Skiing in Montana offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and diverse terrain, making it a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts! The state's resorts offer a variety of resorts with slopes suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced skiers. With its breathtaking mountain views and abundant snowfall, Montana boasts some of the best skiing conditions in the Rockies. Additionally, the state's welcoming vibe and charming ski towns enhance the overall experience, making it a perfect getaway for both adventure seekers and families, locals and tourists alike! See if you can hit all 10 resorts this ski season!
image via Visit Bozeman
1. Bridger Bowl
2000 acres of skier and rider accessible terrain feature Bridger Bowl Ski Area’s light and fluffy “cold smoke” snow. Averaging 350 inches of snow a year with a 2,700ft vertical rise serviced by eight chairlifts, skiers and riders will find terrain to accommodate the very beginner to the extreme expert skiers and riders. The 20-minute hike to terrain of the “The Ridge” is known for its steep chutes and open powder fields, while 75 named trails and then some, vary from easiest through advanced and expert terrain. Family friendly with a small town atmosphere complements the “Ski the Cold Smoke” experience!
via skidiscovery.com
2. Discovery Resort
Located in Philipsburg, Montana, Discovery Ski Area has three faces-perfect for all ages and abilities of skiers and riders. The front face offers gently sloping runs and advanced groomed cruisers. Off of the Granite Chair, skiers and riders will find steeper groomed runs and mogul skiing. On the backside, the north-facing Limelight lift offers access to some of the steepest skiable terrain in Montana. 2,200 acres of terrain serviced by seven lifts and one magic carpet feature a variety of tree skiing, powder bowls, groomed cruisers trails and mogul runs. Discovery harkens back to the chill days of smalltown ski hills!
image via Visit Montana
3. Showdown
Showdown, Montana's oldest ski area, has grown considerably since it all began in 1936. Starting out with the only rope tow to convey skiers the 1,400 feet to the summit, Showdown now offers skiers a choice of four lifts that access of 640 acres of skiable terrain. Showdown's 8,200 foot summit provides access to excellent tree skiing, as well as some steep bump runs. Showdown's annual snowfall of 240 inches will keep the powderhounds happy, and their friendly staff who work and live in the area provide a ski and snowboard experience like none other. Truly a step back in time to the simpler days of skiing!
image via Visit Montana
4. Maverick Mountain
Hidden in southwest Montana, Maverick Mountain is located just off the Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Boasting uncrowded slopes, skiers and riders will find terrain that is 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced with a 2,020 ft. vertical and 24 trails to accommodate. 255 acres are serviced by one chairlift and rope tow and offer incredible views and scenery and hold true to the non-commercial feel of the mom and pop ski area!
image via Visit Montana
5. Red Lodge Mountain
Nestled within the Beartooth mountains and just outside of Yellowstone National Park, Red Lodge Mountain delivers big mountain fun without big crowds or big prices. Red Lodge receives an average of 250” of snow annually and is known for its diverse mix of terrain and friendly atmosphere. Terrain by difficulty: Beginner 18%, Intermediate 28%, Advanced 36%, Expert 18%.
image via Powderhounds
6. Montana Snow Bowl
Snow Bowl is built on two peaks and has 2,600 feet of continuous vertical drop. Paradise is a three-mile-long cruiser. Grizzly rolls down 2,000 feet through steep terrain. There are plenty of un-named winders through the forest. Ski or ride all day long, from open to close, and never take the same line twice.The Grizzly Chair covers 2,000 vertical feet, taking skiers and riders to the mid-mountain, where they can access runs like Grizzly and Second Thought. From the mid-mountain skiers and riders can ride the LaVelle Creek Chair to the peak, to access steep chutes and bowls.
image via Whitefish Mountain Resort
7. Whitefish Mountain Resort
Once called the Big Mountain in northwestern Montana, Whitefish Mountain Resort offers spectacular views of Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest. The original resort originally opened in 1947, and the slogan for the area “Ski the Fish” has been around since the 1990s. With its many trails and year-round activities, skiers and boarders of all levels will enjoy this scenic resort!
image via 96.7 KISS FM
8. Teton Pass Ski Resort
Teton Pass Ski Resort offers affordable, family fun on the edge of Montana's magnificent Rocky Mountain Front, just east of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. The Ski Resort offers 400 acres of skiable terrain in the Lewis and Clark National Forest near the town of Choteau. The resort prides itself on their lack of lift lines and magnificent backcountry skiing and snowboarding!
image via Discover Kalispell
9. Blacktail Mountain
Blacktail Mountain is located above the town of Lakeside along the west shore of Flathead Lake. The ski resort is unique in that skiers and riders will experience a top to bottom run before even riding their first chair. Surrounded by 1,000 acres of National Forest, you will find 24 runs covering 200 skiable acres. There are three chairs as well as a handle tow that cover a vertical drop of around 1,440 feet. Blacktail Mountain benefits from 250 inches of annual snowfall.
image via Big Sky Resort
10. Big Sky Resort
Located in southwest Montana (approximately 50 miles south of Bozeman and an hour north of West Yellowstone), Big Sky Resort provides visitors with many different amenities, a well-developed infrastructure and over 5,850 acres of skiable terrain. Big Sky services its 4,350 feet of vertical via 24 chair lifts and 12 surface lifts. The ski area has a summit elevation of 11,166 feet and sees an average annual snowfall of more than 400 inches. The resort has been lauded for its incredible vertical drop and also the very minimal wait times due to its advanced lift system. Big Sky Resort is expensive and is also the largest ski resort in Montana– perfect for those who are seeking a bougie “big hill” experience.
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