Sugarloaf

Maine's biggest mountain -- 1,240 acres, a genuine summit, and snowfall that remembers it's Maine.

Our Take

Sugarloaf is the only mountain in Maine with above-treeline skiing on its summit cone, which sits at 4,237 feet and dominates the Carrabassett Valley like something that wandered down from the Rockies and got confused. The 1,240 acres include the Snowfields -- open summit terrain that's exhilarating above treeline on a clear day and terrifying when the summit wind is cooking, which is frequently. This above-treeline zone is what separates Sugarloaf from every other Maine mountain and what makes it worth the 3-hour drive from Portland. Alterra Mountain Company (Ikon pass) owns Sugarloaf, which has funded major infrastructure improvements. The vertical drop of 2,820 feet is the second-greatest in the East. The snowfall averages 220 inches -- not the deepest in New England but the elevation ensures it falls as snow more reliably than lower-elevation Vermont competitors. The Widowmaker and Gondola Lift complex anchors the mountain's core terrain. For New Englanders who want above-treeline summit skiing, legitimate vertical, and a ski town that feels like Maine (practical, no-nonsense, genuine), Sugarloaf is the correct answer.

Above-treeline devoteesBig-vert New England seekersIkon pass holdersExpert summit skiersRemote mountain culture

Nerd Stats

Skiable Acres

1,240

Vertical Drop

2,820'

Avg Annual Snowfall

220"

Summit Elevation

4,237'

Fun Facts

Sugarloaf is the only Maine mountain with above-treeline skiing. The Snowfields on the summit cone are genuinely exposed and genuinely excellent.
The vertical drop of 2,820 feet is the second-greatest east of the Rockies, after Killington.
Sugarloaf is 155 miles from Portland and 4 hours from Boston. The remoteness filters out the casual crowd and concentrates the committed.
The town of Kingfield, 15 miles from the mountain, is where the Stanley brothers built the first Stanley Steamer automobile. Maine has layers.