Winter has finally blanketed Midcoast Maine in fresh powder, providing the region with a subtle glow just in time for the holidays. As the Atlantic Ocean’s sapphire blue waves continue to lap against Camden’s sandy shores, the city’s historic buildings, tall trees, and surrounding mountains are all sporting a fresh coat of sugar-white snow. For many, winter’s arrival signifies holiday cheer, cozy evenings beside crackling fireplaces, and romantic walks underneath swaying snowflakes. Some travelers have shrewdly adopted hygge, a Danish obsession that’s sweeping the nation. In order to feel comfortable amid winter’s frosty aura, one must embrace the outdoors, even when the temperatures dip below freezing. And one of the many ways travelers here at Camden Harbour Inn embrace the season is by cross-country skiing in Maine.
A Midday Adventure: Cross-Country Skiing in Maine
Several nearby winter wonderlands provide world-class cross-country skiing in Maine, including Jefferson’s Hidden Valley Nature Center, a 1,000-acre protected land. However, two scenic, expansive adult playgrounds rest within Camden’s city limits. Most wintertime guests escape to Camden Harbour Inn to unwind, relax, and rejuvenate. But it wouldn’t be a romantic midwinter getaway without an afternoon of physical exertion to blow off some stress.
Camden Hills State Park
Camden Hills State Park is known for its dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean, downtown Camden, and Megunticook Lake. It’s popular among snowshoers, winter hikers, and, yes, Nordic skiers. Two short, on-site Nordic skiing trails provide breathtaking vistas of Penobscot Bay, including the oft-visited Mount Battie Trail. Most groups, however, carve through the five-mile multi-use trail, which follows Megunticook Lake for a portion of the journey. It also meanders past dense forestry, frozen bogs, curious wildlife, and even an elderly ski lodge.
Camden Snow Bowl
The Camden Snow Bowl remains one of the state’s premier ski areas as it features 105 acres of terrain, a snowboard park, nearly two dozen trails, and five kilometers of cross-country access. Most thrillseekers combine cross-country skiing with another activity or two, such as snow tubing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding. Perhaps the best part of the Snow Bowl’s two Nordic trails is that they’re free to the public, making this snow-covered destination a hotspot for cross-country skiing in Maine. The “Ragged Mountain Preserve Trail” is entirely ungroomed but only moderately challenging. The “Kuller” loop, meanwhile, features a steep climb and sharp turns. As one of the best ski mountains in Maine, locals and travelers alike cannot stay away.
Luxuriant Hotels in Camden, Maine
After several hours of cross-country skiing in Maine, retreat to Camden Harbour Inn for a lavish, prix fixe dinner at Natalie’s Restaurant followed by a craft cocktail beside an elegant fireplace. Then, with nothing but the moon, a few city lights, and stars as a guide, go for a stroll underneath falling snowflakes to commemorate a glorious day in Midcoast Maine. Camden Harbour’s suites, meanwhile, are the perfect place to relax with a sweetheart after a rejuvenating day in nature. Each suite is draped in sophistication, including striking local art, high-end furnishings, and dazzling bathrooms. Couples from across New England are encouraged to visit Camden Harbour Inn this winter to revel inside this Relais & Châteaux, AAA Four-Diamond boutique hotel.