First time skiing or snowboarding?

If you are just getting started in snow sports here are a few things to help you get off on the right foot.

First, dressing for success may be the most important preparation you can make. There is an excellent website that can help you learn how to dress and prepare for winter sports. Click here: Winter Feels Good Website

When you arrive at the Snow Bowl:

When you arrive at the Snow Bowl the first time you will want to head for the lodge (the large A-frame building). You can drop people and gear out front and then park your car if you need to. Please park efficiently - pull up forward to be in line with all the cars and park close to the vehicle next to you. Inside the lodge you will find restrooms on the bottom floor (way to the back of the building). Everything else is upstairs on the main floor: ski school and ticketing desk, food service, dining/sitting area, and cubbies for day packs and shoes. You can see pretty much everything from the top of the stairs. If you need to check in with the ski school or buy lift tickets head over to the desk in the far corner. You can also pay for your rental equipment at that desk, but the rental shop is in another building (you can pay in the rental shop too). If you bring ski or snowboard gear to the lodge please do not bring it inside. Instead walk around the outside of the building (on the right hand side) to the slope side where you can place your skis, poles and snowboards in the racks near the deck.

Rental Shop:

For equipment rental you will go to the white modular building at the right end (northern end) of the parking lot. It is only about 30 yards from the main lodge. The rental shop is the door on the left and the ski shop is the door on the right. If you are renting equipment for the first time you will need to fill out a rental form including a signature of a parent or guardian for children under 18 years old. In the shop you will try on ski or snowboard boots so be sure to wear the socks you plan to use for the day. One pair of medium weight socks usually works best (the boots are pretty warm). The shop rents: skis, ski boots, poles, snowboards, snowboard boots, helmets and snowshoes. When you have received all your gear bring it over to the slope side of the lodge and place the skis, poles and snowboards in the racks.

Ski Shop:

The ski shop at the Snow Bowl is run by Ragged Mountain Sports. They carry a full range of equipment and clothing for skiing and snowboarding. They also tune and repair equipment. They are open pretty much whenever the lifts are running during the day. The phone is 207-236-6664. Other ski shops in our area are Maine Sport Outfitters on Route 1 in Rockport 207-236-7120, and Rock Coast Sports in downtown Rockland 207-594-4433.

Leaving personal items in the lodge:

When you head out to the slopes you can leave extra clothing and snacks in the cubbies on the main floor of the lodge. We do not currently have lockers for day use, so if you have valuables either take them on the slopes with you or lock them in your car. We seldom have problems with items disappearing from the lodge each winter, but don't take any chances with valuable items like wallets, MP3 players, jewelry, etc.

Where is the Tubing Hill and Toboggan Chute?

The Tubing Hill is located on the south end of the main parking lot. You will be looking straight up it as you drive into the parking lot. It is usually open weekends and vacation days 9am to 4pm. It is rented for private functions at other times. Please stay off the Tubing Hill when it is not open to the public.

The Jack WIlliams Toboggan Chute is the home of the US National Toboggan Championships held the second weekend in February. It is located south of the main parking lot about 200 yards. To reach it you can walk or drive around the end of the tubing hill and follow the access road south along the base of the hillside to the cul-de-sac at the end. There is a small parking area for a few vehicles. You will see the chute running down through the woods toward the pond runout. The Chute Master operates the launching platform at the top. The toboggan chute is normally available for public use on weekends 9am to 4pm after the pond ice is well frozen. It can be rented for private functions at other times. Please staff off the toboggan chute whenever it is not available for public use.

Snowshoe trails and rentals:

Snowshoes are available for rent from the rental shop during regular Snow Bowl operating hours. There are a couple of trails designated for snowshoeing adjacent to the alpine ski slopes and a trail map is available in the rental shop. Please do not use snowshoes on the ski slopes.

Nordic Skiing:

There are currently no trails for nordic skiing at the Snow Bowl, although there is a design for a nordic trail to be built in conjunction with the redevelopment of the Ragged Mountain Recreation Area. We do not allow nordic skiers on the alpine ski trails. Sometimes the snow on Hosmer Pond next to the Snow Bowl is in good condition for nordic skiing, but it is often windswept. The nearby single track mountain bike trails are too narrow and steep for nordic skiing. Other locations in the area for nordic skiing include: the Camden Hills Regional High School (a short loop with groomed track), the Camden Hills State Park (has a 5 mile multi-use trail shared by nordic skiers, snowshoers, snowmobiles and dog walkers), and Tanglewood 4-H Camp (has several miles of ungroomed trails suitable for nordic skiing).

Ice Skating on Hosmer Pond:

The staff at the Snow Bowl plow a skating rink near the boat launch site on Hosmer Pond when conditions are favorable. Skating is free and at your own risk. Occasionally the ice on this 55 acre pond is smooth all the way across or in large patches. You can check ice conditions on our Winter Activities Report.