SnowStash
ForecastsCompareNews
SnowStash Logo

Live snow, webcams and expert resort guides for the world's mountains - plan your next day on snow.

hello@snowstash.com
Download on the App Store

Destinations

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Europe
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • United States

Company

  • About Us
  • Work With Us
  • Privacy Policy

Explore

  • Compare Resorts
  • News & Updates
  • Snow Forecast
  • Mobile App

© 2026 SnowStash. All rights reserved.

    Maine, Usa

    Pleasant Mountain

    249 acres, 43 runs near Bridgton. Maine's oldest major ski area, 45 minutes from Portland.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    12 Dec 2025
    Closes
    5 Apr 2026
    Days open
    114
    Annual snow
    8ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Pleasant Mountain's summit reaches 1,899 feet, dropping 1,299 vertical feet to a base at 600 feet across 43 runs spread over 249 acres in Bridgton and Denmark, Maine. Terrain splits 45 per cent intermediate, 25 per cent beginner, 20 per cent advanced and 10 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 100 inches. The resort carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation beyond its own New England Gold Pass. Six lifts, including one quad chair and three triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside two surface lifts.

    Pleasant Mountain is the oldest major ski area in Maine, a heritage the resort has actively reclaimed after decades operating under a different name. Its modest snowfall total relative to other Maine mountains means the resort leans on snowmaking to sustain its roughly seventeen-week season. Night skiing and family-friendly terrain define much of its appeal for the nearby Lakes Region and Portland-area skier base.

    The ski area first opened on 23 January 1938, when local students, Civilian Conservation Corps members and volunteers cleared a single trail on the mountain's western slope. A rope tow followed three years later, and the Pleasant Mountain Ski Club was born, cementing the area's status as Maine's original ski destination. In 1988, the resort was sold to Shawnee Mountain Corporation and renamed Shawnee Peak to link the Maine mountain with its Pennsylvania namesake.

    For the 2022-23 season, the resort returned to its original name, Pleasant Mountain, a decision made specifically to honour its 84-year history and the mountain it calls home. Adult full-day tickets range from 35 to 79 US dollars depending on date, among the more accessible pricing structures in the region. This combination of historic identity and everyday affordability distinguishes Pleasant Mountain from Maine's larger, more heavily marketed resorts.

    1,299ft
    Vertical
    43
    Runs
    249 acres
    Skiable
    8ft
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    43 runs across 249 acres skiable

    Pleasant Mountain spreads 43 runs across 249 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 45%, with 11 beginner runs to find your feet and 13 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    43
    runs
    43 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner11 runs · 25%
    Intermediate19 runs · 45%
    Advanced9 runs · 20%
    Expert4 runs · 10%
    Time it right

    When to visit Pleasant Mountain

    The 2025-26 season at Pleasant Mountain ran from 12 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season. The resort's modest average annual snowfall of around 100 inches means snowmaking plays a significant role in sustaining conditions across the season, particularly given the length of the operating window relative to natural accumulation. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.

    Midwinter, from late December through February, typically offers the most reliable conditions once snowmaking has built a consistent base. Night skiing extends the useful ski day for the resort's core catchment of Lakes Region locals and Portland-area day-trippers. Weekend crowds are generally heavier than weekdays, reflecting the resort's role serving both local residents and visitors from further afield.

    The resort's own New England Gold Pass provides access to a network of affiliated mountains beyond Pleasant Mountain alone, extending its reach for season pass holders. As Maine's oldest major ski area, the resort's calendar leans toward family and ski school programming consistent with its long-standing accessible, community-focused identity. School holiday periods bring the heaviest family visitation.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The 2022-23 return to the Pleasant Mountain name has been accompanied by a renewed emphasis on the mountain's 1938 origins as part of its seasonal identity. Its accessible pricing, with adult full-day tickets from 35 US dollars, continues to position the resort as an affordable option relative to Maine's larger destination mountains.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    12 Dec 2025
    Opens
    5 Apr 2026
    Closes
    114
    Days open
    8 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Pleasant Mountain, and where to stay

    Pleasant Mountain sits across Bridgton and Denmark in the Maine Lakes Region, with a base elevation of 600 feet and a summit at 1,899 feet across a 1,299-foot vertical drop over 249 acres. This is a hilly, lake-dotted part of western Maine roughly 45 minutes from Portland, the state's largest city.

    Bridgton is the nearest town, offering lodging, dining and services for resort visitors, with the broader Lakes Region providing additional recreation beyond skiing. Portland, Maine's commercial and cultural hub, supplies much of the resort's weekend and day-trip visitor base given the short drive between the two. The Lakes Region's mix of lake and mountain recreation gives Pleasant Mountain a distinct four-season appeal.

    US Route 302 connects Portland to Bridgton and the broader Lakes Region, providing the main route for visitors approaching Pleasant Mountain. Winter driving conditions on Maine's rural roads can include snow and ice, though the main routes are generally well maintained given the area's steady winter traffic. No direct public transport service reaches the resort itself.

    Portland International Jetport is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, roughly 45 minutes from the resort. This makes Pleasant Mountain one of the more accessible Maine ski areas for visitors flying into the state, though most day-to-day skiers are locals or Portland-area residents driving up rather than fly-in destination travellers.

    Where to stay

    Search all stays →

    Hotels and lodges near Pleasant Mountain, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

    View all news →
    Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed

    Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed

    I'm not a gamer. I'm a skier and snowboarder who happens to have a laptop. So when a ski resort management game called Ski-E-O! landed on Steam, I wasn't expecting to lose an afternoon to it - but here we are. Real mountain terrain, a full weather system, storms that roll in and wreck your snow base, avalanche danger, and enough depth to make RollerCoaster Tycoon feel simple by comparison. Early access lands in November. Here's what a few hours in the free demo actually looks like.

    23 Aug 2026
    Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola

    Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola

    The rumours are true: Sugar Bowl is tearing out its Emerald gondola, in place since 1983, and replacing it with a new 8-person Doppelmayr system - nearly doubling uphill capacity to 1,800 people an hour. It's the fourth generation of a gondola line that dates back to 1953, when Sugar Bowl became the first resort on the West Coast to run one at all, and it's just one piece of a $100 million overhaul touching lodges, parking and snowmaking. Here's what's changing, and what's staying the same.

    23 Aug 2026
    Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire

    Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire

    The death toll from Thursday night's fire at Restaurant Beverin in Thusis, Switzerland, has begun to firm up. One Swiss outlet, citing Graubünden Cantonal Police, reports that two of the five people initially reported missing have now been confirmed dead, leaving three unaccounted for. The building's collapsed stairwell and structural instability have slowed recovery efforts throughout. Here's what's changed since the fire broke out, and what's still unconfirmed.

    22 Aug 2026
    Selwyn Snow Resort Closes Early as Rain Ends Its 2026 Season

    Selwyn Snow Resort Closes Early as Rain Ends Its 2026 Season

    Selwyn Snow Resort has called an early end to its 2026 season, a day after Victoria's Mount Baw Baw did the same. Rain on Thursday stripped what was left of the snowpack, and the cold nights needed to rebuild it through snowmaking never arrived. It's a rough result for a resort that only just found its footing again after being burned to the ground in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires and a multi-year rebuild. Here's how the season fell apart, and where Selwyn's been since the fire.

    22 Aug 2026
    Mt Baw Baw Becomes First Australian Resort to Close for 2026

    Mt Baw Baw Becomes First Australian Resort to Close for 2026

    Mt Baw Baw is calling time on its 2026 season this Sunday at 5pm, becoming the first Australian resort to close for the year after warm spells and rain wore through its snowpack. Lifts stop, but the resort stays open, entry fees get waived, and there's one last Bollywood Weekend before the lights go out. Fifty-seven days after opening, here's how the season ended and what it means for the rest of Australia's struggling snowpack.

    21 Aug 2026
    Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair

    Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair

    Arosa's Hörnli sector is getting its biggest overhaul in decades. The 1986 gondola and 1994 chairlift linking toward Lenzerheide are both being replaced, with capacity up, tower count down and a new base station lower on the hill. At roughly CHF 67 million, it is the largest single investment Arosa Bergbahnen has ever made - and the target opening has already slipped a year, to December 2028. Here is what is changing, and why the timeline moved.

    20 Aug 2026
    Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

    Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

    Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.

    19 Aug 2026
    Levi and Ruka Confirm October 2 Opening on Farmed Summer Snow

    Levi and Ruka Confirm October 2 Opening on Farmed Summer Snow

    Finland's Levi and Ruka open for the 2026-27 season on October 2, more than seven weeks before most of Europe sees a lift turn. Neither resort is waiting on autumn snowfall - both are skiing on snow buried since last spring, insulated through the Finnish summer and dug back out for opening day. It is not a shortcut. It is a decades-old system now spreading from the Arctic Circle to Idaho, Utah, Vermont and Colorado. Here is how snow farming actually works, and why it is catching on.

    19 Aug 2026

    Lift tickets

    8 pass options
    Buy passes ↗

    Single-day passes

    Adult 19–64

    Adult Full Day

    US$35up to US$79 peak

    Full day lift access at Pleasant Mountain with night skiing included. Experience all 43 trails and 6 lifts at this family-friendly Maine ski resort just 45 minutes from Portland. Advance online purchase guarantees best value.

    Buy pass
    Adult 0–99

    Beginner Terrain Only

    US$35up to US$40 peak

    Pleasant Mountain beginner-specific terrain access including Rabbit Run and carpet lifts. Perfect for first-time skiers and families learning at Maine's most accessible mountain resort.

    Buy pass
    Child 6–18

    Child/Youth Full Day

    US$25up to US$55 peak

    Discounted full day access to Pleasant Mountain for children and youth. Includes night skiing and access to all 43 trails. Perfect for families visiting this Maine ski destination.

    Buy pass
    Senior 65–99

    Senior Full Day

    US$25up to US$55 peak

    Discounted full day Pleasant Mountain access for seniors 65+. Experience Maine skiing with night skiing included and easy access from Portland.

    Buy pass

    Half-day passes

    Adult 19–64

    Adult Mid-Day

    US$65up to US$79 peak

    Pleasant Mountain afternoon skiing from 12:30pm to close with night skiing included. Perfect for those arriving later in the day to enjoy Maine's scenic mountain terrain.

    Buy pass
    Adult 19–64

    Adult Night Skiing

    US$45up to US$65 peak

    Pleasant Mountain night skiing from 3:30pm to close, Monday through Saturday. Access all open night terrain at this Maine family resort with convenient RFID GO Card system.

    Buy pass

    Multi-day passes

    Adult 19–64

    3-Day Ticket Pack

    US$150up to US$210 peak

    Three full days of skiing at Pleasant Mountain with flexible date selection. Includes night skiing and multi-mountain access with Sugarloaf and Sunday River through Boyne network.

    Buy pass

    Season passes

    Adult 19–64

    New England Gold Pass

    US$1,399up to US$1,699 peak

    Unlimited access to Pleasant Mountain, Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Loon Mountain. The ultimate Maine and New England skiing experience with no blackout dates.

    Buy pass

    Pleasant Mountain lift tickets & passes

    The 2025 - 2026 season at Pleasant Mountain closed on Apr 5, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.

    Day passes start from US$25, with peak rates up to US$79.

    Lift tickets FAQ

    How much does a Pleasant Mountain day pass cost?+
    Pleasant Mountain day passes range from US$25 to US$79 depending on the date and advance booking.
    Can I buy Pleasant Mountain lift tickets online?+
    Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
    Are there discounts for multi-day passes?+
    Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
    What is included with a Pleasant Mountain lift ticket?+
    Full access to all lifts and trails at Pleasant Mountain, including mountain safety and patrol services.
    What is the difference between Pleasant Mountain lift tickets and ski passes?+
    "Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Pleasant Mountain - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
    When should I buy Pleasant Mountain lift tickets for the best price?+
    Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
    Does Pleasant Mountain offer group discounts on lift tickets?+
    Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Pleasant Mountain directly for group booking information and rates.
    How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?+
    Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Pleasant Mountain.

    More Pleasant Mountain intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.