Saddleback Named Top East Ski Resort Again
Ski magazine's 2027 Reader Resort Survey ranked Saddleback Mountain No. 1 in the East for a second straight year.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Skiing
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Ski magazine released its top 20 East resorts list for 2027 on Wednesday, placing Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley, Maine, first for the second consecutive year. The ranking is part of the annual Reader Resort Survey.
Why it matters
The repeat top ranking highlights Saddleback's standing among Maine skiers and East Coast visitors deciding where to spend winter weekends. For Maine, it underscores the state's ski destinations as a draw for regional tourism.
The Reader Resort Survey ranked resorts across 17 categories, from snow and lifts to apres ski and overall satisfaction. The results do not specify the scoring margin between Saddleback and the runner-up resorts.
The players
Ski magazine
A ski-focused publication that runs an annual Reader Resort Survey ranking North American ski destinations.
Saddleback Mountain
A ski resort in Rangeley, Maine, about 110 miles from Portland, that reopened in 2020 after a long closure.
The details
Ski magazine sent the survey to readers in the spring, and respondents rated East resorts in categories ranging from snow and lifts to apres ski and overall satisfaction. Saddleback Mountain, a 65-year-old resort with 68 trails across more than 600 acres and a 2,000-foot vertical drop, was highlighted by resort officials in a Facebook post celebrating the result.
Timeline
Spring 2026: Ski magazine sends the Reader Resort Survey to readers.
2020: Saddleback reopens after a longtime closure.
November 4, 2026: Ski magazine releases its 2027 top 20 East resorts list.
Season Trajectory
Saddleback's back-to-back No. 1 finish in Ski magazine's East rankings extends a run that has elevated a resort which only recently returned after a long closure. The result signals sustained reader confidence in a Maine mountain as East Coast ski destinations compete for winter visitors.
Saddleback's repeat top finish gives skiers a ranked benchmark when choosing an East resort for the season. Visitors weighing a trip from Portland, about 110 miles away, can use the survey's category breakdowns to compare snow, lifts, and après-ski options.
The takeaway
Saddleback's second straight No. 1 East ranking shows that readers consistently reward resorts that deliver across snow, lifts, and overall experience. Skiers planning a season can use category-level survey results to match a resort to their priorities.
Further reading
Explore more Skiing coverage for context on East Coast resort rankings and the season ahead.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Boston.
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