Many people realize Camden, Maine is the perfect place for travel during the summer months. Fewer people may realize that it is also the perfect place in the winter months as well! This is the second in a series of Wellness Travel Guides and provides a list of winter activities in Maine for the the active traveler to enjoy in Camden.
Snowshoeing
Maine’s fall foliage is spectacular. Once the leaves fall off of the trees, it opens up even more beauty. We have shared some wonderful hikes Spruce Mountain, Bald Rock, and Camden Hills State Park in this blog previously. After the snow falls, these are great places to go snowshoeing! One of the great things about snowshoeing is that it does not require any training and it is relatively inexpensive to do. If you do not own snowshoes, you can rent them from Maine Sport Outfitters and off you go. After a fresh fallen snow, you blaze your own trails. This can be quite the workout!
After snowshoeing a couple of times with rented snowshoes, we decided to buy our own. We chose to purchase inexpensive ones and have had great times with them.
Checkout Aislinn Sarnacki’s list of 8 Great Snowshoe Spots in Midcoast Maine for some additional ideas on where to snowshoe.
Alpine Skiing/Snow Boarding
With a little over 1,000 total vertical, admittedly Camden Snow Bowl is probably not the place you would come if you are an expert skier. However, it does boast of being the only east coast ski destination with views of the ocean.
The details
- 20 Trails - 2 blue, 7 black, 2 double black
- Night skiing on 8 of the trails
- 2 terrain parks - 1 advanced, 1 easier
- 11 glades covering 45 acres
- 80% snow making coverage
The terrain parks includes anywhere between 15 - 30 elements when the park is completely operational. They include short boxes, long boxes, waterfall rails, a dance floor, corrugated pipe, bonks, torpedoes, and some serious jumps.
Lift lines are never very long. Lift tickets are very affordable. It is definitely worth a visit for the active winter traveler.
Ice Skating
One can ice skate both indoors and outdoors in the Camden area.
Midcoast Recreation Center, MRC, has daily public skates. One can rent skates there for all ages.
There are several options for outdoor skating. One can skate on Lake Megunticook or Hosmer pond (at the foot of the Camden Snow Bowl). If you do not have your own skates, you can rent them from Maine Sport Outfitters. There is also a small pond to skate on next to the store in Rockport.
Fat Biking
Sidecountry Sports has a trail-side shop at the Camden Snow Bowl. One can rent a fat bike from their Rockland store. Check their events page for demos. They provide an invaluable resource to help you find the best fat bike-friendly winter trails near Camden.
Cross Country Skiing
One of the healthiest of the winter activities is cross country skiing. It provides a full body work out as you are working both the upper and lower body simultaneously. It is an excellent aerobic workout and therefore helps build endurance and health as is burns away the calories.
Best places to cross country ski near Camden
- Camden Hills State Park, in particular Tanglewood 4-H Camp in Lincolnville
- Camden Snow Bowl
- Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson
Ice Climbing
To really get the adrenaline flowing, one can ice climb. Both Equinox Guiding Services and Northern Vertical offer guided ice climbs where the cost includes all of the gear.
Your climb with Ryan Howes, of Northern Vertical could be the beginning of a profoundly life changing experience. Ryan has created a powerful one-on-one coaching program. He uses adventure as a vehicle for change and growth. LIVE LOVE LEAP is his program that drives men to make lasting health and lifestyle changes.
Come visit Camden in the winter
Insider tips: Plan ahead! Make reservations for rental equipment and guided activities. Reserve a room at our our Camden, Maine B&B with a jetted tub or a soaking tub to relax in after an activity filled day.
Check out the Promotions page to find our current offerings to enjoy winter activities in Maine!
