Skiers And Riders Find Plenty of Space At Sunday River
Space has always been plentiful at Sunday River. Last year’s installation of the Boundary to Boundary program upped the resort’s skiable acres to 2,100. This year the expansion project focused on Jordan Bowl’s Blind Ambition, an advanced gladed trail located off the Lollapalooza trail. A fall forestry project expanded the glade from 15 acres to 75 acres and a distance of one mile, making it twice as large as any of the other glades at the resort. “This expansion opens up a world of possibilities for intermediate skiers and snowboarders,” say Dana Bullen, resort president and general manager. “The pitch of the slope is perfect for guests just getting interested in tree-skiing.”
Also much improved this year should be the snowmaking at Sunday River. Last year the resort was the first in the country to open and the skiing continued for six months. An investment of $300,000 in snowmaking and grooming equipment should make conditions even better for skiers who visit this winter. With eight mountain peaks and the most dependable snow in New England, Sunday River provides a lot of things to a lot of different skiers and riders. “Everyone has their own version of Sunday River, thanks to the sheer size of the resort,” says Director of Communications Darcy Morse. “Whether you’re looking for a quiet, serene skiing experience, a lively terrain park or a place with lots of room to learn, the eight peaks offer plenty of places to explore.”
The tallest of the peaks is White Cap, with an elevation of 1,630 feet. Next up is Spruce Peak at 1,500 feet, followed by Jordan Bowl (1,490), which provides skiers and riders with the best scenery and some of the longest trails at the resort. Sunday River introduced zipline tours last year and those daring enough should expect the lines to be open for fast-paced excitement all winter. The six zips take approximately three hours to complete at a cost of $49 per person. Key events this season include Santa Sunday (Dec. 4), Maine Day (Dec. 11), College Week (Jan. 2-6) and White Out Weekend (Feb. 9-12).
Sunday River
Address: Sunday River Road, Newry
Opens for the season: Oct. 29
Number & type of trails: 132; 43 beginner, 47 intermediate, 42 advanced
Vertical drop: 2340 feet
Snowmaking: Yes, 92 percent of terrain
Amenities: Night skiing, 4 terrain parks, superpipe, minipipe, zipline, tubing, ice skating, Outdoor Center with cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling, eight different dining options including restaurants, pubs and cafes, Jordan Spa, Summit Health Club
Lifts: 16 including 5 quad chairs, 3 triple chairs, 1 double chair, 1 handle tow, 1 carpet, 4 detachable quads, 1 chondola
Ticket prices: Full day $80 adult, $68 teen (13-18) , $55 junior (6-12)/senior
Specials: Frequent Skier Card ( $97) comes preloaded with one free lift ticket to use any time this season as well as everyday discounts of $25 off of midweek lift tickets and $15 off on weekends and holidays.
Signature events: 12th Annual Santa Sunday Dec. 4; Children’s Festival Week Jan. 9-13; Annual Maine Telemark Festival Feb. 4; 27th Annual Maine Handicapped Skiing Ski-A-Thon March 24
Did you know?
This is the fifth straight year that Sunday River has opened on or before Halloween.
