CAMDEN — Visitors to the Camden Snow Bowl may not have been aware of the 7.5 miles of trails available to cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and winter bikers.

A partnership between Camden Snow Bowl and Coastal Mountains Land Trust has created a growing network of trails throughout the Camden Snow Bowl and the Land Trust's 500-plus-acre Ragged Mountain Preserve. These wide, groomed trails weave through hardwood and spruce forests on the eastern side of Ragged Mountain and provide winter access for Nordic skiers, snowshoers, and winter bikers on fat bikes.

Access from the Snow Bowl is at the base of the Kuller Loop, which is located just to the left of the Carpet Lift. The Kuller Loop forms a 1.75-mile figure-8 trail and provides access to the Ragged Mountain Preserve Nordic Ski Loop, a 2-mile trail with gentle terrain that is part of the expanding Round the Mountain Trail system. Adventurous snowshoers can continue on to the Five Brooks Trail, an additional 2-mile loop. Snowshoers can also access the Hosmer Brook Trail, a 2-mile lollipop loop accessible from the Spinnaker alpine trail above the Triple Chair base.

Nordic skiers can also purchase a $5 single-ride lift ticket from the Snow Bowl to take the chairlift to the top of the Kuller Loop and thereby gain access to these trails without having to climb the initial ¼ mile. The Kuller Trail will be groomed regularly when snow conditions permit. Walkers are not allowed on these trails during winter months, but can access them when the snow melts.

Information about the trail system, including a map, is available at both the websites for both organizations: camdensnowbowl.com/nordic/ and coastalmountains.org.

For additional information about the Ragged Mountain Preserve and Coastal Mountains Land Trust, call 236-7091 or visit coastalmountains.org. Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay. The Land Trust has protected over 10,000 acres to date.

The Camden Snow Bowl is a community ski area owned and operated by the Town of Camden. The Snow Bowl winter operation contributes $3.5 million annually to the region's economy by attracting more than 30,000 skier visits and providing more than 60 jobs. It also provides free and reduced priced skiing and programming to more than 500 area youth.