Best ski resort in Montana?

Cincher

Cincher

Active member
In celebration of my graduation this year, I'm going to the US and a real mountain (I'm Manitoban) for the first time to ski and celebrate the release of the shackles that is pre-secondary education. The reason I chose Montana is because it's closer the canadian border.

What do you recommend?
 
Granted I love big sky A LOT, it is not actually as close as some others, namely BAKER!!!!! or most Washington resorts, But if you want to stay somewhat close to home I think without a doubt Big sky and they also have bridger pass on the back which is sweet. Bring your down coat though...
 
Big Sky has everything in one resort. You can't really go wrong here. If the top is packed out, the park is pretty all right. Moonlight is connected to Big Sky and pretty much offers more of the same as Big Sky.

Bridger has a special place in my heart. I love the low key skiing and you can find untracked tree skiing if they haven't had fresh in a while. Overall a great place to just go rip down a mountain.

Really low key skiing and not very well known but a place that offers incredible lines is south of Missoula about 1.5 hours. A place called Lost Trail Powder Mountain. Such a sick little resort.

 
I definitely agree that Big Sky is the mountain to hit in Montana. Bridger Bowl is also pretty sick though. Bridger is where I had the best day of smoke powder skiing. Lift tickets are about half the price at Bridger compared to Big Sky. Montana was a good choice though. Balls cold but great snow!
 
I would definitely go with Big Sky with out a doubt. such good skiing especially if our looking for a bit of everything
 
lost trail is the only one i've been to, and i gotta say, it was pretty fun. went down there a couple years ago during a big drought/cold snap that took over the whole northwestern US/BC, and well... when every ski hill within a days drive was totally tracked and icy - I got a full afternoon of lift accessed, untouched powder pretty much all to myself. No line up, everyone who was there knew I wasn't, but befriended me... Their park looked fun, I didn't have my rail skis with me on the trip, but the day I was there they had a little slopestyle comp... I chose to go ski pow instead.

Coming from Manitoba, I wouldn't recommend Lost Trail... it's a little small for a trip out west, more of a nice place for a west coast skier to check out. Really though, Big Mountain (or whatever they changed the name too now) is probably your best bet. It's way closer to the boarder than Big Sky and Bridger... and you could hit up Castle in Alberta while in the area. I say Castle 'cause people should boycott RCR so Fernie is not an option.

Alright, I've said too much.
 
Big Mountain (right outside of whitefish) is pretty dope. went there spring break and def wasnt dissappointed.
 
Thanks for that, I don't think I would want all powder becuase I only have Line Anthems. I'm thinkin' either Big Sky or Whirtefish so far...
 
Big Sky all the way....when your standing at the base looking up it looks like the Matterhorn above the tree line. So fucking epic!

Anyone been to Showdown? that's a fun lil mountain too.
 
not entirely true. they will have rails and some small stuff in terms of jumps. just no big jumps.

moonlight should have jumps though
 
yea, showdowns sick. local mountain all the way, BUT big mountain is closer to you and its super sick. i would prob pick it over big sky
 
Big Mountain is really legit. Went there for a week a few years ago and it was bluebird the first day, and then snowed every day the rest of the week + there were hardly any lift lines
 
yeah opposite for me dumped (bit more than a foot) one of the first days i was there then it was bluebird for the rest and there still was a decent amount of pow a couple days later. theyre park was legit too, kind of small but still good.
 
dude you have to go to whitefish. they get some great snow and its a pretty sick mountain. I went to school in montana and i skied there all the time.
 
he said it... whitefish. its the mountain i ski at and its pretty dope tickets arent too pricey either. good park and definitely A TON of snow.
 
I have seen people in this thread recommend Big Sky, Moonlight, Bridger, Big Mountain, Lost Trail, Red Lodge, and Showdown (didnt see that coming)

Having skied most of these I will put some opinions here;

Big Sky - huge, lots of vertical, variety in terrain, used to have a decent park but they are downsizing it this year (no real jumps) It is also super expensive, kind of a touristy gaper trap as well.

Moonlight - on the same mountain as Big Sky, lying on the north facing, windward side meaning its usually in a shadow, gets less snow and is cold. They have a nice park if rails are your thing, heard they are getting some jumps this year but who knows how big they will be. Not a whole lot of variety there unless it gets super filled in.

Bridger - a sick mountain if you dont care about park and are into technical big mountain skiing. Can be real fun if you are creative and there are some great places to ski if you have a beacon (you cant even get on Slaschman's lift without a transceiver)

Big Mountain - a super fun mountain with consistent snowfall, a decent park, and lots of fun stuff to do on the mountain. Whitefish is a cool town too and the people there are super friendly.

Lost Trail - never been there but I have heard lots of good things about it, pretty small though and far from other resorts.

Red Lodge - another mountain I've never been too but most people call it Rock Dodge

Showdown - wasnt really expecting this one, its my home mountain and if you are creative and have some knowledge of the area you can find some real good snow but sometimes this requires taking an old logging road back to the area. I really wouldn't suggest this though.

Out of all those I listed, I think Big Mountain (Whitefish) is your best bet, they have a decent park and a super fun mountain. Its considerably cheaper than Big Sky or Moonlight if you need to buy lodging and tickets are way cheaper than Big Sky.
 
^thanks, I don't think I'm as giddy about Big Sky now since you said it's basically a big gaper attraction and that it's tickets are more expensive. I already ski at a gaper attraction, and while it's fun and funny to laugh at their ignorance, I'd rather avoid that. Plus I am kind of on a budget...
 
Big Skys is 7,200 to summit at 11,166. Huge vert
I have skied Big Sky for 25 years. Lived there for 4. Go There. So much terrain you wont be able to ski it all. Moonlight has made huge improvements and has a fantastic rail garden. Out of everywhere I have skied BS and Moonlight combined have the best and steepest terrain anywhere in the lower 48. ...when snow is good
 
ha, cant remember the last time bs had big jumps...i think i was 12 and everything looked big back then. Big Sky is dope, great vibe and tons of space to keep one occupied.
 
Pretty much all the mountains in Montana have something going for them. Big Mountain has kick ass tree skiing and pretty consistent snowfall, Big Sky is huge and you can ski most of the mountain at 50mph if you feel like it, and Bridger has crazy technical terrain. I'd shy away from recommending Bridger unless you have a beacon, are willing to hike, and are going with a local, though.
And I'll be the first to recommend going a bit south and doing the Jackson/Targhee thing. A day at Jackson is expensive, but totally worth it, and Targhee is one of the coolest little mountains I have skied. If you have backcountry gear, the pass and the park would be worth it even if you totally avoid the resorts.
 
Oh I absolutely love tree skiing, next to park and blitzing a run (regular or switch) at 60-70km/h! I'm starting to lean towards Big Mountain...
 
Big Mtn has an incredible amount of tree skiing. If you explore, you will be rewarded.

Check out some of Shane Dowaliby's videos on Vimeo if want more proof.
 
Cool, what's their park like? I mean I'm sure it's WAY better than my local run's hommade jibs, but is it somewhat better than Big Sky?
 
whitefish mountain usually has about 10 -15 different jibs and rails set up last year we had a pretttty big jump off to the side (i dont know the size?) and this year they're planning to put in about 4 big jumps along with a smaller jump next to each of those. the park crew is the best around, grooms the park nicely and asks what most of the kids prefer. and they bump music in the park on the speakers to stoke the jibbers so thats a plus. overall greatt park and nice people, i dont know about big sky i havent been there anytime soon so thats just what i know about whitefish
 
here is there big jump last year

1240184782-771260-600x410-1240184080_MG_5018.jpg
 
they only have about 6 jibs set up at one time........were only having 3 jumps this year with 2 lips one big one small........park crew doesnt do much i dont know what your talking about.....the music you can only hear at the end of the third jump(park crew shed)......decent park for montana.....
 
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