Most people associate Sugarloaf Mountain, in Maine’s Carrabassett Valley, with downhill skiing. However, in recent years, Sugarloaf Mountain Resort has made a big investment in developing and promoting its warm-weather activities, most notably mountain and gravel biking.
The resort offers an extensive network (over 50 miles) of trails at its Outdoor Center (just down the road from the mountain), as well as on the mountain itself, and now offers lift-assist service at the latter. Sugarloaf also hosts major mountain bike competitions, including the Eastern States Cup and the Eduro World Series.
The Outdoor Center serves as the hub of mountain biking in Carrabassett Valley, and features bike rentals, repair, service, apparel and equipment sales, as well as plenty of free advice on where to ride. The well-marked trails immediately around the Center loop around a pond and through forest and fields. They feature a variety of terrain, and are rated green, blue, or black so that riders know what to expect.
The trail network at the Center connects with others in the area that lead farther afield to places such as Stratton Brook. Suffice it say that you could spend a day on the trails and not even scratch the surface!
