Best of Montana
Best Ski Resorts in Montana 2026/27: Largest, Highest & for Beginners
By Book & Ski · Sources checked
The short answer
By mapped runs, the biggest ski areas in Montana are Big Sky Resort (238 km), Yellowstone Club (104 km) and Whitefish Mountain Resort (84 km). The highest is Big Sky Resort, with runs from 3,402 m (11,161 ft); the biggest vertical is at Big Sky Resort (1,325 m); and Montana Snowbowl has the largest share of easy terrain (38%).
| Resort | Top elevation | Vertical | Mapped runs | Easy terrain | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sky Resort | 3,402 m | 1,325 m | 238 km | 27% | source |
| Yellowstone Club | 3,001 m | 812 m | 104 km | 25% | source |
| Whitefish Mountain Resort | 2,063 m | 1,025 m | 84 km | 19% | source |
| Great Divide Ski Area | 2,194 m | 426 m | 45 km | 6% | source |
| Montana Snowbowl | 2,296 m | 774 m | 43 km | 38% | source |
| Bridger Bowl | 2,457 m | 656 m | 42 km | 26% | source |
| Discovery Ski Area | 2,486 m | 745 m | 41 km | 23% | source |
| Red Lodge Mountain | 2,858 m | 699 m | 33 km | 18% | source |
Highest ski resorts in Montana
Higher resorts generally hold snow longer into spring. These have the highest mapped runs in Montana.
Big Sky Resort: 3,402 m (11,161 ft) →Yellowstone Club: 3,001 m (9,846 ft) →Red Lodge Mountain: 2,858 m (9,377 ft) →Discovery Ski Area: 2,486 m (8,156 ft) →Bridger Bowl: 2,457 m (8,061 ft) →Biggest vertical drop
Vertical is the height difference between the highest and lowest mapped runs: a guide to how long the longest descents can be.
Big Sky Resort: 1,325 m vertical →Whitefish Mountain Resort: 1,025 m vertical →Yellowstone Club: 812 m vertical →Montana Snowbowl: 774 m vertical →Discovery Ski Area: 745 m vertical →Best for beginners (most easy terrain)
Ranked by the share of mapped run length graded novice or easy. A big share of gentle runs gives beginners more room to progress; also check where the ski school meets.
Montana Snowbowl: 38% easy (43 km total) →Big Sky Resort: 27% easy (238 km total) →Bridger Bowl: 26% easy (42 km total) →Yellowstone Club: 25% easy (104 km total) →Discovery Ski Area: 23% easy (41 km total) →How we chose
“Best” here means measurable: size (km of mapped downhill runs), top elevation, vertical drop and the share of easy terrain, across the 8 ski areas with at least 20 km of runs and five lifts in Montana. Figures come from OpenStreetMap via OpenSkiMap, retrieved 2026-10-01, and can differ from resorts’ own published numbers.
All ski resorts in Montana →Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest ski resort in Montana?
By mapped runs, Big Sky Resort, with about 238 km and 45 lifts.
What is the highest ski resort in Montana?
Big Sky Resort, with mapped runs starting at about 3,402 m (11,161 ft).
Which Montana ski resort is best for beginners?
By share of easy terrain, Montana Snowbowl (38% of runs graded novice or easy). Also consider ski school locations and lift access.
Official sources
Checked on . Prices and timetables change; confirm with the operator before you pay. How we research.