Camden Snow Bowl
The Snow Bowl is where thousands of local kids enjoy their first halting, pizza-wedge descent down the side of the mountain. “Generations have grown up at the Snow Bowl, a tradition that endures,” says Interim General Manager Holly S. Anderson. She delights in seeing beginners out on the slopes. “They start out spending time with their families, learning the mountain and gaining experience and confidence on skis, and eventually, we watch them out here with their friends socializing and becoming responsible and independent. They come back with their college pals to share that hometown experience they had growing up, and eventually, they bring their own families here, completing the circle.”
Built in 1926 and originally operated solely by volunteers, the Snow Bowl is now owned and operated by the Town of Camden. But Anderson is quick to note that “scores of volunteers continue to make it possible for the ski area to spin lifts and serve the community today.”
Known for its old-school feel and welcoming vibe, the Snow Bowl is where locals and visitors alike can feel like a regular and experience the rustic appeal of the A-frame lodge, which Anderson describes as “quaint, but not precious.”
Don’t be folled by the laid-back attitude though; the staff is knowledgable and professional, and the snowmakers and groomers are top-notch. Keeping the snow up to par on a mountain that sits so close to the ocean is no easy task. With 105 acres of skiable terrain, fifteen trails, eleven glades, and a 400-foot toboggan chute, the Snow Bowl is perfect for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. And there’s terrain for hiking and biking, too — making the mountain a go-to for all sorts of exercise and fun!
Not just a home to skiers, the Snow Bowl hosts the National Toboggan Championships and offers tubing and tobogganing during the winter season. The toboggan chute provides a thrilling, fast-paced joy ride down the mountain that ends with a spin across the frozen surface of Hosmer Pond.
Giving back to the community has always been part of the equation. The Snow Bowl provides discounted rates for Camden residents, free community ski days, a beloved free ski program for area fourth graders, and youth scholarships! The mountain also brings hundreds of winter visitors to the area which is a boon to the local economy, providing off-season employment to people who work on schooners and at local seasonal businesses.
FAMOUS FOR:
The view of Penobscot Bay, the islands and surrounding hills and mountains from the top of the triple chairlift. On a clear day, you can see across the bay to Blue Hill and even Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. One fan once said, “To see the ocean and the tips of your skis at the same time is something that few get to experience in this life.”
ADDRESS:
20 Barnestown Road in Camden, Maine
WEBSITE:
camdensnowbowl.com
Written by Lisa Utman Randall
Photographs by Marina French
