One Big Mountain: Mountain Tour

Everything starts and ends in the same place at Sugarloaf. Seven of the 14 lifts lie within walking distance of the base lodge. The easiest terrain flanks the village, offering favorites like beginner-friendly Birches, accessible off the Snubber Triple Chair, and Family Fun parks off the Wiffletree Quad. Sugarloaf’s east side is home to the area’s toughest terrain, including the snowfields on the upper mountainand the King Pine Bowl. If you’re looking for groomers and cruisers, stick to the Loaf’s large central section.The Sugarloaf Superquad, high speed and centrally located, provides access to almost everything on the mountain. It bisects the bump-laden Skidder trail and the cruiser run Competition Hill and delivers quick trips to many of Sugarloaf’s 36 intermediate trails. For classic New England skiing, head west off the Superquad to the West Mountain and Bucksaw doubles. For a scenic cruiser, head east off the quad to the Rookie River glade, which follows a creekbed and is so wide open between the trees that you’ll feel like you’re out West. Snowmaking covers 92 percent of the mountain, but diehards looking for natural skiing and powder stashes can find it in the Snowfields, the only above-treeline skiing in the East. Bubblecuffer, steep and full of moguls, is among the best. To get there, take the Superquad and ski down Bridle Chain to the Timberline Quad. Sugarloaf also has hike-to runs off the summit and down the backside to the King Pine Area. For a leg-burning, 3-mile cruiser, Tote Road takes you from the top to the village in 2,820 vertical feet.

One Big Mountain

One Big Mountain: Almanac