Maine's ski areas setting opening dates

Courtesy / Sugarloaf Groomed ski trails at the Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Resort. The ski area will open on Thanksgiving day, Nov. 24.

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By Staff

Colder weather has arrived and Maine’s ski areas are getting ready.

Sunday River Resort in Newry will be the first to open. It has been busy making snow and said it will open for skiing and snowboarding Nov. 23. To start out, trails will be limited to advanced ski and snowboard runs. The ski area offers these cautionary notes: “Snow guns are scheduled to run with active snowmaking as long as temperatures allow. Visibility will be limited and manmade and natural obstacles exist,” according to a press release issued Tuesday. Check for Sunday River’s updates on its online Mountain Report.

Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley said on its website that it will open on Thanksgiving day, Nov. 24.

Shawnee Peak in Bridgton hopes to open by Dec. 10.

Black Mountain of Maine in Rumford said it plans to open Dec. 26.

Mt. Abram in Greenwood is looking at Dec. 3, depending on the weather.

Smaller ski areas are expected to open later in the season, though specific dates were not yet available when Mainebiz made the calls.

Many skiers are holding out hope that the deal to buy Saddleback Mountain will allow the operators to open for at least part of the 2016-17 season.