Best Ski Slopes Near Bozeman

Roughly 350 million people visit a ski resort each year around the world. If all of these people went to the same ski resorts then there would be a lot of long lines. Which means there must be a lot of places to ski. This brings into question where is the best place to ski, more specifically: where in Montana is the best all-round ski resort close to Bozeman?

Within a two hour drive, there are three main ski resorts that will each be evaluated. This consists of Big Sky, Bridger Bowl, and Showdown. All three of these ski hills have been open since at least 1975. Showdown, founded in 1936, is officially Montana’s oldest ski mountain that still operates. To compare the three ski mountains there will be multiple things taken into consideration such as: average annual snowfall, acres of skiable land, amenities at the resort, ratio of expert skiing to beginner skiing areas, any technology that betters the experience, length of lines, and any special characteristics that are unique to the resort in any way.

Coming in at third place is Showdown Montana. Although it takes last place of the three, it is still a great place to go skiing with your friends or family. According to Ski Resorts magazine, “the four lifts on the mountain allow skiers to access the 640 acres of maintained skiable land.” The lack of skiable land and small amount of chairlifts is one of the reasons why Showdown is third of three. Another reason why it fell in third place was because Ski Resorts wrote that “much of the mountain is rated blue with a few green and black diamond runs scattered throughout.” This is a lack of variety in the level of difficulty which deters more experienced skiers and those who want to push their own boundaries from choosing Showdown. According to Skiing in Showdown, one of the main things that hurts Showdown is its lack of “slope side lodging, 5- star hotels or fine shopping opportunities,” in the area. Showdown is a place to ski and nothing else, so if that is all that you want, then Showdown is the place for you. Showdown is a very small ski resort when compared to places like Big Sky and Bridger Bowl which makes it hard to beat the two. This does not mean that it is not a great place to go skiing. If you’re the kind of person that hates crowds and doesn’t mind skiing some easier terrain, then Showdown is the ski mountain for you.

Narrowly taking second place is Big Sky Montana. Big Sky and Bridger Bowl are so close when comparing them, each has their own positives and negatives that make them so competitive. One of the big attractions for Big Sky is its enormous size. It takes the position of the second largest ski resort, coming in behind Park City Utah with 7,300 acres of skiable land, in the United States with “5,850 acres of terrain with 4,350 vertical feet” on its land as reported in Ski Resorts magazine. America’s Alp says this means that even on a busy day at the mountain there is on average two acres of empty ski terrain to each person skiing. Furthermore, Ski Resorts magazine lists Big Sky as the first resort in North America to have an “eight-person chair and has a covered six-seat chair with heated seats.” The eight person chairs and six person chairs allow the mountain to move through long lift lines with ease, giving the skiers more time on the slopes. Another of the main attractions to Big Sky is that it receives annually “400 inches, making it the snowiest resort in the entire state of Montana,” which allows it to open earlier and close later in the year. It also ensures that the conditions will be great throughout the season.

Within the next few years Big Sky is building a new tram up to the summit of Lone Peak which can hold twice as many people as the previous tram, which held 75 people. This will allow many more people access to runs off of the summit while waiting less time in the line for the tram. However, there is a downside to this, as there will be twice as many people skiing off of the summit each day, the runs will get tracked out. Essentially this new tram could result in the conditions of the ski runs being dismal after the first round of people go down them. One big attraction to Big Sky is all of the little shops and restaurants at the base of the mountain. There’s plenty of options for purchasing food while there. A downside however, is the price tag associated with skiing Big Sky.

Bridger Bowl just outside of Bozeman comes in first for the best ski resort near Bozeman. A positive to choosing Bridger is that the maximum you can spend on a day pass is just $85 in comparison to Big Sky’s maximum day price being $222. You could go to Bridger for two days and buy lunch there while still spending less than you would have if you went to Big Sky. On average Bridger Bowl gets an “annual snowfall of 325 inches,” as reported in Ski Resorts magazine, which does an amazing job in allowing for lots of powder skiing throughout the season. One of Bridger Bowl’s most attractive qualities is the roughly two miles of in-bounds ridge terrain, something that Big Sky cannot offer their skiers. With only 400 feet to hike from the top of the Bridger Lift, you have access to two miles of ridge terrain which offers “incredible runs that are unparalleled to other mountains inbound terrain,” according to Ski Resorts. In order to ski the ridge at Bridger Bowl it is required that you wear a beacon and it is highly recommended that you carry a shovel and probe for your own safety. A beacon allows other people to locate you if an avalanche was to bury you.

Another attraction to Bridger Bowl is sitting on the deck of the Jim Bridger Lodge to refuel your body and soak in the warm sun. From the deck of the Jim Bridger Lodge you can watch skiers in the lowest park on the mountain. Bridger has “two terrain parks on the slopes,” the upper terrain park being for the more advanced skiers and the lower is more geared towards newer skiers. Bridger has a wide variety of skiing from ridge terrain, to parks, and to the bunny hills. This variety allows every type of skier to be happy on the slopes. Bridger also offers amenities on the mountain that enhance the experience that the skiers have. Bridger Bowl not only has amazing skiing and amenities, like multiple lodges at the base and on the mountain day pass costs between $98 and $222 depending on the day. Overall Big Sky is an amazing ski resort with many different opportunities for people of all skiing abilities. “Hello, how’s the snow today,” or something along those lines. This is what makes Bridger Bowl an amazing place to ski.

All three of the resorts that were discussed are amazing places to go ski if you are ever in Montana. Although Bridger Bowl was found to be the best, it is all up to the experience that the skier has. That experience could differ from person to person at different ski resorts. Bridger Bowl was found to be the best because of its ability to satisfy every type of skier whether they want to ski steep lines off the ridge or hit a few jumps in the park and then head into the lodge for some food and beverage. You must go out and try new ski resorts when the opportunity is presented to you.