Updated for 2022-23 season!
With walk-up lift tickets breaking the $100 barrier at the larger ski areas in Maine, many folks are looking for ways to save money. With a little planning you don't have to pay the walk-up rate.
If you plan to visit a ski resort more than 6 times you should consider getting a season pass. Alternatively, many ski areas offer buy-ahead ticket options (further ahead you buy, the more you save), partial day tickets and discount ticket days where you can save some significant money. And the smaller ski areas in Maine always offer tremendous value for your outdoor recreation dollar.
Here are links and details to money saving lift ticket purchasing strategies.
Winterkids
Families in Maine should definitely look into obtaining a WinterKids membership. A $40 membership fee covers a family of 5, and most Maine alpine areas are offering a free junior lift ticket with a paying adult (see the website for specific mountain deal information). WinterKids also sponsors family days where app members can get lift ticket deals for the entire family. The app also offers discounts for many other winter activities including cross country skiing and ice skating centers. Learn more about the specific on-mountain discounts via the WinterKids App at their website.
L.L. Bean Winter Across Maine
L.L. Bean is once again offering its Winter Across Maine program offering significant discounts to Alpine ski area lift tickets as well as other outdoor recreation opportunities. The deals are referenced in the ski area listings below and you can also check out the L.L. Bean Winter Across Maine web page.
The Big 3 Ski Areas in Maine
Sugarloaf - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $129
Buy Ahead on-line is the primary money-saving strategy for Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley. If you know the days you are planning to ski, buying ahead on the sugarloaf.com website allows you to save some significant money. Plus, with their easy-change program you can change the dates of your ski day right up to the day before you have bought your ticket allowing for flexibility in your plans.
Additionally, Sugarloaf offers discounts to Maine Residents on most Wednesdays, members of the military and you can also pre-buy packs of tickets at significant savings.
Sunday River - All Tickets On-line Only - Weekend Rate Online (Adult) $119
Buy Ahead on-line is the primary money-saving strategy for Sunday River in Newry. If fact, you can only purchase lift-tickets on-line at Sunday River. If you know the days you are planning to ski, buying ahead on the sundayriver.com website allows you to save some significant money. Plus, with their easy-change program you can change the dates of your ski day right up to the day before you have bought your ticket allowing for flexibility in your plans.
Additionally, Sunday River offers discounts to members of the military, twilight skiing on South Ridge and students in local school districts. Additionally, you can also pre-buy packs of tickets at significant savings.
Saddleback - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $119
Saddleback in Sandy River Plantation (near Rangeley) has a Buy Ahead program and offers a way to credit your ticket for a future date (in-season) if your plans change. You can also buy multi-day ticket packs for significant savings but these packs are only available pre-season.
As of November 14th, Saddleback launched their new e-store for Saddleback lift tickets and they are running a special $39 promotion available for every day of the ski season, but quantities are limited. Keep an eye on their Website and Facebook pages for more in-season lift ticket deals.
Also, as part of Saddleback's "Extended Family Program" if you are a passholder at Lost Valley, Black Mountain of Maine, Mt. Abram, Titcomb Mountain, Camden Snow Bowl, Hermon Mountain or Big Rock Mountain, you can get significantly discounted lift tickets ($59 midweek, $69 weekend) at Saddleback, which is especially handy late-season when these local hills may be closed for the season. Check out all the details at the Saddleback website.
Other Great Ski Areas in Maine
Black Mountain of Maine - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $55
Black Mountain in Rumford is advertising $15 Thursday's and $25 Friday's lift ticket deals sponsored by L.L. Bean. They also offer a weekend half-day ticket. Also, be on the lookout for Free Ski Nights sponsored by local businesses on select Wednesdays. Keep an eye on their Facebook Page for more lift ticket deals.
Mt. Abram - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $35
Mt. Abram is offering $35 lift tickets 7 days a week. The weekend $35 lift ticket price is in partnership with L.L. Bean. Thursday "Maine Day" $19.60 tickets (non holiday) as homage to the year the ski area was founded. Additionally, Friday's are $99 carload days. Also, families with youth in the MSAD 44 school district can obtain a free winter season pass! Youth must be enrolled by January 31, 2023 to take advantage of this program.
Pleasant Mountain - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $89
Pleasant Mountain (formerly Shawnee Peak, now under ownership by Boyne) in Bridgton offers Buy Ahead options including afternoon and night tickets, ticket packs, along with special mid-week pricing at their website where you can buy tickets on-line and walk right to the lift.
Lost Valley - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $66
Lost Valley in Auburn offers a variety of ticket options, including half-day, evenings, military and learning area all at significant savings. Also, Tuesday night tickets (3pm-8pm) are $20 sponsored by L.L. Bean.
Big Rock - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $55
Big Rock in Mars Hill is offering a variety of punch card passes where you can buy ski days ahead of time and save money. See their website for more details. L.L. Bean is sponsoring $15 Lift Tickets, $10 Rental Packages on non-holiday Thursday's this season.
Camden Snow Bowl - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $47
Camden Snow Bowl in Camden offers discounts to Camden residents, students, military, seniors and children 5 and under.
Titcomb Mountain - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $38
Friends of The Mountain - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $40
Friends of the Mountain group up in Greenville that operates an alpine area on Big Moose Mountain is gearing up for another season. Students get a discount and folks 4 and under and 70 and over ski free. They are also selling 10 packs of tickets for $300 through December 31. Call 207-695-2400 to order.
Lonesome Pine Trails - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $25
Maine's northern most ski area in Fort Kent offers a discounted student ticket and free tickets for 'tykes' pre-k and under.
Baker Mountain - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $15
Baker Mountain in Moscow on the Route 201 corridor offers a $15 all-ages ticket for this community ski hill. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for hours of operation.
Powderhouse Hill - Walk Up Weekend Rate (all-ages) $5
Maine's southern most ski area in South Berwick offers a $5 all-ages cash-only ticket providing access to their rope tow serviced ski slope. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for hours of operations as conditions allow.
New Hermon Mountain - Walk Up Weekend Rate (Adult) $55
New Hermon Mountain in Hermon offers half day tickets at a reduced rate, and folks 4 and under and 70 and over ski free.
As other ski areas in Maine release their daily lift ticket pricing and deals we will update this post!
Information from ski area websites / social media along with a November 20th Portland Press Herald article was used for this post.
Page last updated January 16, 2023
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