Trip Report: BigRock Mountain 2/7/2026

When looking at a map of ski areas in Maine, BigRock has always caught my attention due to its distance from the other mountains, which are clustered together. Back in High School, I set a goal for myself to ski every chairlift-served mountain in Maine before I graduate college. Being in college now, I was surprised to check my email inbox one morning to see something from BigRock promoting their upcoming College Weekend for this weekend. I knew this was a great opportunity to try the ski area for the first time. I had been to the mountain a few times, but never in the winter to be able to ski it. Clearly, we were not the only ones trying out one of Maine’s most affordable mountains for the first time. I saw students from University of Maine at Fort Kent, at Presque Isle, and Orono, along with Husson University, and University of New Brunswick.

For first impressions, the conditions didn’t let us down. The brand new snowmaking system that got completed this past summer cranked throughout the early season, making for an impressive base. The new Doppelmayr Quad to the summit made for very comfortable laps all day long. This was great since the cold temps all week led to some great hard and fast conditions. The lift hardly ever had a wait, meaning you could get some serious vertical recorded in just one day.

Top Trails:

While the mountain wasn’t 100% open, we still got to try the majority of trails and glades at BigRock. Regardless, there were some standout trails that I don’t want any visitors to miss! Of course, there are lots of great trails, but I only got photos of a few.

Family Trail

Best Overall Trail

It’s hard to beat Family Trail. With its wide open layout that gives enough space for everyone… and then some! This trail, like all of the groomers at BigRock, skied amazingly! If I had to choose one trail that was the best for everyone, it’s this. However, you can’t go wrong with any of the groomed terrain at the mountain. The group I was with really enjoyed the rollers or bumps near the end of the trail, which is all thanks to the mountain’s special landscape and layout.

Comet

Best For Cruising

Another trail with fantastic grooming, Comet quickly became a favorite in our group. The majority of the trail is the former Gemini Double lift line. This trail was also quite wide and fun to cruise. Near the end, you have the choice to stay on Comet or go to Milky Way and follow the old lift line all the way back to the bottom.

Riding The Lift:

For those who have been here, you know the new quad has some unique footrests. Doppelmayr says the new “puck” style footrests give riders more comfort and are safer for small children since each person has something keeping them in the chair. For me, I found that putting the puck in between my skis and my boots worked the best. Feel free to try it out and let me know what you prefer on your next visit to BigRock.

Tips & Tricks:

If you decide to visit BigRock for yourself, read through our tips and tricks to ensure you have a great day outside.

• To get ahold of Ski Patrol, either ski down to the bottom patrol shack, notify a lift operator, or walk into the top patrol shack.
• Take a trail map at the ticket office, or a photo of the map before heading out. Being able to have the map with you will be very helpful. Trail Map: HERE
• Night Skiing is Wednesday through Friday. The mountain opens at 2:00pm for night skiing and closes at 8:00pm. Perfect for those wanting to get some skiing in after work or school.
• The Sunrise Quad sends the last chair up at 7:45pm on Wednesday through Friday (Night Skiing) and 3:45pm on Saturday and Sunday.
• BigRock uses a sticker ticket and a wire wicket. Make sure you attach it to a secure zipper and that it is visible for the lift operators.
• If you’re riding with a backpack, make sure to take it off on the lift. The straps could become caught in the chair and could lead to some unsafe situations. Take it off and you’ll be fine!

Closing Thoughts:

Overall, this was a great Saturday spent on the slopes. The light snow showers throughout the day reminded us it was only early February and there’s still a lot of season left. The views from the chair and the top are incredible with rural Maine as far as the eye can see. From Ski Patrol offering free hot chocolate at the summit patrol shack to every employee I came in contact with being the most friendly and outgoing, BigRock is a great family-focused mountain, and I recommend you start planning a trip this winter!

Check it out on your next trip to The County!
– Keegan