Miles of trail running and mt. bike trails just off campus. Geocaching. Groomed Nordic skiing trails. Night skiing at Titcomb Mt. on the other side of town. The swim-able, paddle-able, fly-fishing-able Sandy River running right beside our athletics fields. Flint Woods and Bonny Woods trails a short walk up the street from campus. This is the perfect place to be.

Come Get Your Outdoors On

You can even sign out all kinds of outdoor gear through our Mainely Outdoors program, located right next door to the UMF Fitness and Rec Center.

Students at the summit of Tumbledown Mountain in winter

It’s All Right Outside Your Door

  • Titcomb Mt. Ski Area
  • Clearwater Lake, Wilson Lake, Belgrade Lakes
  • Appalachian Trail
  • Mt. Blue State Park
  • Whistlestop Mt. Bike/Trail Running Trail
  • And so much more

Mainely Outdoors — Active Outdoor Adventure!

To take full advantage of our perfect location, we also offer a backpack full of epic outdoor adventures through our Mainely Outdoors program.

Housed in its own building beside the UMF Fitness & Recreation Center (and run through the Fitness & Rec Center) Mainely Outdoors offers students, staff and community members a wide range of exciting outdoor opportunities: trips and excursions, equipment and gear sign-out/rentals, clinics and lessons, certification and training opportunities, and much more.

Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a looking for a new challenge, we’ll get you out there.

  • Hiking Tumbledown Mountain
  • Overnight camping at Acadia National Park
  • Mountain biking the Carrabassett Rail Trail
  • Skiing at Sugarloaf
  • Flatwater kayaking North Pond
  • Snowboarding at Sugarloaf
  • Overnight camping at Gulf Hagas
  • Whitewater rafting on the Kennebec River
  • Snow-tubing at Black Mountain
  • Disc golf at Farmington’s Troll Valley
  • Hiking the Poplar Stream Falls trail
  • Snowshoeing the Maine Huts & Trails System
  • Sunset canoeing at Wilson Lake
  • Geocaching in Farmington
  • Snowshoeing Pratt Mountain
  • FREE season ski passes to Titcomb Mt and FREE learn-to-ski & ride lessons at Titcomb

A Top 20 College for Skiing & Winter Sports
— U.S. News & World Report

The University of Maine at Farmington was recently named one of the 2024 Top 20 Colleges in the Nation for Skiing & Winter Sports by U.S. News & World Report. Seriously, is anyone surprised? Our students have loved this about UMF for decades.

Shakespeare in the Morning, Sugarloaf, Saddleback, Sunday River by Noon

Located at the gateway to world-class skiing and snowboarding, Farmington is the perfect location if you’re into the active outdoor lifestyle. With Sugarloaf, Saddleback, and Sunday River in our backyard, we’ve got three amazing, world-class ski resorts just a quick drive from campus. Plus, Farmington’s own Titcomb Mountain ski area is a 7-minute drive from campus (you can see it from the Scott Hall residence hall windows).

In fact, if you’ve skied Sugarloaf or Saddleback, you’ve probably driven right through our campus. Where else can you take a Business Psych class in the morning and crush fresh pow by lunchtime?

Get Your Shred On — FREE

Thanks to a generous donation from Sugarloaf and Sunday River, all full-time UMF students get a FREE season pass to Farmington’s Titcomb Mountain, just 10 minutes from campus.

Always wanted to try skiing and snowboarding? Well, UMF students also get FREE learn-to-ski-and-ride lessons at Titcomb. Yes, FREE — taught by fellow UMF students in our Alpine Operations Certificate program.

Titcomb also offers nighttime Alpine skiing and snowboarding; miles of Nordic skiing trails (many lighted); a terrain park; a gi-normous new outdoor fire pit for Après-skiing / riding hanging out; a cool rustic main lodge with beautiful field-stone fireplace and a cafeteria serving homemade treats, burgers, the best french fries ever and poutine.

If you’re into the outdoors, as many of our students are, then UMF is a perfect location to spend your college years.