Sunday River sits in the western mountains of Maine, near the small New England town of Bethel - a classic white-clapboard village that looks exactly like a postcard of rural America. The resort has been a cornerstone of East Coast skiing since 1959 and built its reputation on two things: an aggressive snowmaking system that's widely regarded as one of the best in the world, and a spread-out mountain layout across eight interconnected peaks that gives the place a sense of scale unusual for the northeastern United States. Sunday River is where New England skiing takes itself seriously, and the result is a resort that consistently delivers reliable conditions from November through late April.

The mountain spans roughly 358 hectares of skiable terrain across 139 runs, served by 19 lifts including four high-speed quads, a high-speed six-pack, and a gondola. The summit reaches 957m with a base at 244m, giving a vertical drop of 713m. The trail split is well balanced: 31% beginner, 35% intermediate, and 34% advanced and expert - a genuine all-rounder. The longest run stretches to nearly 5km, and five terrain parks cater to freestyle riders. Sunday River's snowmaking covers over 95% of its terrain, which is extraordinary by any standard and means the resort can open early and stay open late regardless of what the New England weather throws at it.

Beyond the slopes, Bethel provides a quiet, charming base with a handful of good restaurants, a historic inn, and the kind of unhurried New England character that feels a world away from the bustle of Boston. The resort itself has slopeside accommodation and a developing base village with restaurants and shops. For UK visitors, Sunday River is an accessible introduction to East Coast American skiing - different in character from the Rockies, with its own rewards of tree skiing, ice-cold bluebird days, and a warmth of community that New England does well. Check out Sunday River ski deals to start planning your trip.