Skiers and snowboarders from throughout the world travel to Montana to enjoy its world-class ski resorts. Montana offers some of the best skiing in the country since the Rocky Mountains run through the state. Montana offers slopes for every skill level, whether you’re seeking difficult black diamond runs or easy slopes for beginners. In this blog post, we’ll examine the finest ski resorts in Montana and what sets them apart from the competition. So let’s head to the hills in Montana and get our skies or snowboards!
#1. Big Sky Resort
The “Biggest Skiing in America” is offered at Big Sky Resort, which has over 5,800 skiable acres that are accessible by 39 lifts. It takes several seasons to see everything that Big Sky and Lone Mountain have to offer, with annual snowfall averaging over 400 inches and anticipated season dates ranging over 4.5 months. For 300 degrees of skiable terrain, visitors can ride the Lone Peak Tram to the 11,166-foot top.
Big Sky, which lies halfway between Bozeman and Yellowstone National Park and an hour south of the latter, is home to some of the most cutting-edge chairlifts in the business. Restaurants, lodges, and other resort lodging are available off-mountain at Big Sky. The winter season calendar is also full of live music events. There are also guided dogsledding excursions, sleigh rides, and an adventure zipline at the resort. It is indeed one of the must-visit ski resorts in Montana.
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#2. Whitefish Mountain Resort
A premier ski resort, Whitefish Mountain Resort, can be found a few kilometers north of Whitefish and west of Glacier National Park. It has around a dozen ski lifts, 3,000 acres of slopes, and more than 100 clearly marked routes. The mountain is known for its friendly locals, laid-back atmosphere, and stunning views. Nonskiers can check out the nature center on-site or browse a few of the hotel’s eateries, pubs, and cafes, but there are more alternatives down in downtown Whitefish. It is only a 7-mile drive to Whitefish, and lodging options include homes, hotels, and condos.
#3. Blacktail Mountain Resort
The Blacktail Mountain Resort is situated inside the Flathead National Forest and has more than 1,000 acres of excellent skiing terrain. As a result, it is very close to the west shore of Flathead Lake, which adds to the area’s feeling of openness and nature. You can expect some stunning views from this location because of the natural breadth of the surroundings, especially on those absolutely pristine, clear winter days.Â
If you come here at the correct time, you can expect to wind, tree-lined trails with virgin, fresh snow as well as some lovely photo opportunities. The Lodge at Blacktail offers a variety of inexpensive on-site dining options as well as a fireplace to warm your heart after a day on the slopes.
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#4. Bridger Bowl Ski Area
This is another one of the most amazing ski resorts to visit in Montana. A premier skiing location, Bridger Bowl has more than 2,000 acres and a variety of terrain. Although it attracts skiers and snowboarders from all over the world, Montana State University students and Bozeman locals make up the majority of its base population. The resort has eight chairlifts to accommodate the crowds and offers open lines, glades, gullies, chutes, and bowls.
Beginners will benefit greatly from the ski and snowboard school, and parents can enjoy the slopes alone all day thanks to the on-site daycare facilities. Additional skier amenities such as rentals, a café, and Johnny B’s restaurant are available at two lodges at the mountain’s foot.
#5. Discovery Ski Area
A small-but-mighty ski area called Discovery Ski Area can be found in southwest Montana, 100 miles from Helena. It offers a variety of slopes for all skill levels on its almost 70 routes, which are served by 8 lifts. It is a destination for experienced and expert skiers and is known for its difficult double black diamond slopes. There isn’t much to do here if you don’t ski, and the only on-site dining options are the Discovery Cafe and a bar.
The closest lodging alternatives are at Georgetown Lake, which is about 5 miles away. For a larger selection, travel a little further to Philipsburg or Anaconda.
#6. Montana Snowbowl
Outside of Missoula, Montana, is a ski resort called Montana Snow Bowl. For intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders, it offers mountain terrain, and its routes and tracks are often steeper than those of the ordinary resort. It is also a well-liked local ski resort, and in 2020 a new chairlift was installed, making its many skiable acres of winding tree-lined trails even more accessible. It is only a short drive from downtown Missoula, making it the perfect destination for those who want to experience the town’s atmosphere after a day on the slopes.
#7. Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area
Off Interstate 90, Lookout Pass is a ski and snowboard resort near the Montana/Idaho border. In addition to having ski and snowboard slopes in both Montana and Idaho, it is well known for being a family-friendly ski resort with reasonable lift ticket prices. For skiers of different ability levels, the terrain offers a variety of courses with varied degrees of difficulty, including open groomers for novices and multiple tree runs for experienced skiers.
The resort is renowned for its “famous Free Ski School” for children. A 1,000-foot-long quarter pipe is present in a different natural feature terrain park, and two terrain parks are geared for people searching for huge air and those who are railing for the first time. Additionally, Lookout features a traditional ski lodge with a welcoming ambiance for families. This interesting fact is indicated by two clocks on the wall that are spaced one hour apart.
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#8. Lost Trail Ski Area
Lost Trail Ski Area is one of the top ski resorts in Montana. Close to the Idaho-Montana border, there is a small family-run ski area called Lost Trail Ski Area. It has two mountains with 1,800 acres of trails, five chairlifts, three rope tows, and reasonably priced day lift passes. In addition to a few options for novices, it offers a variety of intermediate and difficult runs.
It is known for its amazing powder coatings and is more of a mom-and-pop store than a flashy resort. There are only a few ski-in, and ski-out yurts as the only accommodations on the mountain, along with a modest restaurant. In surrounding communities like Darby, Sula, or Gibbonsville, you can find additional lodging.
#9. Red Lodge Mountain
One of the less well-known or understated ski areas in Montana is Red Lodge, which is located near the Beartooth Mountain Range’s eastern flank. Up on the Beartooth Pass, it is the only town that still offers summer skiing opportunities. Red Lodge Mountain is a 1,600-acre site with some spectacular big mountain terrain, a laid-back atmosphere, and stunning scenery and views. Although there are a few easier lines near the lower portions of the mountain to accommodate novices and newcomers, the better sections of the mountain are best suited to more intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders.
#10. Maverick Mountain
A little resort called Maverick Mountain is situated 170 miles from Missoula and Helena. It is only open on specific days of the week and is owned by a young couple. Passes are affordable because there is only one lift and one surface tow. There is a good range of beginner trails, and the ski runs are divided into intermediate and advanced levels. The cost of ski lessons is extremely low.
For food and drink, there is a café and a rustic inn on the mountain. Nearby Elkhorn Hotsprings offers lodge lodging and cabins with hot, spring-fed pools. Alternatives will necessitate a longer trip to neighboring towns.
#11. The Great Divide Ski Area
The Great Divide Ski Area is also one of the best ski resorts in Montana. It is a locally owned mountain and ski area with a wide selection of terrain to accommodate all comers, and it is situated 20 miles from Helena, Montana. There is also a reputable ski and snowboard school that is perfect for novices. The Wild West chairlift offers blue and black diamond slopes, whereas the Mount Belmont chairlift only offers standard routes. It is a well-liked family vacation for both residents and tourists.
#12. Showdown Montana
Showdown one of the first ski areas in the state is in Montana. White Sulphur Springs is 30 miles to the north, while Great Falls is 70 miles away. During the busiest parts of the winter, usually, from mid-December to early April, the resort is open from Wednesday through Sunday. Wednesdays are the best day to visit because there are fewer people around and the weather is great. Showdown has a magic carpet conveyor and three chairlifts.
The 8,200-foot summit offers access to more than 35 runs that descend to the 6,800-foot base at varied levels of difficulty. Beginners can train on less difficult terrain here, which is an excellent location.
#13. Bear Paw Ski Bowl
35 miles from Havre, in north-central Montana, sits the Bear Paw Ski Bowl. It has a reputation as the place to go if you want to enjoy a traditional ski hill in north-central Montana. Most of the staff members are local skiers who give their time because they like it. All skill levels can use the terrain and slopes, but intermediate skiers enjoy it the most. The surrounding Rocky Boy’s Reservation, residents of the area, those who live and work there, as well as college students from Montana State University, strongly value this ski area in Montana despite its 11 trails and two ski lifts.
What Is the Biggest Ski Mountain in Montana?
Big Sky Resort is the largest skiing resort in Montana, USA.
What Is the Most Expensive Skiing in Montana?
Big Sky is expansive, opulent, and expensive. And perhaps the skiing of the future. The expansive Montana resort offers a high-end experience, with lift tickets costing more than $225 and extras of up to $100 to take the tram to the top.
What Is the Snowiest Mountain in the USA?
Mount Baker, Washington
The average annual snowfall on this peak is 641 inches, which is one of the largest amounts ever measured anywhere on the globe. The amount of snowfall recorded at this peak in a single winter also holds the record for the United States.