Maine’s 2025 December Update

December 3, 2025

Camden Toboggan Championships

Every winter, thrill-seekers and daredevils race toboggans down a 400-foot-long, icy wooden run with a vertical drop of over 70 feet along the coast of Maine. A winter classic held in Camden for more than three decades, the 35th annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships will run from February 6-8, 2026, at the Camden Snowbowl. Toboggan riders can hit speeds of up to 40 mph as they hurtle down the mountain onto Hosmer Pond. More than 400 teams will compete in this event, which attracts upwards of 5,000 people. Participants come from all over the country, and the competition is open to two-, three-, and four-person teams.

Dogsledding in Maine

The quintessential winter experience might well be dogsledding, a thrilling sled ride through the woods being pulled by a well-trained pack of sled dogs. There are a host of  Maine outfitters who can get you into the woods on a sled dog adventure. In the Maine Lakes and Mountains region, consider Ultimate Dog Sledding Experience.  Maine also hosts two of the best sled dog races in the Northeast. The Wilderness Sled Dog Race in Greenville on February 7, 2026, at Moosehead Lake and the Can Am Crown International Sled Dog Races in Fort Kent on February 28, 2026, with 30, 100, and 250-mile races, the latter the longest dog sledding race in the eastern United States. Go to Visit Maine for more information.

Skijoring

Skijor Skowhegan: Northeast Equestrian Skijoring Regionals is New England’s only equestrian skijoring competition. In this team time-trial race, a horse and rider pull a snowboarder or alpine skier down a 1,000-foot track of gates and jumps. Competitors will be competing for cash prizes, swag, and bragging rights. The event takes place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds. Go to Somerset Snowfest for more information.

Snowmobile Season

Snowmobiling is synonymous with winter in Maine, one of the major snowmobiling destinations in the Lower 48. Credit the state’s challenging terrain, long winter, and some exciting wilderness riding conditions. What really makes a difference are the 280 local snowmobile clubs that help to maintain more than 14,000 miles of marked snowmobile trails. They include the 4,000 miles of the Interconnected Trail System. While there are riding opportunities throughout most of the state, prime sledding terrain can be found in the Jackman-Moose River area, the Moosehead Lake and the Rangeley Lakes region, the Millinocket and Katahdin area, and the far north in Aroostook County. The sport is supported by the dozens of outfitters, sporting camps, and resorts that offer rentals, overnight stays, and guided sled tours. Go to Visit Maine for details.

Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country skiing has a long history in Maine, thanks to its many Scandinavian immigrants who brought their tradition from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.  While you can break trail in the Maine woods, it’s a lot more enjoyable to head to the groomed tracks at some of the state’s established cross-country resorts. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has three wilderness camps that offer cross-country skiing: Little Lyford Lodge & Cabins, Gorman Chairback Lodge & Cabins, and Medawisla Lodge & Cabins. The lodges provide different sleeping options (bunkhouses and cabins) and include lodge-cooked meals. In Bethel, not far from Sunday River, Inland Woods + Trails at The Bethel Resort & Suites has 25km of trails for both classic and skate skiing. A few miles away,  Carter’s X-C Ski Center offers miles of groomed trails for skiers of all abilities. Closer to Portland, Pineland Farms in New Gloucester offers groomed trails, ski rentals, ski lessons, a popular farm market, and a deli. Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook is part of Greater Portland and has groomed trails, ski rentals, and even on-site cheese making. In northern Maine, the Fort Kent Outdoor Center in Fort Kent offers some of the best groomed trails in Aroostook County. Black Mountain of Maine in Rumford offers free access to their cross-country trails, courtesy of LL Bean, while Harris Farm, a dairy and vegetable farm in the southern Maine town of Dayton, offers groomed trails, ski rentals, and a sledding hill. The farm even allows you to bring your dog with you on certain days (weather dependent – call ahead). For information on additional ski areas and on ski conditions, check out Ski Maine.