Winter

Skiing Near Fernalds Hill Loft

Three resorts, three different trips — here's how to pick.

Winter is when this corner of Maine gets quiet in the best way: fewer crowds than the big New Hampshire resorts, and a sauna, cold plunge, and hot tub waiting at the house when you're done for the day. Here's what's actually within reach.

Cranmore Mountain Resort — closest, easiest

Cranmore sits just outside North Conway village, about thirty minutes from the house, with 170 acres and 56 trails. It's the right call if you want a shorter drive, a manageable mountain for mixed-ability groups, and easy access to North Conway's restaurants and shops afterward without a second long drive.

Shawnee Peak — the local option

Shawnee Peak, on Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton, is the closest resort in the other direction. It's a smaller, community-feel mountain with night skiing on much of its terrain — a good pick if you want a half-day on snow without committing the whole day to it.

Sunday River — the big one

If you want real scale, Sunday River in Newry is the destination: eight interconnected peaks, 870 skiable acres, 135 trails, and a 2,340-foot vertical drop. It's the furthest of the three from the house, so it's worth planning as a full-day trip rather than a quick afternoon run.

Our honest take

Most weekend guests do Cranmore for convenience and save Sunday River for a dedicated ski day if they're staying three nights or more. Either way, check each resort's own site for that day's conditions and hours before you drive — mountain weather in Maine changes fast.

Après-ski, handled

This is really the case for booking here over a slopeside hotel: come back to a private hot tub, a Finnish sauna, and a cold plunge rather than a shared hotel pool. Turn the sauna on before you head out in the morning — it holds heat for up to an hour once it's ready, so it's waiting when you get back.