Cross Country Skiing in the Rangeley Lakes Region

Nordic ski trails in the Rangeley area. Photo courtesy Rangeley Lakes Cross Country Ski Club.

Cross country skiers and snowshoeing enthusiasts will find plenty of trails and unsurpassed beauty at the region’s two nordic trail systems. Ski races and events are held over the course of the season, which typically runs from late November (weather permitting) until mid April.

Rangeley Lakes Cross Country Ski Club and Trails: A Pisten Bully groomed municipal trail system, provides 75 km of interconnecting loop trails for skiers of all skill levels. The trails, which offer panoramic scenic vistas of the Rangeley area, travel through stands of woods and open fields. Both set track and skating lanes are offered. A lodge (yurt) on the premises is open from November through April. Ski rental equipment and a snack bar are available at the lodge. The Rangeley Lakes Cross Country Ski Club is a non-profit organization staffed by volunteers, with all proceeds going to the care and maintenance of the trail system. Both season and day passes are available for purhase. The trails have moved with the start of the 2005-2006 season and are now located at Saddleback Mountain. From Route 4 in Rangeley, take Dallas Hill Rd, Go approximately 2.2 miles and take a right onto Saddleback Mt. Road. 2.4 miles on left is the Rangeley Lakes Trails Center. For prices, trail maps, trail conditions, and more info. please visit the ski club’s website or call 207-864-4309.

Ski Nordic at Saddleback Mountain: This 40 km nordic trail system passes through the 12,000 acre Saddleback Preserve, over gentle to challenging terrain and surrounds the Saddleback Lake area. Groomed trails appeal to all ability levels, from beginner to expert. Both single and double tracked trails allow for skating when possible. Marked wilderness trails offer the back-country skiing enthusiast a chance to explore the less traveled parts of the preserve. Saddleback Mountain boasts the highest elevation of any ski resort in New Englandand and averages over 200 inches of annual snowfall. Lessons and ski equipment rentals are available at the Saddleback Ski Area base lodge. Skiiers pay a day-use fee for use of the trails. For trail reports and further information call 207-864-5671 or visit the Saddleback Mountain website.

Maine’s Rangeley Lakes Region & Franklin County Directory Listings:

1 comment:

Deb JensenJanuary 23, 2016 at 7:55 pmReply

I saw on Bill greens Maine that you have night xc skiing. Is this true?