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Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
at Sunday River XC Ski Center
23 Skiway Road, Newry, ME 04261
The Sunday River XC Ski Center (207-824-2410, www.sundayriverinn.com) is at the Sunday River Inn, a place for family winter fun known for a warm staff, kids programs and skier-friendly trail designs. It has 40 km of groomed and tracked trails with skating lanes, 12 km for snowshoers, as well as 2 km lit for night skiing.
Sunday
River is family oriented, with a sunny inviting day lodge, warming trail
shelters, a groomed dog trail and a downhill practice area. Trails are
set up with concentric loops with easier terrain closest to the center.
They wind through the woods, have picnic sites and a destination to
the Artists' Covered Bridge.
A full ski shop is on site that has a food counter with snacks, drinks and light lunch items.
There are rental equipment for xc ski, snowshoeing and telemark skiing. Demo equipment is on hand and there are pulk sleds to take babies or toddlers on the trails with you. Ski instruction is available and for the kids there's the Early Stride program and K's for Kids to encourage them to ski more.
Guided
snowshoe tours are available and a hike up Barker Mountain offers terrific
western Maine mountain scenic views.
Sunday River XC Ski Center is one of the only xc ski resorts that offers letterboxing, where you get a clue at the ski shop and start your search for a mail box somewhere along the trail. It can be expected that when you find the box, you will find goodies inside. The letterbox is moved to a different location every week.
The inn, which is family style oriented to outdoor enthusiasts has dorm rooms, private rooms with a large central modern bath facilities and rooms with private baths. Dining is buffet style and there is a game room but no pub at the inn. There is also the Farm Cottage, which is a small secluded place to stay on the trails and an overnight rustic camp called Camp Ella on the ski trails.
Ice
skating, tobogganing and an outdoor hot tub and sauna round out the
amenities. Elderhostel Weeks are held annually at the inn for people
to go xc skiing and/or alpine skiing.
The Sunday River Ski Resort, which is one of the most comprehensive alpine ski resorts in New England is a half mile up the road. Nearby Bethel, ME has all that is expected of a New England town focused on travelers with restaurants, shops and a full list of activities all year long. CCSAA member