Maine, Usa · Ikon / Mountain Collective
Sugarloaf
1,240 acres, 162 runs at Carrabassett Valley. Only above-treeline skiing in the East, Ikon Pass.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
24 Nov 2025
Closes
26 Apr 2026
Days open
153
Annual snow
17ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Sugarloaf's summit reaches 4,236 feet, the highest peak elevation of any ski resort in New England, dropping 2,819 vertical feet to a base at 1,417 feet across 162 runs spread over 1,240 acres in Carrabassett Valley, Maine. Terrain splits 34 per cent intermediate, 27 per cent advanced, 23 per cent beginner and 16 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 200 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective access. Thirteen lifts, including five double chairs and five quad chairs, serve the mountain alongside one triple chair, one surface lift and one t-bar.
Sugarloaf offers the only lift-served above-treeline skiing in the northeastern United States, a distinction tied directly to its status as New England's highest ski summit. This above-treeline terrain, combined with its 162 trails, gives Sugarloaf one of the most extensive and varied terrain networks in the eastern US. Its Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective affiliations have brought it firmly into the destination-resort tier of New England skiing.
Sugarloaf was established in 1950 by the Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Club, with a group known as the Bigelow Boys cutting the resort's first trail, Winter's Way, in 1951. A rope tow followed in 1953, and a gondola opened in 1966 that elevated the mountain's status into a major destination. Snowmaking arrived in 1974, at the time covering more vertical feet than any other ski area in the world.
American Skiing Company sold Sugarloaf to CNL Lifestyle Properties in August 2007, with management passing to Boyne Resorts. Boyne purchased the resort outright from Och-Ziff Capital Management in March 2018, alongside sister resorts Sunday River and Loon, consolidating full ownership to fund further on-mountain projects. Adult daily tickets run from 79 to 149 US dollars, with multi-day packages from 158 dollars.
2,818ft
Vertical
162
Runs
1,240 acres
Skiable
17ft
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
162 runs across 1,240 acres skiable
Sugarloaf spreads 162 runs across 1,240 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 34%, with 37 beginner runs to find your feet and 70 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
162
runs
162 runs across 4 grades
Beginner37 runs · 23%
Intermediate55 runs · 34%
Advanced44 runs · 27%
Expert26 runs · 16%
Time it right
When to visit Sugarloaf
The 2025-26 season at Sugarloaf ran from 24 November 2025 to 26 April 2026, one of the longest seasons in New England at roughly twenty-two weeks. Average annual snowfall of around 200 inches, combined with substantial snowmaking infrastructure dating to 1974, supports this extended operating window. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically offers the most reliable natural conditions across Sugarloaf's full terrain network, including its above-treeline zones near the summit. As an Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective destination, the resort draws visitors from across the Northeast and beyond, with holiday periods bringing the heaviest crowds. Weekday visits generally remain calmer across the resort's extensive 162-trail network.
Sugarloaf's above-treeline skiing, unique in the Northeast, is a particular draw during clear midwinter conditions when exposed summit terrain offers open-mountain views uncommon in the region. The resort's Boyne Resorts ownership since 2018, alongside sister resorts Sunday River and Loon, has supported continued investment in seasonal programming and infrastructure. School holiday periods bring significant family visitation.
Specific event programming beyond standard lift operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's late closing date into late April, among the longest in the region, reflects both its elevation and its substantial snowmaking capacity. Sugarloaf's combination of New England's highest summit, above-treeline terrain and extensive trail network continues to define its identity as one of the region's premier destination resorts.
Season 2025 - 2026
24 Nov 2025
Opens
26 Apr 2026
Closes
153
Days open
17 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Sugarloaf, and where to stay
Sugarloaf sits in Carrabassett Valley in western Maine, with a base elevation of 1,417 feet and a summit at 4,236 feet, the highest in New England, across a 2,819-foot vertical drop over 1,240 acres. This remote inland setting places the resort well north of Maine's coastal population centres, within a genuine mountain-town environment built around the ski area.
Carrabassett Valley itself has developed largely around the resort, offering lodging, dining and services within a short distance of the lifts. The nearby town of Kingfield provides additional options, while Portland, several hours south, remains the nearest major population centre. The valley's remoteness contributes to Sugarloaf's above-treeline terrain feeling genuinely wild relative to more developed New England resorts.
Maine State Route 27 provides the main route into Carrabassett Valley from the south, connecting to the broader interstate network further toward Portland. Winter driving conditions on this rural Maine route can include snow and ice, and the distance from major cities means visitors should plan for a longer drive than at more accessible New England resorts. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Portland International Jetport is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, a drive of several hours from Carrabassett Valley. This distance is significant relative to many Northeast ski destinations, reinforcing Sugarloaf's identity as a genuine backcountry-adjacent mountain resort rather than an easy day-trip destination from a major airport.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Sugarloaf, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
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Mt Baw Baw Becomes First Australian Resort to Close for 2026
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20 Aug 2026
Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter
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19 Aug 2026
Current conditions
Snow Report
Updated 23 Aug 2026
4,236ft
summit
+0in
new snow · last 24 hours
Foggy52°F / 55°F · SE 10mph
Snowfall
24 hours
0in
48 hours
0in
7 days
0in
Base depth
0in
Season total
0in
Total lifts13
Live open status isn’t available right now.
24 Nov 2025 - 26 Apr 2026
Hour by Hour
Next 40 hours· Updated Aug 23, 2026 at 4:02 AM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
4,236 ftUpdated Aug 23, 2026 at 4:02 AMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0"
Days 8–14
0.0"
Sun, Aug 23
Foggy
Temp55° / 52°°F
Snow0.0"(17%)
Wind10 mph SE
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Sugarloaf snow report
Sugarloaf snow conditions, updated regularly: current snowfall, snow depth, temperatures, and the outlook for this Maine resort on the Ikon / Mountain Collective.
Snow measurements
Snow depth at Sugarloaf is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 859m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.
Weather conditions
Wind and temperature swings matter as much as fresh snowfall. Cold, calm conditions hold snow quality well, while wind-loading or a warm-up can change things quickly — especially given the elevation spread between Sugarloaf's base and summit.
Data sources
We pull Sugarloaf's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 13 lifts, including 5 quad chairlifts.
When to check
The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Sugarloaf's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.