For the 2026 Best of Aroostook Awards, 1,737 voters chose three their three favorite places to ski across The County.

First Place: Big Rock Mountain | Mars Hill, Maine

Rising above the farmland of Aroostook County, Big Rock Mountain sits on the western face of Mars Hill Mountain near the Canadian border. At 1,748 feet, Mars Hill is the highest peak in northeastern Maine, and its slopes have a long history with skiing. Family histories recall people skiing the mountain as early as 1900, while the first modern attempts to establish a ski area came in the 1950s.  

The modern ski area began taking shape in the early 1960s as the Mars Hill Skiway. A Poma lift opened in 1961, and the mountain quickly gained attention beyond Aroostook County. The ski area eventually became known as Big Rock Mountain after Wendell and Marie Pierce purchased it in 1967.

Today, Big Rock is one of Northern Maine's larger ski areas, with two chairlifts, 26 trails, 80 acres of snowmaking, night skiing and nearly 1,000 feet of continuous vertical drop. It is a place where experienced skiers can chase the steeper terrain while families and beginners can find room to learn and enjoy the mountain together. Big Rock is also a little different from many ski resorts as it is operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

That community spirit is part of what makes Big Rock feel like an Aroostook institution. Generations of families have grown up skiing Mars Hill Mountain, and today's nonprofit continues that tradition with a simple goal: keeping skiing an outdoor activity the whole family can enjoy. For many Mainers this is where they learn to ski!

With 298 votes, Big Rock Mountain was the overwhelming choice for Best Ski Area in Aroostook in 2026.

Second Place: Fort Kent Outdoor Center | Fort Kent, Maine

At the northern end of Aroostook County, the Fort Kent Outdoor Center brings together skiing, biathlon and year-round outdoor recreation in the St. John Valley.

Since 1999, the center has provided a home for outdoor recreation with 40 kilometers of trails, a biathlon range and the 10th Mountain Lodge. The lodge overlooks the biathlon stadium and includes a great room, kitchen, competition office and fieldstone fireplace, making it a welcoming base for a day outside.

The center's biathlon history is particularly impressive. Fort Kent has hosted World Cup biathlon competition and continues to welcome collegiate and national-level competitions. Its stadium includes 30 shooting lanes with mechanical targets, with 10 lanes equipped for nighttime lighting. For recreational skiers, the center offers both no-wax and skating skis for rental, along with snowshoes. Day and season passes are available for those looking to make the Nordic trails part of their winter routine. The Fort Kent Outdoor Center is a great example of how Aroostook's winter recreation is about more than one season or one type of skier. The same trails and facilities that welcome world-class athletes are also available for families, local skiers and visitors who simply want to spend a winter day outside.

The Fort Kent Outdoor Center received 43 votes and was named the second-place winner for Best Ski Area in the 2026 Best of Aroostook Awards.

Third Place: Lonesome Pine Trails | Fort Kent, Maine

In Fort Kent, Maine, Lonesome Pine Ski Area brings alpine skiing to the St. John Valley, with a mountain setting that has been part of the region's winter recreation tradition for generations.

Lonesome Pine is a great place to spend a winter day on the slopes, whether you're looking to make turns with friends, introduce someone to skiing or simply enjoy a day outside in the northern Maine winter. Its location in Fort Kent also puts skiers close to the St. John Valley's restaurants, lodging and other winter activities, making it easy to build a full day around a visit to the mountain.

Voters gave Lonesome Pine Trails 39 votes, earning it the third-place award for Best Ski Area in the 2026 Best of Aroostook Awards.

Honorable Mentions

Listed in order of popularity among voters

• Quoggy Jo Ski Center — Presque Isle, Maine
• Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge — Limestone, Maine
• Caribou High School Trails — Caribou, Maine
• Northern Maine Community Trails — Presque Isle, Maine

"Best Ski Area" is just one of eleven categories awarded by Aroostook County Tourism. Click here to see the full results of the 2026 Best of Aroostook Awards.

Aroostook County Tourism (ACT) is the Destination Marketing Organization of Maine's Aroostook County. ACT is comprised of a 12-member volunteer board who work to promote all of The County and invite visitors to find their own Aroostook adventure through marketing.

Best of Aroostook is a fun way to highlight Aroostook County and no prizes are given. Method: winners are announced for the top three organizations per category and the other organizations in that category are recognized as honorable mentions. As is tradition, the honor system guides the rules for voting as "Aroostook's Best" is meant to be a fun way to recognize the gems in the Crown of Maine. Vote and act respectfully. Votes were accepted between January 1, 2026 and March 24, 2026, lists published in April of 2026.