Ultimate Winter Escape to NEOC for Snowmobiling, Skiing and More

The New England Outdoor Center, NEOC, is one of our favorite destinations for enjoying all kinds of adventures in the woods and at nearby Baxter State Park, and visiting in the winter is extra special. NEOC is a great homebase for all kinds of winter sports, whether you’ve got your own gear or you need a place where you can rent everything for exploring the wilds on your own. From Nordic trails to guided snow mobile tours, we’ve got the scoop on all that you can expect from planning outdoor winter activities at NEOC in Millinocket.

Something we’ve found is that it’s tricky to find places where you can both rent winter gear AND be able to use it directly onsite. With the New England Outdoor Center’s rental shop and the Katahdin Area Trails all being right there at NEOC, it’s the perfect destination for a winter sports trip to Maine. Read on and let us help you plan a fun winter getaway to NEOC enjoying the outdoors and the frozen landscape of Millinocket Lake. If you have any questions or need additional recomendations, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more tips and ideas so you can have a fun winter experience in Maine.

Why Visit NEOC for Winter Activities

As you’re planning your winter weekend getaway or annual winter sports trip, NEOC is an awesome destination to include. What I found to be the best part of having three days of our snow adventures here was the central location for everything. It’s funny because initially the New England Outdoor Center doesn’t seem like a resort, but more like a camp you would go to for a good old fashion outdoors week (which is it), but then once you’re here and you have access to the gear, the grounds, the restaurants and nice accommodations, it really does feel like a resort but wonderfully wintery.

When we’re at NEOC in other seasons we’re exploring beyond much more, like up into Baxter State Park and such, but for the winter months we’re just here. Something else that is particularly nice about the winter activities at NEOC is the helpful staff and ease of access to gear. Since we don’t have our own winter sports gear beyond our snow pants and jackets, the gear rentals on property are great for making it an easy trip. We literally only needed to show up with warm clothes and they had everything else available for all of out winter activities. NEOC even has heavy duty parkas available, which are fantastic if you’re doing a snowmobiling tour. To be able to head off to a destination like Millinocket and not have to worry about your accessibility, comfort and safety outdoors is such a bonus.

Note: it’s actually kind of difficult to find basic winter gear rentals around Maine. Maine Sport Outfitters in Camden is one of the only places that you can rent snowshoes, skis of different sorts, and ice skats to take with you as you explore around the state. That’s where NEOC really shines at making it an easy winter destination.

Tips for Visiting NEOC in Winter Months

When you’re planning your time at the New England Outdoor Center in the winter, you’ll be tempted to overschedule yourself, especially if you’re here towards the end of February or beginning of March when there is more daylight. I would advise you to allow yourself lots of time between your snow activities so that you can physically recover and have some good, solid energy for your next activity. With so many things to do, between all the trails and ways to enjoy them, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy, but you have to remember that snow sports can be quite draining. Spending and hour or two snowshoeing can use a lot more energy and quite different muscles than regular walking or hiking, as does cross country skiing. Pace your days and enjoy downtime in the lodge or your cabin.

Something else to consider when you’re planning your visit to NEOC in the winter months is if you’ll want to explore on your own or with a guide while you’re here. Things like cross country skiing on the Nordic paths of the Katahdin Area Trails or snowshoeing on frozen Millinocket Lake are easy to do on your own, but if you want to go ice fishing or snowmobiling, those are better with guides both for expertise and safety. In addition to having somebody who knows the ins and outs of each activity, they also will supply the gear and make sure you have a great experience, so consider if something like this is in your budget for your visit.

Is there Snowmobiling at NEOC in the Winter

Now, unless you’re a Mainer and you’re coming to NEOC in the winter, you probably aren’t bringing a snowmobile with you (also called a snow machine). That’s okay, because there are two options for you when you arrive: snowmobile rentals or guided snowmobile tours. If you’re doing a rental, they have guidelines for you and you’ll need to go through a safety process and everything, but it can be a fun option for experienced winter explorers. Doing a guided snowmobile tour is really fun though. Maybe it’s because I get a bit disoriented when everything is covered in snow or maybe I just need somebody to get me out of my comfort zone, but being out on the snowmobile routes with a guide is really fun and unique. We did a four hour guided tour from NEOC and covered so much ground. Read more about it below.

Being Prepared for Winter at NEOC

As you prepare for your trip to NEOC in the winter you do still need to pack thoughtfully. Yes, they have the sporting gear for you to rent and they have the amazing parkas if you’re doing a snowmobile tour, but you still need to be ready to face the cold of Maine in winter. Here is my very basic packing list:

• stocking cap / tuk
• warm flexible pants and shirts (to wear as a base layer)
• sweaters or fleece (best with thumb holes)
• buff and balaclava (maybe a scarf also)
• glove liners and top gloves

Remember that as you’re out being active in the snow you can always remove a layer or two, but on those cold, clear days when the temperature is only 5 degrees F when a breeze rolls through, it can be bone chilling. If you’re also staying overnight at the New England Outdoor Center in one of the awesome cabins, you’ll need to be sure you have breakfast fixings for each day. Although there are two restaurants on property, neither Knife Edge Brewery nor River Drivers is open for breakfast. You’ll need to fix it yourself in your cabin.

Something else not to forget for a NEOC winter trip is your camera gear. NEOC is set right on Millinocket Lake with Katahdin looking down and it’s beautiful. The photography opportunities in the winter are wonderful. Whether you’re into wildlife photography and you’re looking for foxes and birds or if you’re visiting and hoping for an incredible showing of the Aurora Borealis, make sure you’re ready with your cameras. And keep in mind that the extreme cold wears down batteries very quickly. During our snowmobile tour I went through two batteries for my GoPro 11 as it was attached to my windshield and was subject to negatvie temperatures as we rode through the woods.

Winter Activities and Rentals at NEOC

Now for the fun part, all the awesome things to do at NEOC in the winter! Everyone has their favorite winter sports or ways to enjoy the cold, so choose what’s best for you and your crew, keeping in mind that winter sports require a lot of energy and you need to keep the extreme cold in mind for everyone’s safety.

Cross Country Skiing at NEOC

The Katahdin Area Trails are one of the big attractions of coming to NEOC any time of year, especially if you’re a mountain biker, but in winter there is a whole new activity you can enjoy on the KAT in the snow: Nordic skiing. I love cross country skiing because it’s both peaceful and an incredible workout. The trails at NEOC are groomed (mostly), well marked, and provide the right amount of challenge for any skill level.

You can rent cross country skis and boots from the Knife Edge Brewing building and leave directly from there to the trails. Ask for recommendations for which trails are best for your skills and energy, and then head off into the wilderness. Be alert for wildlife including foxes, black bear (yes, even in winter sometimes), lynx and even moose. The snowy forest makes it easier to spot animals against the white background, so hopefully you’ll get to see some cool wildlife while you’re cross country skiing at NEOC.

Snowshoeing on Frozen Millinocket Lake

One of the coolest things to enjoy anywhere in Maine when it’s the deep winter is walking on the frozen lakes, ponds and rivers. You should only do it where you know it’s safe and where the ice is frozen 6 inches thick or more, and Millinocket Lake is one of those places for most of the winter months. Again renting your gear at the Knife Edge Brewing building, bring your snowshoes to the lake’s edge either from your cabin or at the main NEOC lodge building and head out onto the frozen water. You have a blank canvas to explore in the shadow of Katahdin as you trek across the lake.

Some interesting snow drifts form around the rocks and islands, and you can find all sorts of animal tracks out on the ice. I like snowshoeing in general because it makes getting through the deeper snow so much easier, but like with cross country skiing, you use muscle groups you’re not used to for hiking or biking, as you’re lifting your legs a lot more and working to balance sometimes. Snowshoeing at NEOC is really fun and beautiful, but it’ll wear you out. Besides navigated the frozen Millinocket Lake, you can also snowshoe on most of the Katahdin Area Trails. There is clear signage to get through the network of trails, and it’s noted where snowmobiles are allowed, so you can proceed safely.

Snowmobiling at the New England Outdoor Center

I mentioned before that you can either rent snowmobiles or you can do a guided snowmobile tour out of NEOC. You can also bring your own if you live in the Northeast and are traveling with a snow machine. Starting from NEOC you’ll have easy access to a vast network of snowmobile trails that connect from the Appalachian Trail all the way to the coast and even into Vermont and New Hampshire.

For the guided snowmobile tours, you have a few options for how long you can be gone. A guide will make sure you’re all set to be in the extreme cold, will outfit you with the proper cold weather gear (or you can wear your own), and then ensure you understand how to operate a snowmobile safely (there’s a required safety video). Once you’re out on the trails, you’ll be guided to a variety of locations and sights, from epic views of Katahdin to secret places in the woods to experience Maine’s winter wildlife. Crossing the icy rivers is just beautiful, and you’ll love the long, fast stretches of riding through the winter wonderland of the woods.

Winter Fat Tire Biking in the Snow

I know that sounds so strange to some people, but snow biking is a thing and lots of people enjoy it. Winter fat tire biking at NEOC is a unique sort of activity that will really challenge even the most in shape winter sportster. Renting fat tire bikes at gear center at Knife Edge Brewing at NEOC, you can ride directly out and either hit the mountain bike trails or ride on the road. Fat tire bikes are heavier than a regular bike, so it’s more work, but you can go far and access trails differently than if you were snowshoeing.

Tip: do NOT wear snow pants when biking. You need to wear pants that stay close to your body and won’t get caught on the gears. If you’re wearing snow pants, you’ll likely snag on the bike gear, either making it difficult to ride or even tearing your pants. Be smart about it!

Getting to the New England Outdoor Center

The New England Outdoor Center is in the middle of the eastern Highlands. From Bangor it’s about 2 hours, from Bar Harbor about 3.5 hours and from Portland around 4 hours driving. As you head up into the hills approaching Millinocket you’ll lose cell service in a few spots. I recommend downloading offline maps of the area, including Baxter State Park, before you start your drive. When you visit in winter, the roads are well maintained as long as you’re not driving in the middle of a snow storm.

Once you make it to NEOC, you’ll have two different areas you may be heading: the gear hub at Knife Edge Brewing or Millinocket Lake (the lodge with River Drivers) . They’re both very close to one another, but double check where you should be heading just to save a few minutes. People are pretty chill though, so if you cut it close for a scheduled tour or rental, they’ll understand. Be sure to call the office if you’re going to be late though.

More Things to do in the Highlands of Maine

The Highlands of Maine stretch from Bangor and sprawl to the north and west following the rise of the Appalachians. There are lots of small towns and state parks, and some of the most beautiful sights in Maine. I know that most people think of coastal Maine and its lighthouses when they think of what they’ll see when they come for a visit, but the Highlands are really the playground of Mainers. This region is why Maine is called “Vacationland” and you’ll see why when you come for a visit.

And you cannot forget that the Highlands is an epic winter playground too, with destinations like Sunday River, Saddleback and Sugarloaf. In winter you’ve got downhill and Nordic skiing, and in summer it’s all about hiking and fishing. During fall this is where you come for leaf peeping and to look for moose and other Maine wildlife.

Here are some great ideas for ways to enjoy the Highlands of Maine.

Where to Stay in the Highlands

Depending on the season you’re visiting the Highlands, you will have different options for where to stay. If you’re planning on climbing Mount Katahdin or doing a portion of the Appalachian Trail, Millinocket is a great place to be based. For other Appalachian Trail launch points you can find fun places to stay in Eustace, the Carrabassett Valley, and Rangely. Another amazing summertime destination is Greenville and Moosehead Lake.

For skiing you can stay in Newry or Hanover (for Sunday River), Rangely or Phillips (for Saddleback), or Carrabassett Valley for Sugarloaf. You’ll find lots of cross country / Nordic skiing all over, but the Katahdin Area Trails are great for it!