside and get one with the white stuff. Many of the XC spots on our roundup also offer rentals, so first-timers can give the sport a try even if they don’t already own equipment.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

10th Mountain Ski Club, 33 Paradis Circle Road, Fort Kent. 834-6203; www.10thmtskiclub.org

Trails: 25 kilometers of trails

Amenities: Lodge with sauna, kitchen & fireplace; waxing building, equipment rentals

About: 10th Mountain hosts local, national and international biathlon and cross-country competition, as well as community development programs. The facility features three kilometers of which are lit for night skiing. Trails are available for all abilities from beginners to the best skiers in the world. All trails are professionally groomed daily. Loops on the trails range from 0.7 kilometers to more than 6.5 kilometers and all loops are inter-joined with the opportunity to ski the entire circuit continuously. Snowshoeing is permitted on all trails, however skiers have the right-of-way at all times. The center also has a 30-target shooting range with 30 lanes of targets, including night lighting on 10 of the targets.

 

Beech Hill XC Ski & Snowshoe Center, 296 Tucker Road, Wayne. 685-9281; www.beechhillski.com

Trails: 11 kilometers of trails

Amenities: Warming hut with woodstove, complimentary hot cocoa and tea

About: Beech Hill is located on 80 acres of land in the Wayne woods with wide, groomed trails on varied terrain for intermediate cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The ski trails are meant for skiers of at least an intermediate leve. Trails are open daily from 9 a.m. until sunset. The cost for adults is $10 per day and children under 18 ski for free when accompanied by their paid parent or guardian. Skiers must bring their own equipment.

 

Bethel Nordic Ski Center, 21 Broad St., Bethel. 824-6276; www.caribourecreation.com

Trails: 30 km of trails groomed for both skate and classic skiing; 8 km of snowshoe trails

Amenities: Rentals, lessons and children’s programs

About: The Center features classic and skate tracks that wind though forests and fields, past stone walls and old mill dams under the shadow of the Mahoosuc Mountains. There is a complete lineup of ski and snowshoe equipment rentals and group and individual lessons are offered. Trail passes can be purchased on a daily basis ($18) of for the full season.

 

Birches Ski Touring Center, 281 Birches Road, Rockwood. 800-825-9453; www.birches.com

Trails: 40 miles of marked, groomed trails

Amenities: Rentals, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, sauna and hot tub for overnight guests

About: The Birches is on a privately owned, 11,000-acre nature preserve in the heart of Maine’s Great North Woods and features more than 40 miles of marked, groomed cross-country skiing trails. The trails range in difficulty level from novice to high intermediate. Skis, boots and poles are available for rental. Guided ski excursions are available and private lessons can be booked.

 

Black Mountain, 39 Glover Road, Rumford. 364-8977; www.skiblackmountain.org

Trails: 17 kilometers of trails, groomed for both skating and classic techniques

Amenities: Rentals, Last Run Lounge, food court, tubing, downhill skiing

About: For more than 30 years Black Mountain has been acknowledged as one of the finest Nordic skiing facilities for recreation and competition in North America. Snowmaking is available on four kilometers of the trails. Trails are groomed whenever possible for both skating and classic techniques and snowshoeing is allowed on the trails as well. Skis, boots and poles are available for rental. Full day, half day and season passes are available with discounted junior and senior rates available. Anyone ages 5 and under or 75 and older ski for free.

 

Carter’s Farm XC, 786 Intervale Road, Bethel. 824-3880; www.cartersxcski.com

Trails: 55 kilometers

Amenities: Backcountry skiing, rentals, lodging

About: Carter’s Farm features 55 kilometers of cross-country ski trails for all levels of skiers from beginner to expert with tremendous views of Sunday River Resort across the valley, and the Mahoosuc and Presidential ranges. Activities available include skating and classic cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing. Daily trail fees include discounted rates for students and seniors. Season passes can be used at both the Carter’s Farm Cross-Country Ski Center in Bethel and at the Carter’s facility in Oxford. Equipment rentals are available on a daily basis and can also be included when purchasing a season pass.

 

Carter’s Farm XC, 420 Main St., Oxford. 539-4848; www.cartersxcski.com

Trails: 30 kilometers of trails

Amenities: Rentals, equipment serving center, sauna for overnight guests

About: Carter’s Farm in Oxford has one of the best beginner to intermediate trails in New England and also offers cross-country lessons. Daily trail fees include discounted rates for students and seniors. In addition to daily rates, season passes are also available for individuals, couples and families. The equipment center at Carter’s also has one of the largest cross country ski inventories in the state and offers expert service.

 

Five Fields Farm, 720 South Bridgton Road, Route 107, Bridgton. 647-2425; www.fivefieldsski.com

Trails: 17 trails that cover a distance of 27 kilometers

Amenities: Warming hut, equipment rentals

About: Five Fields Farm’s trails are groomed for both classical and skate skiing. Snowshoeing is also offered. Skis, poles, boots and snowshoes are available for rental at the facility, which also features a rustic warming hut. The trail system starts on the back lawn of the facility and loops around apple orchards, connects with the logging roads and links with lands owned by abutters, including the Loon Echo Land Trust on Bald Pate Mountain. More adventurous skiers have the opportunity to make the 20-minute back country trek to the horizon of the mountain.

 

Harris Farm XC Ski Center, 280 Buzzell Road, Dayton. 499-2678; www.harrisfarm.com/skiing.html

Trails: 40 kilometers of trails

Amenities: Equipment rentals, lessons, warming hut with food

About: Harris Farm’s trails stretch across the open fields and sheltered forests of the 1,000-acre dairy and vegetable farm. The trails range from gentle beginner loops to rolling terrain for more advanced skiers. The cross-country trails are groomed with wide skating lanes and are track set. Daily trail fees include discounts for students from age 7 to 18 and children 6 and under ski free. Discounts are also available for full-time college students and senior citizens. Equipment rentals are available on site at Harris Farm and lessons are available by appointment. Harris Farm features a warming hut that includes a common room with wood stove, retail and rental shop, restrooms and a kitchen serving homemade soups, chili and baked goodies.

 

Lost Valley, 200 Lost Valley Road, Auburn. 784-1561; www.lostvalleyski.com

Trails: More than 12 kilometers of trails groomed for both skate and classic cross-country skiing

Amenities: Equipment rentals, snack bar, equipment repair service, downhill skiing

About: Lost Valley’s trails are groomed for both skate and classic styles of skiing and daily passes are $10. Snowshoeing is not allowed on the cross-country skiing trails. During the ski season the lodge at Lost Valley is a family-oriented environment that includes a snack bar. Rental equipment is available. In addition to cross-country skiing Lost Valley also features downhill skiing and a ski and snowboard terrain park. Paintball is also offered at Lost Valley from April to November.

 

Maine Wilderness Lodges, 15 Moosehead Lake Road, Greenville. 695-3085; www.outdoors.org/lodging/mainelodges

Trails: A network of groomed (but no track-set) cross-country ski trails with a total of 70 miles of hiking trails and ski routes.

Amenities: Lodge-to-lodge skiing, home-cooked meals and wood-fired sauna for overnight guests

About: The Maine Wilderness Lodges are located in the heart of the Moosehead Lake region in Greenville and feature an extensive 70-mile network of groomed cross-country ski trails set amid more than 66,000 acres of conservation and recreation land.Guests are free to explore these trails on their own or they can participate in one of the guided ski tourss. Trails, lodges and programs are open to the public. Snowshoeing and dog sledding with local guides is also offered.

 

Nordic Heritage Center, Route 167, Presque Isle. 762-6972; www.nordicheritagecenter.org

Trails: More than 20 kilometers of cross-country ski trails

Amenities: Rental equipment, night skiing, terrain park

About: The Nordic Heritage Center is a community recreation area and a world-class venue for cross-country skiing, biathlon and mountain biking. Each trail system has something for everyone, whether you are a novice recreational participant or an experienced competitive athlete. There are 2.5 kilometers of trails which are lit for night skiing from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. The trails at the Nordic Heritage Center are free of charge to guests. Rental equipment is available for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

 

Pineland Farms, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester. 688-6599; www.pinelandfarms.org/recreation/nordic_skiing.htm

Trails: 25 kilometers of trails

Amenities: Two warming huts, equipment rentals, lessons

About: Pineland Farms in New Gloucester has more than 5,000 acres of beautiful woodlands and fields which are open to the public for various outdoor activities. There are two warming huts available for skiers. Conditions permitting, ski trails are open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Day passes are available with discounts for seniors and youth. Children age 6 and under ski for free. Pineland Farms also offers season passes for individuals and families.

 

Rangeley Lakes Trails Center,
524 Saddleback Mountain Road, Rangeley. 864-4309; www.xcskirangeley.com

Trails: 55 kilometers of trails

Amenities: Rental equipment, waxing benches, snacks and drinks in the lodge/yurt

About: The center features 55 kilometers of trails that are groomed with a skate lane and classic tracks. Day passes are available; those under age 7 ski free. A 706-square-foot yurt from the Pacific Yurt Company is currently serving as the ski lodge. Ski rentals, wax, waxing benches and clothing items are available in the lodge in addition to hot chocolate, coffee, soda, bagels, cookies and other snacks.

 

Smiling Hill Farm,781 County Road, Westbrook. 775-4818; www.smilinghill.com/xcski.html

Trails: 25 kilometers of trails

Amenities: Equipment rental, warming hut

About: During the winter months Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook operates an extensive cross country skiing operation with 25 kilometers of machine-groomed trails. There is a fully equipped rental shop which also includes snowshoes.The trails are open on weekends and during school vacations from 9 a.m. to dusk. A skiing day pass is $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 12 and under. After 1 pm it’s $8 adult, $6 youth. Rental packages cost $14 for adults, $10 youth- ski skates for $16 adult, $10 youth.

 

Spruce Mountain, Ski Slope Road, Jay. 897-4090; www.sprucemountain.org

Trails: 5 kilometers of trails

Amenities: Downhill skiing and snowshoeing

About: Spruce Mountain features more than five kilometers of cross-country skiing trails. Both daily passes and season passes are offered for cross-country skiing at Spruce Mountain. There are no ski rentals at Spruce Mountain. You may rent equipment nearby at Ski Depot.

 

Sugarloaf Outdoor Center, 3001 Touring Center Road, Carrabassett Valley. 237-6830; www.sugarloaf.com/outdoorcenter

Trails: 90 kilometers of groomed trails

Amenities: Ice skating, equipment rentals, lodge

About: The Center offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on 90 kilometers of groomed trails. Trails are maintained for both classic and skate skiing. In addition to their regular Nordic pricing, every Sugarloaf lift ticket also grants skiers full access to Nordic trails for the day as well as free equipment rentals from the Outdoor Center. The Outdoor Center Lodge features spectacular mountain views, and homemade soups, sandwiches and pastries are available at the Bull Moose Bakery. The Lodge also features a full retail store with the latest in Nordic equipment and apparel.

 

Sunday River Outdoor Center, 23 Skiway Road, Newry. 824-5700; www.sundayriver.com/EventsActivities/Outdoor_Center.html

Trails: 40 kilometers of cross-country and snowshoeing trails

Amenities: Equipment rentals, dog sledding, restaurant

About: The Sunday River Outdoor Center offers 40 kilometers of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails that wind through the woods around Newry. The trails take skiers to popular destinations such as the famous and picturesque covered bridge, built in 1872 and reportedly the most painted bridge in Maine. The dog-friendly Farm Loop offers an easy trail for both snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Some of those more challenging trails lead up Barker Mountain for panoramic views of the surrounding Sunday River Valley.

 

Titcomb Mountain XC Trails, 180 Ski Slope Road, West Farmington. 778-9031; www.titcombmountain.com

Trails: 18 Nordic trails with a total distance of 17 km groomed for classic and skate style skiing.

Amenities: Equipment rentals, lodge with cafeteria, youth programs

About: Titcomb Mountain features a total of 18 trails for cross-country skiing that stretch over 17 kilometers through fields and woodlands. The trails are for all levels and are groomed for both classic and skate skiing. Both full and half-day tickets are available and season passes are also offered. Titcomb Mountain has a centrally located lodge that offers a large stone fireplace and a cafeteria offering home cooked items. Equipment rentals are available on site at the Northern Lights Rental Shop.