WATERVILLE — Quarry Road Trails continues to be a shining example of community building.
“It’s Waterville’s best-kept secret,” Quarry Road Program Director Jeff Tucker said.
Recent improvements to the Alpine and Nordic trails reflect strong support for the program and growing demand.
The Alpine ski terrain has doubled this season — from 75 to 150 vertical feet — with help from Friends of Quarry Road, a nonprofit group whose mission is to strengthen greater Waterville by developing exceptional opportunities for four-season outdoor recreation, and volunteers.
At the Dec. 2 Waterville City Council meeting, Tucker said the city had reached an agreement with adjacent landowners to add trails on nearby parcels.
The rope tow ski hill, which serves the lower portion of the historic ski slope, opened Dec. 27. It is scheduled to remain open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 15.
During the winter, in addition to Alpine skiing and access to 8.2 miles of groomed Nordic trails, visitors can enjoy snowshoeing, fat biking and three sledding hills. A limited number of snowshoes are available to borrow at no charge.
Visitors may take their dogs on the walking trails, but the pets must be leashed or otherwise under their owner’s control. Dogs are not allowed on the groomed ski trails.
Tucker said the biggest challenge for the year-round recreational area, which covers more than 200 acres, is raising public awareness of its 80-year-old trail system.
Winter is the busiest season at Quarry Road, with visitors traveling from afar to experience some of the only Nordic ski trails in Maine with snowmaking.
The goal for Quarry Road Trails, which is at 300 Quarry Road and owned by the city of Waterville, is to build on this momentum by boosting marketing and advertising for the warmer months.
Tucker also pointed to Quarry Road Trails’ role in supporting the mountain biking scene in central Maine.
Walking and running are also popular uses of the trails. In the summer, the area hosts Tuesday night running groups, and this winter it plans to hold weekly community ski races after regular operating hours.
As Quarry Road Trails approaches its centennial, Tucker reflected on the development he has seen in recent years. An alumnus of Colby College, Tucker recalled his first exposure to the trails during a campus visit with the Nordic ski team.
Since then, he said, the trails have expanded significantly. Over the past five years, they have reopened the Alpine rope tow, doubled the Alpine ski terrain, installed lights for night skiing and added many multiuse trails.
“Fun little low-key community events that have helped shape this place and build it into what it is today” are the backbone of the program, Tucker said. “Change doesn’t happen quickly out here, but if you look at the arc and the positive impact it’s having in the community, it’s undeniable.”
“This place would not be here without volunteers,” Tucker said. “They are the heartbeat.”
Volunteers range from Friends of Quarry Road to local businesses and individual community members. Colby College students are also a major source of support.
Members of the Colby College Recreational Ski and Snowboard Club make up more than half of the weekend Learn to Ski coaches.
Colby student Julia Littlewood is one of the lead organizers for the college’s Alpine skiing volunteers at Quarry Road Trails. Littlewood, who taught skiing in Vermont throughout high school, said she was eager to get involved with the Quarry Road program when she arrived at Colby.
“I think there’s a great sense of community at Quarry,” she said, “and I’ve loved how it’s allowed me to connect with people outside of Colby.”
Volunteers are crucial because they help keep down the cost of participation. Equipment for skiing and snowboarding can be expensive, which deters some families from getting involved.
“The Quarry Road program is much more affordable than the average ski mountain, especially for lessons,” Littlewood said. “Skiing and snowboarding tend to have a high barrier to entry, so I think the program at Quarry is great because it works to break down those barriers and give more people from the local community a chance to get outside and participate in winter sports.
“We try to build an environment at Quarry where all students feel welcome and excited to ski or snowboard, regardless of their background.”
Tucker also spoke about balancing accessibility with the realities of operating a small area that requires snowmaking and grooming.
“We are always looking at ways to make it more affordable and accessible,” he said.
The Alpine and Nordic ski terrain is the only service that requires a fee. Day and season passes are competitively priced and discounted for Waterville residents. Scholarships and financial assistance are also available for the Learn to Ski program.
Quarry Road Trails partners with Gorham Bike & Ski to offer season leases, allowing families to avoid continuously replacing equipment as their children grow.
As involvement and awareness grow, opportunities are expected to expand for those who might not otherwise take part. The participation of children and families is essential.
“It’s fun because I often get to work with a lot of the same kids each week,” Littlewood said. “I love that I get to watch them improve and grow more confident in themselves from week to week.”
Tucker emphasized his gratitude to the volunteers and community members who help the operation run smoothly.
“It has been a big community effort so far,” he said, “and we are really excited about the opportunities ahead of us.”
For more information about Quarry Road Trails, including trail maps and hours of operation, visit quarryroad.org.
