Ski Area Roundup; 2023-24 Season!

Red Lodge Mountain got its first significant snowfall last week, with Mother Nature leaving behind 16 inches of fresh powder mid-mountain! We’re back to seasonally appropriate temperatures, but it did get everyone pumped up and looking forward to the upcoming ski season.

Montana’s Yellowstone Country is fortunate to have three outstanding ski areas: Red Lodge Mountain, Bridger Bowl Ski Area, and Big Sky Resort. All three have distinctly different personalities, and all of them offer exceptional skiing.

Red Lodge Mountain

Speaking of Red Lodge Mountain, they are getting a new high-speed lift on Miami Beach! The terminals and towers are officially in place, and the team spliced the cable last weekend. If you’re planning a ski vacation in this neck of the woods, get your tickets in advance and save money! If you plan to visit more than once, check out the 6-tix and 4-packs and add some flexibility to your winter! Opening day is Nov. 24.

Big Sky Resort

Big Sky Resort is opening a day earlier than usual this year, with the lifts turning on Wednesday, Nov. 22, so more people can get out and ski and not have to miss turkey dinner! It’s the 50th anniversary of the resort, and they are celebrating with the opening of the new tram. The new cars can hold 75 people and are available for skiers, snowboarders and, new to this year, scenic riders! The bottom of the tram cars is glass to get a natural feel of the fall line! Open both summer and winter, visitors can enjoy the view of three states and two national parks from the top of Lone Mountain! Early bird pricing is in effect; get your tickets early!

Bridger Bowl

There’s been a lot of remodeling taking place at Bridger Bowl. Jim Bridger Lodge has seen significant upgrades, including new bathrooms, an enlarged retail space with plenty of room for great BB swag, an updated ski and bag check, and a lost and found area. Watch for their specialty workshops, including Intro to the Ridge, Steeps Workshop, Bump Clinic, Monday Masters, Carve Clinic and Families in the Park. And, of course, their Snowsports program has classes for all ages and abilities. Oct. 31 is the last day for current pass prices, or for those visiting, check out the Any Day Tickets, a pack of three with no blackout dates, and they do not have to be used consecutively. The projected opening day is Dec. 8.

Nordic Ski Areas

For Nordic ski lovers, Rendezvous Ski Trails in West Yellowstone open Nov. 1, and the annual Yellowstone Ski Festival takes place Nov. 18-26, a 40-year tradition that draws Nordic skiers from across the country. The Red Lodge Nordic Center offers 15K of groomed trails just a few miles from town. Crosscut Mountain Sports Center in Bridger Canyon outside Bozeman has skiing, snowshoeing, biathlon, fat biking and uphill travel. They also have night skiing and 5-punch passes! Lone Mountain Ranch, in Big Sky, maintains 85 kilometers of groomed trails (and a fantastic Sleigh Ride Dinner to round out the day!)

The stoke is certainly building, we suggest investigating some of those early-bird ticket prices!