-
Welcome to AlpineZone, the largest online community of skiers and snowboarders in the Northeast!
You may have to REGISTER before you can post. Registering is FREE, gets rid of the majority of advertisements, and lets you participate in giveaways and other AlpineZone events!
Sunday River or Sugarloaf?
- Thread starter bman1
- Start date
Sunday River is closer, but the two are very different. Sugarloaf is further but is an experience.
C-Rex
New member
I've been to Sugarloaf a lot and I'd have to say it's worth the extra drive. And if the mountain isn't enough to make the drive worth it, eating at The Rack is.
skiahman
New member
If you're going to be in Portland then you owe it to yourself to make the drive to Sugarloaf. 2 completely diffrent mountains. I'd drive past Sunday River any day of the wk if I was that close to the Loaf.
Riverskier
Active member
Sunday River is an hour and a half from Portland, and Sugarloaf is two and a half hours from Portland. What type of skiing do you like to do?
Vortex
Member
1.5 from portland to the River. Hard to argue which is better. Sugarloaf is something to experience. Check the weather and snow conditions first. No resort IMO makes better snow than the River. If we don't get some Natual by then look at both reports.
snowmonster
New member
There are a lot of differences and similarities between the 2 places.
Sunday River - shorter mountain but wider; lots of cruisers; good grooming and snowmaking; when glades are open, they are great but underrated; very friendly vibe; less susceptible to windholds than Loaf; good access to inns, shops and restaurants in Bethel; the drive from Portland is about an hour shorter.
Sugarloaf - taller and bigger mountain; steeps and glades like Brackett Basin; snowfields (if open); lots of ungroomed terrain; generally, colder, windier (than SR) and susceptible to windholds; nice base area
and restaurants on access road but there's not much else outside the resort; longer drive from Portland.
You can't go wrong with either. The question really is: what kind of terrain do you prefer and how long can you drive? If you have 2 days, do both. If you have three days to ski, do SR, Loaf and Saddleback. That'll be a great ME experience!
snowmonster
New member
^ You won't regret it. Have fun! There are lots of SR regulars around here. PM if you want someone to ski with.
xwhaler
Active member
If you are concerned at all with drive time, I'll put in a plug for Shawnee Peak...under an hour from Portland and a nice hill. Good value, some fun terrain if the snow is right.
Or how about Mt Abram right next to the River?
Or how about Mt Abram right next to the River?
Riverskier
Active member
Great mountains, I plan to hit them both this year. That said, the savings in drive time is minimal, and having never skied in Maine and having only one day, I would recomend trying out one of the major areas. Just my opinion though, as I know some people actually prefer smaller areas.
Tooth
New member
If it snows between now and your trip go to Sugarloaf. Sunday River is great too. I'd have to say in a bad snow year like we are in Sunday River may be the better choice since they do put out the best and most manmade in all of New England hands down in my opinion.
Second to none. It does get pretty busy down at the River on the weekends. On the other hand if the wind is blowing in anyway then its safer to go to the River. Have fun. Skiing in Maine is the best in New England. Keep it a secret. Similar threads
