Cross Country Ski in Maine, NH, and VT

Trapp Family Outdoor Center, Stowe, VT

Although I grew up hitting the alpine slopes of Mt. Hood in Oregon, it wasn't until I moved to Maine as an adult that I tried cross country skiing. Since then, I have discovered that Northern New England is the perfect place to enjoy the sport.  With plenty of snow all winter long and extensive wilderness, it is America's cross country playground.

If you are new to the sport, cross country skiing is best experienced on flat or rolling hills terrain.  The leather boots are flexible compared to rigid alpine boots.  This makes turning and stopping more challenging then its downhill counterpart. 


Cross country skiing is also cheaper than downhill skiing.  In New England, it is easy to find snowy trails to explore for free. If you are new to New England, or new to cross country skiing, I recommend trying out a ski center that will provide rental gear and groomed trails at varied ability levels.

Here are my recommendations for Southern Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont cross country ski parks...

Taking a break, Maine

Southern Maine

Harris Farm
Location: Dayton, Maine
Website: http://www.harrisfarm.com/trail-fees-rentals-lessons.html
Rentals: Yes ($10-$20)
Lessons: Yes ($30-$60)
Trail Fees: ($8-$18)
Lodge: Yes
Snowshoe: Yes

There are many places to cross country ski in Maine.  I've always been partial to Harris Farm since this was where I first tried the sport.  Harris Farm is a 600 acre eco-friendly dairy and crop farm located on Buzzel Road in Dayton, Maine.  In the winter, the farm converts to a cross country park.  They offer 40 kilometers of trail ranging from beginners loops to advanced hills with views of fields and forest.  It is a great family outing and local secret.  After an adventure, skiers can purchase food/drink or bring their own to the lodge.  Dogs are welcome on the trails on weekdays.


New Hampshire

Great Glen Trails
Location: Gorham, New Hampshire
Website: https://greatglentrails.com/xcskiing
Rentals: Yes ($10-$20)
Lessons:  Yes ($35-$45)
Trail Fees:  ($10-$22)
Lodge:  Yes
Snowshoe: Yes

Views from Great Glen Trails - White Mountains, NH

Great Glen Trails is a outdoor adventure outfitter that provides lessons, gear, and 40 kilometers of groomed trail for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers.  It is located on Route 16 at the start of the Mt. Washington Auto Road.  The Outdoor Center offers tubing, snowshoeing and skiing.  You can purchase lessons from experts, including the opportunity to ski with a former US Olympian.  When skiing with Great Glen, you'll also enjoy amazing views of the White Mountains and Mt. Washington. 



Vermont

Trapp Family Lodge
Location:  Stowe, Vermont
Website: https://www.trappfamily.com/activities/cross-country-skiing
Rentals:  Yes ($20-$30 with week packages)
Lessons:  Yes ($30 with week and rental packages)
Trail Fees: ($10-$20 with week packages)
Lodge: Yes

Skiing to warming hut at Trapp Family Lodge

Snowshoe: Yes

The Trapp Family Lodge offers the largest trail system of the three, with over 100 kilometers of trails.  This outdoor center is part of the Trapp Family Resort - the family made famous by the Sound of Music.  Knowledgeable staff and endless options makes it not a day destination - but a week!  I love the diverse trails through forest and fields with views of the Green Mountain range of Vermont.  This center is located on Trapp Hill Road in Stowe Vermont. 

I've discovered that cross country skiing is as much a New England tradition as lobster dinners and Red Sox games.  There are many places to explore and adventure on skis.  Once you get the hang on it on one of the resorts, try exploring into local trails, farms, and parks.  While gracefully gliding through New England on skis, I recall the first stanza of New Hampshire poet Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"...

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow

Stopping by woods on a snowy evening...

Please leave comments and questions below...

Waterfalls and Swimming Holes - Vermont Adventures

Bingham Falls Trail, Smugglers Notch

I was fortunate to have my friend Mary invite a group of teacher friends to visit her at their Vermont condo near Stowe.  This is a BEAUTIFUL area, and we enjoyed three days of nature, hiking, and fellowship.   One of the highlights of our stay was visiting the many waterfalls and swimming holes in the area.


Here are three must-see waterfalls/swimming holes in the Stowe area.  





1.  Bingham Falls, Smugglers Notch State Park - A short half mile hike over roots and rocks takes you downhill to a beautiful and hidden pool.  A cascading waterfall meets the pool and small ripples and mini-falls leave the pool through a beautiful stream.  Swimming is allowed in pool, and it's a great place to enjoy nature without a huge hike.  To access these falls, park on the west side of Route 108 just south of the campground entrance.  Cross to the east side and follow the trail.  There is a trailhead sign, but it is hidden away from the road.  The terrain is moderately difficult.

Trailhead sign for Bingham Falls

Bingham Falls

Mary crosses the brook.

2.  Bolton Potholes, Bolton/Waterbury -  A series of small cascades feed perfectly round pools at Bolton Falls near Waterbury, VT.  Even if you aren't swimming, the short, easy walk from the road is worth it to see this impressive geologic feature.  To get there, follow Route 2 west from Waterbury.  Drive 6.5 miles from the intersection of Route 2 and 100 in Waterbury.  Take a right onto Bolton Valley Road.  There is a parking area 0.25 miles on the right.  Do NOT park along side the road as there is a parking ban.  Walk along the road and then walk the 200 feet along a worn trail to the swimming hole.

A summer camp of kids jump into the pools.  

Falls feed the potholes

Rock Sculptures adorn the brook

3.  Moss Glen Falls, C.C. Putnam State Forest - This is the tallest of the three falls.  At a 125 ft vertical drop, Moss Glen Falls is an impressive scene.  A short, 0.25 mile hike over moderate/easy terrain will take you to a view of the falls.  Adventurous swimmers entered near the stream at the base and went swimming in the cool waters at its base.  To get there, take Route 100 north out of Stowe village.  After three miles, take a right onto Randolph Road and then another right on Moss Glen Falls Road. Just before the road makes a sharp right, turn across the brook, and park in the lot straight ahead. A sign will signal the start of the trailhead.

Moss Glen Falls Trailhead

Moss Glen Falls - 125 ft total vertical drop

I really loved exploring some beautiful waterfalls with my friends.  These are all excellent swimming areas as well.  As with any swimming/water adventure - BE CAREFUL.  Use safe swimming practices, and scout the area for hazards prior to entering the water.  Thank you to my friend, Mary, who took us to some of her favorite spots.

Friends enjoy waterfall exploration in Vermont

Please leave comments and questions below.

New England Skiing...5 observations from a West Coast native

Over the past three years, I've begun to explore New England skiing - which as one friend put it - "is not West Coast skiing"- a statement that implies West Coast skiing is far superior.  I've currently skied nine of the seemingly unlimited ski resorts of New England and have found it enjoyable and challenging.  If you are planning on visiting New England to ski, here are five observations from a West Coast native...

Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine

1.  It's Icy - and that's normal.  I've realized that although you might enjoy the groomed corduroy for the first three runs, it won't be long before there is a consistent scraping sound beneath your skis or board.  In Oregon, an icy patch was unusual and was usually on the summit on a harsh day.  In New England, this is the norm.  As a result, New England skiers are skilled and used to the tough terrain. You rarely hear complaining.  It's what skiing is supposed to be.

2.  It's a ski mountain... snowboarding optional.  When I had a seasonal ski pass in California, I was one of the only skiiers on a hill dotted with boarders sitting in the trail, whizzing by me, and crowding the space off the chair.  The opposite is true in New England.  Skiing is the sport of the land, and although there are many talented snowboarders, they appear to be less than 10% of the population at these resorts.  I'm not sure the reason - maybe it's the poor boarding terrain or just the strong ski traditions of the Northeast, but either way, snowboarding is for the "alternative" nephew of the family.  Have fun buckling up at the top dude...we'll be half way down.

Wildcat Mountain Quad Chair

3.  There are A LOT of options and everyone has their favorite.  I grew up in Portland, Oregon.  If we wanted to drive up to Mt. Hood to ski for the day, we had three options: "Ski-bowl", "Meadows", or "Timberline".  The choice was usually easy since each had their advantages based on the weather, snow conditions, and budget.  Living in Southern Maine, I have at least 30 options within a three hour drive.  Over the past three years, I have never gone to one resort more than once.  This is because each friend has a favorite and are usually very attached to "their" mountain.  I haven't found "my mountain" yet, but here are a few I have tried...

- Sunday River (Maine)
- Sugarloaf (Maine)
- Saddleback (Maine)
- Wildcat (New Hampshire)
- Sunapee Valley (New Hampshire)
- Cranmore (New Hampshire)
- Waterville Valley (New Hampshire)
- Stowe (Vermont)
- Killington (Vermont)

Poor weather at Killington, VT

The larger resorts like Stowe and Sugarloaf cost around $80-$85 for the day and offer more trails, a terrain park, and in some cases, a gondola.   Smaller hills like Cranmore and Wildcat cost $60-$70 for a day and although offer fewer trail options, they often have fewer crowds at a lower cost.

4.  It's called "Wind Hold".  Maybe it's just my bad luck, but three of the 13 times I've gone up skiing, I've been put on "wind hold", which means I'm stuck riding the kiddy lift or even worse ... the T-bar... until the wind lets up.  Wasted money and time.  Check the weather before you head out and if it looks windy, don't make the drive. There's nothing worse then spending three hours in the car to spend 5 hours in the lodge waiting for the wind to die down.

Ski buddy Jenny enjoys her winter ski outing

5.  New England folks love New England skiing.  While spending the afternoon as a "single" on the chairlift during my recent afternoon at Wildcat Mountain, I had the pleasure of meeting many New England skiiers.  I found them all happy, friendly, and excited to talk about their New England skiing adventures.  The conditions at the time included blowing wind, icy trails, and negative temperatures - but to them, it was a normal skiing day. These folks were all happy to enjoy the "great day for skiing".  I realized that my soft West Coast conditions had spoiled me.  These New Englanders were what the sport should be ... taking nature for what it is and enjoying it.  Like a Girl Scout standing next to a Navy Seal - the West Coast ski scene now seems more about show and less about tactical skill. Ski The East!

My powder-friendly skis see more ice than pow

Weekend in Killington, Vermont

First time on the Long Trail, VT

I drove the three hours from Kennebunkport to Killington, Vermont to spend some time with two of my best friends, Courtney and Michael.  I'd never been to Killington before.  My goals of the trip was to spend time with my friends and get outside.  Although at the time, we had not had much snow (Dec. 15-16), I brought my downhill skis in case we could go skiing at Killington Ski Resort.

I arrived Saturday morning around 10:30 am.  I dropped off my stuff with Courtney at the Econo Lodge in nearby Mendon on Rt 4.

Maine Junction - on Long Trail

It was a sunny, chilly day and Courtney and I decided to go for a little hike.  We noticed a few miles up the road the was a parking lot and a sign for the Appalachian Trail.  Without a map, we took the trail from the road and enjoyed an easy, graded trail for a few miles through hardwood forest.  We never reached a peak or good viewpoint and after a couple hours turned around and returned to the road.  I've heard rumor that the Long Trail portion of the AT is nice hiking but mostly "in the trees" as apposed to the White Mountain portion where you get frequent wide views.  Still, it was exciting to try a new portion of the AT and see the beautiful Vermont woods.

On Sunday, Courtney and I headed to the ski resort.  Tickets were $80 which was steep considering many of the trails were closed due to lack of snow.  The trails that were open were good, but crowded. A snow storm blew in starting around 10 am and continued through the day and night.  We were really grateful for the gondola which made it possible to have a comfortable ride to the top of the runs.  I would love to go back and experience Killington skiing when their runs are open and there is more snow.

Hiking with Courtney

I drove back through the storm on Sunday night.  What should have been a 3 and half hour drive ended up taking over five hours in the storm.  I got home, happy to be safe and sound with my kitties.