Montana’s Yellowstone Country is a skier’s paradise, with three legendary ski areas: Big Sky Resort, Bridger Bowl and Red Lodge Mountain. Each one features diverse terrain, captivating views and unique personality, making for the kind of incredible skiing that reminds you why you fell in love with the sport in the first place.
But a ski adventure in Yellowstone Country reaches beyond carving through fresh powder in the mountains. Ski days here ramp up before you even reach the slopes: when you wake up with the sun, pop into a cozy cafe for hot coffee and warm smiles, and ride the lift to the top, buzzing with anticipation of the thrilling runs to come. When you can finally pull yourself away from the exhilaration of the peaks, the excitement continues, whether you’re enjoying a farm-to-table meal and a craft beverage in a friendly mountain town, soaking in a steaming, mineral-rich hot spring or getting down on a dance floor to the sounds of a lively local band. Here, the adventure is all of it — on and off the slopes and from bright, sunny morning to starry night.
Organically grown and locally owned since 1955, Bridger Bowl has operated as a nonprofit community ski area since powder-day one. With over 2,000 acres spanning 2,600 vertical feet, Bridger Bowl—known for its light, dry powder and the steep chutes experts crave—offers some of the most exciting ski terrain in the Rockies, and incredibly low package prices with no blackout dates. This world-class ski area has 1 Quad, 6 Triple and 1 Double Chair Lifts along with 3 Surface Lifts serving first-time beginners, expert-only, alpine ridge-terrain adventurers and everyone in between.
Bridger Bowl is only 20 minutes up the canyon from Bozeman, Montana—recently named one of the “world’s top 25 ski towns” by National Geographic Traveler magazine. This active university town offers multiple lodging opportunities and an impressive list of dining, nightlife and entertainment options. If you’re looking for a natural, undeveloped, big mountain playground with a friendly local vibe, we highly recommend Bridger Bowl.
Size: 2,000 Skiable Acres
Average Snowfall: 300 inches
Where to stay: Bozeman
Conditions
Address: 15795 Bridger Canyon Road Bozeman, Montana 59715
Call: 406.587.2111 | 800.223.9609
Website: Bridger Bowl
Once neighbors sharing the same mountain, Moonlight Basin and Spanish Peaks were purchased by Big Sky and are now permanently one impressive (and huge) ski complex, known as Big Sky Resort. With 5,800 acres of terrain and 4,350 feet of vertical served by more than 30 lifts, runs up to 6 miles long, a 2,000 vertical foot, powder-filled bowl beneath Lone Mountain, challenging chutes and a view of three states, two national parks and numerous mountain ranges, you’ll understand just what “big” means.
The community of Big Sky is “the little town that’s next to everything.” Traditional Western flair meets mountain ski town vibe, complete with real cowboys that blend easily with luxury and comfort in all aspects of life, from dining and day spas to accommodations.
Size: 5,850 Skiable Acres
Average Snowfall: 267 inches
Where to stay: Big Sky
Conditions
Address: 50 Big Sky Resort Road
Big Sky, MT 59716
Call:406.995.5000 | 800.548.4486
Website: Big Sky Resort
Big mountain adventures without big mountain crowds or prices, Red Lodge Mountain is a down-to-earth ski area that values great skiing and affordability. A well-developed terrain park offers ski and snowboard opportunities for all ages and ability levels, making Red Lodge Mountain an ideal spot for family vacations. And, with more than a third of its terrain designated as advanced or expert, there’s plenty of room to push the limits.
Off the slopes, the friendly locals and historic western mining town of Red Lodge known as the “Basecamp to the Beartooths” offers shops, restaurants, culture and entertainment. Situated on the eastern front of the Beartooth Mountain Range—Montana’s tallest—Red Lodge Mountain provides the ultimate ski vacation—mixed terrain, charming mountain town, spectacular vistas and inviting après decks.
Size: 1,635 Skiable Acres
Average Snowfall: 152 inches
Where to stay: Red Lodge
Conditions
Address: 305 Ski Run Rd Red Lodge, MT 59068
Call: 406.446.2610 | 800.444.8977
Website: Red Lodge
Mountain