Top Ski Resorts in Montana
Here’s a look at some of the best ski resorts Montana has to offer:- Big Sky Resort (Big Sky)
Big Sky Resort is the largest major full-scale resort in Montana, located midway between Bozeman and West Yellowstone. It's a super-popular destination, but the crowds are almost always manageable. You'll find plenty of diverse terrain here for virtually any level skier or snowboarder. Big Sky’s snow sees some of the best conditions of any American resort in an average season. It's cold in Montana all winter, so the snow is generally consistent, even early season when snowmaking kicks in.
Skiing braggarts will kick in the bar talk about their feats of grandeur on Lone Peak, the Big Couloir, the North Summit Snowfield, and the Challenger zone. And those difficult challenges on the slopes are indeed exciting. But, there is more than enough beginner terrain to keep even first-timers busy all week long. There's 870 acres of beginner terrain here and, as the resort likes to point out, that's more skiable acreage than some entire ski resorts. Don't miss playing on Lone Wolf and Cinnabar. The snow fields off Lone Mountain offers demanding terrain in between lines of exposed rock. These runs are steep and narrow in places so watch carefully where you're going. It's all here except obnoxious big resort crowds.
However, some visitors have noted issues with rocks on groomed runs and crowded conditions, especially in the cafeteria. Despite the extensive lift system, some lifts are short or flat, leading to lines at popular terrain. The south-face side is great but hard to get to, and it’s impossible to lap the main course which is Liberty bowl from the top because it takes multiple lifts and a long wait on the tram to get back up there. Plus, each of those runs is going to cost you another $30. For that reason it’s more of a once-a-day treat, and in 4 days of skiing there I never really had time to ski Dakota once I got over there.
- Blacktail (Lakeside)
Blacktail opened to become a family-friendly resort in 1998. Blacktail is a relative newcomer to the Montana ski scene in Lakeside on the west side of Flathead Lake. This is one of the several "upside down" ski resorts in the country. You'll park and start your ski day on top of the Blacktail Mountain slopes with views from Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park and three mountain ranges.
One of the real advantages of tip-top skiing and riding is even beginners get to experience the best snow and those awesome top-of-mountain views. Besides that, every skier or snowboarder gets a top-to-bottom run without having to ride a chair at all. That's pretty enticing in itself. The mix favors intermediates and expert skiers with 85 percent of the 1,000 acres of National Forest land, but there's still 15 percent available for beginners. There are 4 lifts. The resort annually receives about 150 feet of natural snow. The key word here is natural - and that's enough to skip snowmaking here.
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- Bridger Bowl (Bozeman)
Bridger Bowl, on the eastern side of the Continental Divide, has a bit of an identity problem. Fans admit they can't decide whether it’s a locals' ski hill trying to be a big ski resort, or if it’s a big ski resort trying to be a locals' ski hill. But understand this is why you come here: Bridger Bowl has all of the qualities of a big ski resort without any pretense or wallet-busting. Bridger gets 350 inches of snow and the quality is so wonderfully dry the motto here is ‘Ski the Cold Smoke.’
You'll play on 2,000 acres of in-bounds terrain and ride 11 lifts (which includes 1 quad chair and 6 triple chairs), and 2,600 feet of lift serviced vertical. There is no significant lodging at the mountain, so plan on bedding down in Bozeman, a 30-minute drive.
- Discovery (Phillipsburg)
This is one of those so-called "hidden gems" locals like to keep to themselves, but the word is out there if you're listening. The small town of Phillipsburg is on the Pintler Veteran's Memorial Scenic Highway and basically surrounded by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Known to locals as “Disco,” you'll find a good variety of beginner, intermediate runs.
Discovery ski area, with 2,000 acres to roam, has what you'll want for family skiing: a bunny slope, easy greens, cruising blues, and some solid entry-level black runs. The back side of the mountain is almost all black diamonds with two dedicated lifts. Accommodations are in Phillipsburg, Anaconda, and Butte, all within 30 minutes of the mountain. The only dining at the resort base is a cafeteria.
- Great Divide (Helena)
This is a small area about 25 miles from Helena that often can be the first to open for the season. Great Divide ski area on Mount Belmont is known for its exceptional variety of terrain that covers more than 1,600 acres, making it one of the larger ski areas in Montana. Just as important to families and others is Great Divide is among the most affordable ski areas in Montana.
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The snow is good and more than sufficient, but it's not as plentiful as others in the state at 180 inches, and sometimes those big storms swerve around Mt. Belmont, leaving it in sunshine.
- Lost Trail/Powder Mt. (Sula)
The 1,000 acres of skiing here straddles the Montana-Idaho border with reliable snow, and if you're looking for plentiful intermediate skiing in Montana ski resorts -- 60 percent -- this is your place to ski. There's still enough beginner and advanced terrain to keep most skiers and riders happy. The vertical drop is 1,801 feet and that makes for some relatively long runs. It's affordable, too.
- Maverick (Dillon)
This is a family-owned throwback mountain (think "mom and pop") with all levels of trails divided equally in southwest Montana. Maverick is located just off the Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. There's a 2,020 foot vertical and 24 trails over 255 acres, serviced by 1 chairlift and rope tow.
- Montana Snowbowl (Missoula)
Ski or ride on two peaks including Grizzly, a 3-mile cruiser. This is Missoula's local ski hill, but don't underestimate it. It will give you quite a ride with a 2,200 foot vertical drop. Consider this a clue to find another "hidden gem."
- Red Lodge (Red Lodge)
This is big mountain Montana skiing (“pure and simple”) at the right price. Red Lodge is the easternmost ski resort in Montana, near the Wyoming border and the northeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park. The vertical drop is 2,400 feet and the skiable terrain covers 1,635 feet. The town of Red Lodge is popular year-round and the ski area is where Billings residents love to play. The ski area is a 6-mile drive from the classic Western town of the same name. It's set within the Beartooth Mountains and delivers all the fun without big crowds or big prices. It's truly known for its friendly staff.
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- Showdown (Neihart)
Here’s the paradise for intermediate skiers and riders, but gets few visitors that aren't locals from Great Falls. Too bad, but this isn’t too surprising, considering the ski area's isolated location in the Belt Mountains of central Montana. It's a good place for families with its extensive network of groomed trails and affordable lift tickets.
- Teton Pass (Choteau)
You'll discover incredible views, mixed terrain, untracked snow and backcounty access here. Teton Pass Ski Resort offers affordable, family skiing and riding on the edge of Montana's Rocky Mountain Front, just east of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. There are 400 acres of skiable terrain in the Lewis and Clark National Forest near the town of Choteau. No lift lines here.
- Whitefish Mountain Resort (Whitefish)
Look for 3,000 acres of skiable terrain on Big Mountain 8 miles from the delightful resort town that serves as the gateway to Glacier National Park. This resort hasn't changed much since the good old days, with friendly staff and excellent terrain. OK, it changed its name from Big Mountain, though the old name is still apt. There's a vertical drop of 2,353 feet, 105 trails, bowl and tree skiing and four terrain parks.
Montana Ski Resorts: Key Facts
Here's a quick overview of some key facts about Montana's ski resorts:- Number of Ski Resorts: There are 14 ski resorts in Montana.
- Largest Ski Resort: Big Sky Resort is the biggest ski resort in Montana.
- Snow Quality: Montana offers excellent snow and seemingly endless terrain.
- Celebrity Hotspots: Many celebrities choose high-end private ski clubs near Yellowstone and Big Sky, such as the exclusive 15,200-acre Yellowstone Club.
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Cool Towns Near Montana’s Ski Areas
For starters, most are small and have a character all their own. Whitefish Mountain Resort is a fave because of its world-class ski mountain, proximity to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park and small-town charm. Red Lodge is a classic Western town and is always described as “really cool.” Missoula is a lively town for sure and a stop at Charlie’s Bar on Higgins Street is a must. The blue light atop the Hotel Baxter tips off locals about new snow on the mountain in Bozeman. The town feel is laid back and relaxed.Planning Your Trip
Sure, it just takes a bit of planning. cities East and West and it’s a short drive to Bridger Bowl and not much of a hop to Big Sky. Head into Glacier Park Airport in Kalispell and then drive about 19 miles into Whitefish.
Embrace the Cold
If you’re looking for a tropical climate, turn around. Get the face mask or baklava on and quit whining. You’re likely to hit a below zero day. It’s going to be cold. But, when you discover that famous Montana “cold smoke” snow, you won’t care. It’s a light, dry and seemingly endless snow that follows skiers and boarders during a powder run. Cold smoke is such a regular phenomenon during winter in Montana there’s even a beer named after this type of powder skiing. Many believe February is the best time to ski here, with all ski resorts open.Why No Lift Lines?
Easy answer. Montana is among the nation’s smallest states - by population, not terrain. Just over a million people live here. Even if every one of them skied, there’s plenty of terrain left and uncrowded slopes for visitors.Table: Montana Ski Resorts at a Glance
| Resort | Location | Skiable Area | Vertical Drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sky Resort | Big Sky | 5,850 acres | 4,350 feet |
| Whitefish Mountain Resort | Whitefish | 3,000 acres | 2,353 feet |
| Bridger Bowl | Bozeman | 2,000 acres | 2,600 feet |
| Red Lodge Mountain | Red Lodge | 1,635 acres | 2,400 feet |