15 Best Montana Ski Resorts: Your Winter Wonderland Awaits
Montana’s cold winters bring abundant snow, making it a premier destination for ski enthusiasts.
With a variety of ski resorts catering to all skill levels, Montana offers an unforgettable winter experience.
Here’s a detailed guide to the 15 best Montana ski resorts to help you plan your next winter adventure.
Big Sky Resort
Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Big Sky Resort boasts the largest skiing area in America, with over 5,800 acres of skiable terrain.
This family-friendly resort offers a mix of easy runs for beginners and challenging slopes for experienced skiers.
The advanced chairlift system, featuring the Ramcharger 8 with weatherproof bubbles and heated seats, and the Swift Current 6, North America’s fastest chairlift, ensures efficient access to various peaks.
Accommodation: Choose from nearby hotels, condos, or cabins with breathtaking views. Each room is temperature-controlled with comfortable bedding and quick room service. For a quieter experience, opt for cabins with stunning views and a cozy feel.
Highlights:
- Lone Peak tram offers panoramic views of two national parks and three states.
- Ski down Lone Peak’s beautiful slopes at the largest ski resort in the U.S.
- Ski Butlers equipment rental service delivers and picks up gear at your accommodation.
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Whitefish Mountain Resort is a year-round destination, transforming into a ski haven during winter.
In the summer, it is home to multiple bike trails and lush forests. During the winter, it transforms into an exhilarating ski haven for people looking to ride down while taking in the breathtaking views of the beautiful forests below.
Beginners will feel especially at home with its ski school and Learn to Ride and Ski packages, which include equipment rental and lift tickets for the beginner area lifts.
The S.N.O.W bus provides convenient transportation between the resort and the town, making it easy to explore local cuisine.
Accommodation: Stay in the town of Whitefish or opt for mountainside cabins. Staying in these cabins ensures that you are never too far from the action.
Highlights:
- Ambassador tours help you find the perfect slope among the 3,000 acres of skiable terrain.
- Explore the charming town of Whitefish and enjoy local cuisine.
- Two-day beginner packages include lessons, equipment rental, and lift tickets.
Discovery Ski Area
Discovery Ski Area features over 2,000 acres of skiable terrain with three faces of varying difficulty.
The Terrain Park is ideal for freestylers, while the ski school caters to beginners. The summit, at over 8,100 feet, offers stunning views and challenging runs.
Lift lines extend to the summit, allowing you to soak in the view of the small towns below or test your skills and ride down the summit.
Accommodation: Choose from cozy cabins for a homey feel.
Highlights:
- Terrain Park with tabletop, rollers, rails, and fun-boxes for freestyling.
- Summit views of small towns below.
- Ski school for beginners to learn the ropes.
Montana Snowbowl
Montana Snowbowl is renowned for its steep runs that challenge even the most experienced skiers. With 950 skiable acres, it offers slopes for all skill levels.
The snow sports ski school helps beginners improve their balance and skills. You can ski down multiple slopes throughout the 950 skiable acres for beginners, intermediates, and experts.
However, the Snowbowl is best known for its incredibly steep runs that will give even veteran skiers chills.
Accommodation: Various lodging options near the resort.
Highlights:
- Incredibly steep runs for thrill-seekers.
- Ski school for beginners to enhance their skills.
- A mix of slopes for all skill levels.
Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area
Lookout Pass is known for its abundant snow and affordable lift tickets. It features two terrain parks and a free ski school for kids, making it an excellent choice for families. The skiable terrain, while harsh at times, is great for riders of all difficulties.
Accommodation: Nearby lodging options.
Highlights:
- Plenty of snow and easy rentals.
- Two terrain parks for freestyling.
- Free ski school for kids.
Lost Trail Powder Mountain
Lost Trail Powder Mountain is a family-owned resort with plenty of snowfall and affordable lift tickets.
It operates from Thursday to Monday, with Powder Thursday being a favorite among skiers.
The resort stays open from Thursday to Monday, with the first open day called Powder Thursday.
Snow usually accumulates during the closed days, giving people plenty of fluffy snow to ride on.
Accommodation: Various lodging options near the resort.
Highlights:
- Family-owned charm and plenty of fresh powder.
- Operates from Thursday to Monday.
- Powder Thursday offers untouched snow.
Great Divide Ski Area
Great Divide Ski Area offers over 1,600 acres of skiable terrain throughout the locally owned mountain and is rests 20 miles away from Helena. It is also one of the few Montana ski resorts with a reputed school for beginners.
The great ski school matched with the cheap lift tickets instantly makes it one of the ski resorts with the best value.
The lift lines can take you to many black and blue diamond slopes and close lodgings, keeping you close to the action.
Accommodation: Nearby lodging options.
Highlights:
- Black and blue diamond slopes for experienced skiers.
- Reputed ski school for beginners.
- Affordable lift tickets.
Showdown Montana
Showdown Montana operates during the peak winter season and features 35 runs of various difficulties. It’s known for its beginner-friendly slopes and thrilling summit views.
As a hotspot for tourists and locals alike, Showdown Montana only operates during the peak winter season.
During this peak season, you will experience some of the most thrilling slopes at one of the oldest resorts in the state.
When on top of the 8,200-foot summit, you can choose between 35 runs of various difficulties.
Accommodation: Nearby lodging options.
Highlights:
- One of the oldest resorts in the state.
- Beginner-friendly slopes.
- Thrilling summit views.
Blacktail Mountain Ski Area
Blacktail Mountain Ski Area offers over 1,000 acres of skiable terrain near Flathead Lake.
The entire area is perfect for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels, with multiple slopes to choose from.
The smaller crowd means untouched powder stashes and a more intimate skiing experience. Visitors being able to experience more than a thousand acres of skiable terrain.
The entire area is perfect for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels, with multiple slopes to choose from.
On a clear day, you can get a great view of the city, and the smaller crowd also means that powder stashes are relatively untouched.
Accommodation: Nearby lodging options.
Highlights:
- Stunning views of the city on clear days.
- Smaller crowd and untouched powder stashes.
- A favorite among locals.
Red Lodge Mountain
Red Lodge Mountain is a beginner-friendly resort with over 1,600 acres of skiable terrain. It offers a laid-back atmosphere and shorter lines.
Red Lodge Mountain in the town of Red Lodge is seen as the ultimate beginner-friendly resort. This Montana ski resort features plenty of skiable terrains, with the mountain encompassing over 1,600 acres.
The best part about Red Lodge is the shorter lines and a generally more laid-back atmosphere.
Intermediate and professional runs are closer to the summit, whereas beginners will find easier the slopes near the mountain base.
Accommodation: Various lodging options in the town of Red Lodge.
Highlights:
- Intermediate and professional runs closer to the summit.
- Shorter lines and a laid-back atmosphere.
- Easier slopes near the mountain base.
Maverick Mountain
Maverick Mountain is popular among avid skiers for its friendly rates and shorter lines.
With over 450 acres of skiable terrain and 24 routes for all levels, Maverick Mountain is a must-visit.
This ski area also has very friendly rates, and it’s only 40 miles away from the town of Dillon.
Maverick Mountain Ski Resort offers incredible views that skiers and snowboarders can appreciate from all routes.
Accommodation: Nearby lodging options.
Highlights:
- Incredible views and friendly rates.
- Shorter lines and 24 routes for all levels.
- Located 40 miles from the town of Dillon.
Turner Mountain
Turner Mountain is one of the most remote ski resorts in Montana, located in the Kootenai National Forest. It offers inexpensive lift tickets and a total elevation of almost 6,000 feet.
Turner Mountain happens to be one of the most remote Montana ski resorts, resting in the Kootenai National Forest.
The lift tickets here are fairly inexpensive, and with a total elevation of almost 6,000 feet, it is the perfect place for intermediate and professional skiers.
It also helps that the non-existent lines make for untouched powder stashes!
Accommodation: Nearby lodging options.
Highlights:
- Non-existent lines and untouched powder stashes.
- Inexpensive lift tickets.
- Remote location in the Kootenai National Forest.
Teton Pass
Teton Pass is one of the smallest ski resorts in Montana, known for its farmer’s charm and down-to-earth nature.
The small lodge offers incredible food, and the single chairlift serves the hill efficiently.
Teton Pass is one of Montana’s smallest ski resorts, which it plays to its advantage.
The ski area remains one of the best places to ski throughout the winter for its farmer’s charm and down-to-earth nature.
The lodge is quite small, but it does make up for it with some truly incredible food.
The lift lines support a single chairlift, but considering how small the hill is, it is reasonable to expect.
Accommodation: Limited lodging options.
Highlights:
- Farmer’s charm and incredible food.
- Single chairlift for efficient service.
- Down-to-earth nature.
Bear Paw
Bear Paw offers an intimate skiing experience with 80 acres of skiable terrain. It’s perfect for beginners with its cozy feel and easy runs.
Bear Paw starts to stretch the definition of a ski resort, but it does have a very intimate feel to it.
With just 80 acres of skiable terrain, there is a cozy feeling to skiing in Bear Paw, which is rare in other places.
The longest run here is only 0.7 miles, and is generally the best place for beginners to learn the reigns of skiing.
Furthermore, the highest rise there is 900 feet and is not as steep as some other popular mountains. It’s a great little ski resort, and perfect for a low-key ski day.
Accommodation: Limited lodging options.
Highlights:
- Intimate feel and easy runs for beginners.
- Cozy skiing experience.
- Longest run is 0.7 miles.
Bridger Bowl Ski Area
Bridger Bowl Ski Area is a popular destination for college students, located near Montana State University. It features multiple chair lifts and is usually busy due to its proximity to the city.
The town revolves around the hill, with the Baxter Hotel even giving off a signal to the residents when the hill gathers two inches of snow or more.
Bridger Bowl Ski Area is a destination resort intended for college and university students.
The hill is close to Montana State University, and you can usually find students skiing down the hill during the afternoons.
Bridger Bowl has a very developed hill as well, with multiple chair lifts. This ski area is popular and usually busy, since it’s so close to the city.
Accommodation: Various lodging options in Bozeman.
Highlights:
- Popular among college students.
- Multiple chair lifts.
- Close to the city.
FAQs
How many ski resorts are there in Montana?
There are between 15-20 ski resorts in Montana, with Big Sky Resort being one of the most popular.
Does Montana have good skiing?
Yes, Montana is known for some of the best skiing in the United States.
Why is Big Sky so popular?
Big Sky Resort is popular because it offers a vast amount of skiable terrain for all experience levels and is popular year-round for various outdoor activities.
Conclusion
Montana’s ski resorts offer a diverse range of experiences for skiers of all levels.
Whether you’re looking for challenging slopes, beginner-friendly runs, or a family-friendly atmosphere, Montana has it all.
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Happy skiing!
