Sunday River
August 14th, 2009 by Powder Pig
By far the most up to date resort in New England. Sunday River is located in Bethel Maine just west of the New Hampshire border. This Ski Resort has been upgrading it facilities for the past several years. The resort has a elevation of 3140 feet with a vertical drop of 2340 feet across. 9 mountain peaks.
Sunday River is so big skiers and snowboarders could spend the entire winter there and have a blast everyday. The Ski Resort has interconnected 9 separate peaks called, White Cap, Locke Mountain, Barker Mountain, Spruce Peak, North Peak, South Ridge, Aurora Peak, Oz, and Jordan Bowl. More than enough skiing and riding for every skill level.
Sunday River has a mix of 6000 on mountain rooms and condominiums which makes it one of the best ski in ski out resorts in the USA. You can literally boot up on your back porch or front door and ski to a lift at Sunday River. Lodging ranges from a Dorm Style Lodge to The Summit Grand Resorts Hotel. They have taken the ski resort atmosphere from Vail and other pedestrian ski friendly villages and put it in Maine.
The most modern facilities can be found at The River including the East Coasts first Chondola. The lift is half Gondola and half chairlift. On December 20 Sunday River opened the first Chondola in the northeast US, carrying six-person chairs and eight-person gondola cars on one high-speed lift running from the South Ridge base area to the Peak Lodge on North Peak. This new lift cuts what was a 20-minute trip on two separate lifts to a single ride of just under seven minutes, bringing skiers and riders to a point from where they'll have direct access to six of Sunday River’s eight peaks in a single run.
A Chondola is a detachable six-person chairlift that carries gondola cabins at regular intervals. The $7.2 million hybrid lift is one of only four in North America and will transport skiers and riders from the South Ridge base area directly to the summit of North Peak, Users of the resort will be able to access all 6 peaks from the top of the Chondola.
When we first heard about this March 26 2008 everyone thought it was a April fools joke. Nope its for real. The Chondola was up and running by the beginning of the 2008-2009 ski season. Installing a Chondola has reduced congestion of the South Peak Base area at Sunday River.
Telluride has a Chonola also that goes right to your front door. It all starts with the "Chondola" a chairlift/gondola combination (a high-speed quad with a 4-person gondola cabin every 10th chair) that starts right at the base of the Meadows ski run very literally near the front door of there condos, and goes up into the Mountain Village.
Check out the view from North Peak Lodge on a sunny January afternoon.
Sunday River's main rental shop offers an extensive product selection and inventory, and is conveniently located at the South Ridge Base Lodge. The Ski Resort Ski Shop features skis from Rossignol, ski boots by Dalbello, and snowboards and boots from Burton and Rossignol. This extensive state of the art product mix offers the snow sport participant of all skill levels a match to the fit, comfort, and performance level he or she needs.
Activities include the White Cap Fun Center conveniently located on-mountian and accessible by complimentary trolley service, the White Cap Fun Center offers a lighted ice skating rink, an arcade, a lighted tubing park open afternoons and evenings, and family dining. It's the ultimate apres ski destination for kids.
The Black Diamond Entertainment Series and BudLite Concert Series features internationally artists and and performers with comedy, magic, music and more. Tickets are available at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel, the South Ridge Welcome Concourse and the Snow Cap Inn.
Sunday River offers on-site day care for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years at three on-mountain locations. Full- and half-day day care is available. We are a fully licensed child care facility through the State of Maine Department of Human Services. Reservations are required in advance as space is limited and for staffing purposes.
Whatever you're looking for, a World Famous Perfect Turn Ski & Snowboard School has it. Pefect Turn offers group and private clinics daily for all ages and all abilities, from young to old and beginner to expert. A variety of seasonal programs are also available.
Whether you just need a refresher or want become one of Perfect Turn's many regular participants, each clinic is sure to be a fun and rewarding experience, and will enhance your on-hill performance. New for the 07/08 season is the installation of a state-of-the-art magic carpet surface lift, which is the easiest and most fun way to get up the slope. It's located just steps away from the Sprint Discovery Center.
Getiing to Sunday River:
Maine
Get to Sunday River From Bethel, ME
Follow Rt. 2 East for 2.6 miles. Take a left onto Sunday River Road, marked by the large Sunday River Brewery (big building with red roof). Follow Sunday River Road to a fork with a "Sunday River Ski Resort" sign. Fork left and follow signs for the Grand Summit Hotel, base lodges, and amenities (1 mile). Fork right and follow signs for the Jordan Grand Resort Hotel (5 miles).
Get to Sunday River From Portland Jetport / Portland, ME
Exit the Jetport and follow signs to I-95, the Main Turnpike. Take I-95 North to Exit 63 / Gray for Route 26. Take Route 26 North to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Bangor, ME
Take I-95 South to Exit 157/ Newport for Route 2. Follow Route 2 West to Sunday River Road, marked by the large Sunday River Brewery (big building with red roof), a few miles before reaching Bethel. Follow directions above.
Get to Sunday River From New Hampshire
Get to Sunday River From Manchester, NH
Take I-93 North to Exit 35 / Twin Mountain for Route 3. Take Route 3 North to Route 115 North. At the end of Route 115, go right on Route 2 East all the way to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From North Conway, NH
Take Route 16 North to the intersection with Route 2 in Gorhan, NH. Take Route 2 East all the way to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Portsmouth, NH
Take I-95 North into Maine. Follow I-95 / Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 / Gray for Route 26. Take Route 26 North to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Concord, NH
Take I-93 North to Exit 35 / Twin Mountain for Route 3. Take Route 3 North to Route 115 North. At the end of Route 115, go right on Route 2 East all the way to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Massachusetts
Get to Sunday River From Boston, MA
Take I-95 North into Maine. Follow I-95 / Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 / Gray for Route 26. Take Route 26 North to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Logan International Airport take Route 60 North to Route 1 North to I-95 North and follow directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Worcester, MA
Take Route 290 North to Route 495 North, then follow Route 495 to I-95. Take I-95 North into Maine. Follow I-95 / Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 / Gray for Route 26. Take Route 26 North to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Springfield, MA / Western Massachusetts
Take Mass Pike / I-90 East to Exit 10 / Auburn. Take Route 290 North to Route 495 North, then follow Route 495 to I-95. Take I-95 North into Maine. Follow I-95 / Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 / Gray for Route 26. Take Route 26 North to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Rhode Island
Get to Sunday River From Providence, RI
Take I-95 North into Maine. Follow I-95 / Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 / Gray for Route 26. Take Route 26 North to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Connecticut
Get to Sunday River From Hartford, CT
Take I-84 East to the Mass Pike / I-90. Take Mass Pike / I-90 East to Exit 10 / Auburn. Take Route 290 North to Route 495 North, then follow Route 495 to I-95. Take I-95 North into Maine. Follow I-95 / Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 / Gray for Route 26. Take Route 26 North to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From New York
Get to Sunday River From New York City
Take I-84 East to the Mass Pike / I-90. Take Mass Pike / I-90 East to Exit 10 / Auburn. Take Route 290 North to Route 495 North, then follow Route 495 to I-95. Take I-95 North into Maine. Follow I-95 / Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 / Gray for Route 26. Take Route 26 North to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Upstate New York
Take New York Thruway / I-90 East to Mass Pike / I-90. Take Mass Pike / I-90 East to Exit 10 / Auburn. Take Route 290 North to Route 495 North, then follow Route 495 to I-95. Take I-95 North into Maine. Follow I-95 / Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 / Gray for Route 26. Take Route 26 North to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Pennsylvania
Get to Sunday River From Philadelphia, PA
Take I-95 North into Maine. Follow I-95 / Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 / Gray for Route 26. Take Route 26 North to Bethel. Refer to Bethel directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Canada
Get to Sunday River From New Brunswick CA.
Take Route 3 South to St. Stephen / Calais, Maine, then Route 9 West to Bangor. Take I-95 South to Exit 157 / Newport for Route 2. Follow Route 2 West to Sunday River Road, marked by the large Sunday River Brewery (big building with red roof), a few miles before reaching Bethel. Follow directions above.
Get to Sunday River From Toronto / Montreal, ON
From Toronto, take Route 401 East to Route 20 East through Montreal. Get on Route 10 East leaving Montreal, to Route 55 South. Take Route 55 South to Route 141 East. Route 141 will take you through U.S. Customs in Canaan, VT. After Customs, take Route 3 South to Colebrook, NH. In Colebrook, take Route 26 South. Shortly before reaching Bethel, Maine, Route 26 South joins Route 2 West and leads to the turn for Sunday River Road, marked by the large Sunday River Brewery (big building with red roof), a few miles before Bethel. Follow directions above.
