5 Winter Activities in Maine
U.S. National Toboggan Championships
U.S. Toboggan Championships Camden, ME
Why would you go to Camden Maine, especially in the winter?
We went for the U.S. National Toboggan Championship. This year (2020 it was held from February 7th-February 9th, which coincided perfectly with our work assignment in Maine. Of course we had to go!
In 2020, over 400 teams competed and it was the 30th annual U.S. National Championships with teams from all around the world.
The toboggan chute was 440 feet long and ends by running onto a frozen pond. Highest race speeds soar up to 40mph. Some of the top times were reaching 9 seconds.
These guys fly.
To paint a picture for you, imagine walking past competitors that are dressed up in all sorts of costumes; pink flamingos, race car drivers, and of course traditional flannels. You are walking around to check out the toboggan chute on crunchy snow, as the day only “warmed up” to 18 degrees, and you notice the chute is simply made out of wood with a small base of frozen water-ICE!.
Most people made it safely, however some crashes were noted and looked painful, toppling over and being thrown onto the frozen lake.
Every team gets two rides over this three day event, and teams range from 2-4 person. There is a trophy for each category, and they also have an experimental division. In this division, you build your own unique toboggan to compete.
The best part of this whole event…Free for spectators!
I truly enjoyed the small town feel of this event. There were ice huts on the lake, ice fishing, grilling, and hanging out by an open fire. Lastly, if you get hungry or thirsty there are a few food trucks and a beer garden as well as a small souvenir shop.
Despite waking that morning to -10 degrees, and only 1 degree at 8 am, once we arrived at the races, it was a balmy 18 degrees. I would suggest to bring some snacks, dress warm, and enjoy walking on a frozen lake!.
The races are a major fundraiser for the Camden Snow Bowl. This is the only ski area in the country with summit views of the Atlantic Ocean. If you ski or snowboard, this is a great way to make a full weekend out of your trip to see the toboggan races.
Next time you find ourself in southern Maine, in the middle of winter, wondering why you want to be outside in freezing weather. Search no further than Camden Maine.
You can find out more about the Camden Toboggan Championships here.
Ice Climbing: Acadia National Park
Ice Climbing with Acadia Mountain Guides: Acadia National Park, ME
Ever thought about climbing a sheet of ice up a mountain? We hadn’t, but we found ourselves living in Maine in the Winter of 2020 and thought, what better way to live life on the edge than to try ice climbing in Acadia National Park. Not only were we in the most eastern state in the US, but in one of the most iconic National Parks. If you are searching for adventure, this is it.
Hire a guide, Acadia Mountain Guides is the perfect choice. For approx $300 dollars, we had our own private guide, all gear included, and over 5 hours of education/climbing time. I think the most amazing part of this entire adventure was that absolutely no one else was on the mountain that day. It was just us two, and our highly experienced guide Andrew.
We were able to climb up a 45 degree incline to learn the technique and as you can see on the top right photo, Kari ended with going straight up! If you are looking for adventure, a thrill, and some beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean behind you, this is a must do while visiting Maine in the winter.
Snow Shoe at Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain, which is in the Cassabasset Valley in Central Maine, offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities including…
Downhill skiing
Snowshoe trails/rentals
Cross-country skiing including rentals
Fat tire bike paths and rentals
Ice Skating rink
We will cover the fat tire biking adventure below, but the snow shoe trails are worth the visit. This was our first time snowshoeing and it was a blast. After a heavy snow storm the week before, most of the snow was fresh powder and it was so fun being one of the first on the trails to create the snow shoe foot prints even though it was more challenging to walk. Don’t worry about arriving too early as we arrived around noon for both trips and there were plenty of parking spots as well as rental gear, allowing us time to explore.
Cost: If you bring your own snowshoes (we bought ours on amazon), the trail pass is only 7$ per person for the day.
Trails: There are several, and we took the medium distance (approx 2-3 miles) which took 2 hours to complete. (Extra time for pictures)
Guidance: There are posted maps frequently throughout the trail for assisting in directions and the trail is very well marked.
Scenery: Once out in the woods hiking, it truly feels like a dense forest that you are exploring all by yourself. We only saw 4 people the whole time. Some of the views are breathtaking including the picture above as I look out onto the ski trails. If you are looking for a great family friendly adventure with well marked trails, this is the spot.
LASTLY
If you forget to pack a lunch or enjoy trying new things, the outdoor center does have the Bull Moose Bakery and Cafe.
Fat Tire Bike at Sugarloaf Mountain
Whether you are out to ski, snow shoe or ride the fat tire bikes, this is why you should check out Sugarloaf mountain. The outdoor center has everything for rent and there is something for everyone to enjoy. Even if that means hanging out inside the outdoor center all day, warming by the fireplace, looking out to the mountain.
Location: Head to the Outdoor Center. Here you can get all you need including all trail passes, rentals, and food.
Rentals: $40 per person, for 2 hours (this includes your bike and trail pass); you can rent for the entire day for $90.
Once you are fitted for your bike, grab a map and off you go!
While on your ride, despite being a rather large mountain full of trails, it is easy to stay on the path, as they are all well marked including periodic locations of additional maps with “you are here” markings to help get your bearings. There is even a “warming hut” with a wood stove to ensure you stay nice and toasty while out adventuring.
Despite it being only 28 degrees, I can assure you, no warming hut was needed. The fat tire trail we chose took nearly 2 1/2 hours to complete with a fairly steady pace and included some pretty good size hills. I would consider this a good workout ride and needed to take off my jacket half way through.
A FEW SUGGESTIONS IF YOU HAPPEN TO MAKE A DAY TRIP TO SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN
Wear layers so you can shed them as you heat up
Try both the snowshoeing and fat tire bike if possible. The fat tire bike trails run along the cross-country ski trails, however the snowshoeing trails run through the woods and offer a different, but equally beautiful adventure.
Ice Castles in New Hampshire
Do Ice Castles even exist outside of fairytales? Yes, yes they do.
Leave it to Kari to find this winter wonderland. We have seen a lot in our 3 years of traveling across the country, but this one is a favorite. Located in Woodstock New Hampshire, every winter this spectacular building of ice is created for all to enjoy.
While this isn’t exactly located in Maine, it is worth the short trip to New Hampshire if you love all things winter. There is a fee to enter, but it is well worth it. Once inside, entering through a cave of ice, there are fire pits, light sculptures, small caves to climb/crawl through and even a couch made out of ice. Don’t forget the hot coco at the snack bar (many other snacks as well) as you enjoy sliding through the ice tunnels.
Out of all the adventures, you would think this one sounds kid friendly. Well it absolutely is, but since we don’t have any, we chose to bring out parents. They were like kids in a candy store! Haha.
In all seriousness, you should check out the link here to learn more about these wonderful ice castles and plan your visit. This is one location that we will be returning to in the future.
Did I mention that there is also a horse drawn sleigh ride that you can take through the back of the property leading through trails, trees, and light decorations? Come see for yourself next time you are visiting New England.
And There You have it….5 awesome adventures!
Hope this helps you plan out your adventure to Maine. Feel free to leave us a comment below or find us on instagram, Facebook, or YouTube if you have any questions.
Also, feel free to check out the Road Tripping PT Podcast: A Tale of Two Travelers where we interview strangers turned friends on our travel adventures
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