It's peaceful here but far from boring. We're located in the spectacular lakes & mountains region of Maine, the ideal location if you're into the active outdoor lifestyle: snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, skiing and more.

The Mountains & Lakes are an Extension of the Campus
Farmington is ideally situated at the gateway to word-class skiing and snowboarding, smack in the middle of some of the best hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking in the entire northeast. They're so close, we consider the spectacular mountains and lakes — and everything they offer — to be a natural extension of our campus.

We're just off the Appalachian Trail and near epic hiking and mountain biking trails. So let's be honest, if it's big city life you crave, the western mountains area of Maine is probably not the best place for you. But if you're into the outdoors, then Farmington is an absolutely perfect location to spend your college years.

Shakespeare After Breakfast, Sugarloaf Before Lunch
With Sugarloaf, Saddleback Mountain, and Sunday River in our backyard, we're closer to more world-class ski resorts than is any college in New England. There's even a small, community ski mountain right in town. In fact, if you've skied Sugarloaf or Saddleback, you've probably driven right through our campus. Where else can you take a morning Shakespeare class and be riding the Superquad chairlift at Sugarloaf before lunchtime?

It's All Right Outside Your Door

• Sugarloaf Ski Resort (45 min)
  
• Sunday River Ski Resort: (1:15 hr)
  
• Saddleback Mountain Ski Resort (1:25 hr)
• Appalachian Trail (20 min)
  
• Belgrade Lakes (20 min)
  
• Titcomb Mountain Ski Area (7 min)
  
• Mt. Blue State Park (45 min)
  
• Bigelow Mountain (1:05 hr)
  

So go ahead, clip on your student discount lift ticket, strap your snowboard on the roof rack and shred the glades for the afternoon. Grab a bunch of friends and hike Bigelow Mountain or hike or paddle at Mt. Blue State Park, just 23 miles from your residence hall door.

Ride miles of minutes-from-campus mountain bike trails. Kayak the countless crystal-clear rivers and lakes nearby.

There are outdoor outfitter shops right in Farmington that rent kayaks and canoes, a high-end mountain bike shop in Farmington just a short drive away, even a cool new snowboard/skateboard shop a two minute walk from campus in downtown Farmington.

And When The Parents Come to Visit
And when your folks come here to visit you, take them outside to play. Better yet, let them take you skiing, hiking, kayaking, snowmobiling — you name it.

If they're into freshwater fishing, don't forget UMF was named by Fly Rod & Reel magazine as one of the Top Ten colleges in the nation for fishing — the only school in Maine to make the list. There are loads of great spots for fly fishing or spin-casting minutes from campus.

Or take them golfing at picturesque Wilson Lake Country Club in the neighboring town of Wilton or spend the day at the Sugarloaf Golf Club, named one of Golf Digest's "Top 100 of America's Greatest Golf Courses."

Just be careful ... your parents may have so much fun visiting you here, they won't want to leave!