Camden Snow Bowl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camden Snow Bowl |
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|---|---|
| Location | Ragged Mountain |
| Nearest city | Camden, Maine |
| Coordinates | 44°13′02″N 69°08′05″W / 44.217216°N 69.134667°W |
| Vertical | 845 feet (258 m) |
| Top elevation | 1,080 feet (330 m) |
| Base elevation | 235 feet (72 m) |
| Skiable area | 100 acres (40 ha) |
| Runs | 17 |
| Longest run | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Lift system | • 1 double chair • 1 triple chair • 1 carpet lift |
| Terrain parks | 2 |
| Snowfall | 70 inches (1,800 mm) |
| Snowmaking | 48 acres (19 ha) |
| Night skiing | yes |
| Website | http://www.camdensnowbowl.com/ |
The Camden Snow Bowl is a special place for winter fun in Camden, Maine. It's a small ski area owned by the town itself. You can find it on Ragged Mountain, which is about 4.5 miles from Penobscot Bay. What makes it super cool is that you can ski down the slopes and see the ocean at the same time!
Besides downhill skiing, the Snow Bowl also has trails for cross-country skiing. Plus, it has a famous 400-foot (122 m) toboggan run. This run is so well-known that it hosts the U.S. National Toboggan Championships every single year!
History of the Snow Bowl
The Camden Snow Bowl first opened its doors in 1936. This was during a very tough time in American history called the Great Depression. Many people were out of work and money was scarce.
Even with these challenges, the community came together to build the Snow Bowl. The main lodge was built using materials that people donated. Volunteers from the town also helped by giving their time and effort for free.
To help clear the ski trails and build a road to the lodge, funding came from a government program. This program was called the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA helped put people back to work on important projects all over the country. Thanks to these efforts, the Camden Snow Bowl became a place for everyone to enjoy winter sports.
Fun on the Slopes
The Camden Snow Bowl offers a great experience for skiers and snowboarders. It has 17 different trails for you to explore. The longest run is about 1 mile long, which is a good distance for a fun ride down the mountain.
The mountain has a vertical drop of 845 feet. This means the difference in height from the very top to the bottom of the ski area is 845 feet. The highest point you can ski from is 1080 feet up!
To get you up the mountain, the Snow Bowl has a few different lifts. There's a double chairlift, a triple chairlift, and a carpet lift. These lifts help you get back to the top quickly so you can enjoy more runs.
If you love tricks and jumps, you'll be happy to know there are two terrain parks. These parks are designed for skiers and snowboarders to practice their skills and have extra fun.
Winter Wonderland Activities
The Camden Snow Bowl gets about 70 inches of natural snow each winter. That's a lot of snow for skiing and snowboarding! If nature doesn't provide enough, they also have snowmaking equipment. This can cover about 48 acres of the mountain to make sure there's always enough snow for you to enjoy.
You can even ski at night! The Snow Bowl offers night skiing, which is a unique experience. Imagine gliding down the slopes under the stars.
One of the most famous attractions is the toboggan run. It's a thrilling ride that's fun for families and friends. The annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships bring people from all over to compete and watch. It's a big winter festival in Camden!
