Montana, Usa
Blacktail Mountain
1,000 acres, 27 runs above Flathead Lake. Affordable, family-friendly terrain, no expert runs.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
6 Dec 2025
Closes
13 Apr 2026
Days open
128
Annual snow
18ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Blacktail Mountain's summit reaches 6,680 feet, dropping 1,444 vertical feet to a base at 5,236 feet across 27 runs spread over 1,000 acres above the western shore of Flathead Lake, Montana. Terrain splits 65 per cent intermediate, 20 per cent advanced and 15 per cent beginner, with no expert-rated runs, and average annual snowfall of roughly 220 inches. The resort carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation. Four lifts, including two double chairs and one triple chair, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.
Blacktail Mountain was deliberately designed as a smaller, more affordable alternative to the larger Big Mountain resort in nearby Whitefish, and its intermediate-weighted, expert-free terrain reflects that founding vision. Its position above Flathead Lake gives skiers sweeping valley views uncommon among Montana's ski areas. The resort's comparatively lean lift count relative to its acreage keeps operations simple and costs manageable.
Blacktail Mountain opened in December 1998, notable as the first new ski area granted a special-use permit by the US Forest Service since 1978. A group of local enthusiasts, including Steve Spencer, Tom Sands, Dennis Carver and Jeff Sorg, founded the resort specifically to offer a smaller, more affordable option relative to Whitefish's Big Mountain.
In November 2021, the Spencer-led ownership group sold Blacktail Mountain to Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort, a Washington-based operation owned by Larry Scrivanich, bringing the Montana resort under common ownership with the Washington mountain. Adult daily tickets run from 40 to 50 US dollars, among the more affordable pricing structures in the region, consistent with the resort's founding mission.
1,440ft
Vertical
27
Runs
1,000 acres
Skiable
18ft
Annual snow
The Terrain
27 runs across 1,000 acres skiable
Blacktail Mountain spreads 27 runs across 1,000 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 65%, with 4 beginner runs to find your feet and 5 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
27
runs
27 runs across 4 grades
Beginner4 runs · 15%
Intermediate18 runs · 65%
Advanced5 runs · 20%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Blacktail Mountain
The 2025-26 season at Blacktail Mountain ran from 6 December 2025 to 13 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 220 inches. This snowfall total supports reliable conditions across the resort's intermediate-weighted terrain throughout the season. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the mountain's approachable terrain. Given the resort's founding mission as an affordable alternative to Whitefish's Big Mountain, Blacktail draws primarily from the broader Flathead Valley region rather than national destination traffic, keeping crowds notably lighter than the area's larger resort.
As an independently operated resort without major pass affiliation, Blacktail's visitor base skews heavily toward local and regional skiers seeking straightforward, budget-friendly access. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the resort's substantial intermediate terrain and absence of expert-only zones. Weekend crowds draw primarily from the Flathead Lake area.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since the 2021 sale to Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort's ownership group, the resort has continued to operate consistent with its original founding mission of affordability and simplicity. Blacktail Mountain's views over Flathead Lake remain a defining seasonal backdrop for visitors throughout the winter.
Season 2025 - 2026
6 Dec 2025
Opens
13 Apr 2026
Closes
128
Days open
18 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Blacktail Mountain, and where to stay
Blacktail Mountain sits above the western shore of Flathead Lake near Lakeside, Montana, with a base elevation of 5,236 feet and a summit at 6,680 feet across a 1,444-foot vertical drop over 1,000 acres. This northwestern Montana setting places the resort within easy reach of Flathead Lake, one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in the western United States.
Lakeside and the broader Flathead Lake shoreline communities provide local lodging and dining, while Kalispell, a larger regional centre, offers more extensive services a further drive away. Whitefish, home to the larger Big Mountain resort, lies within the same broader Flathead Valley region, giving visitors a choice between the two mountains' distinct characters.
US Highway 93 provides direct access to the resort from the Flathead Valley, with the ski area easily reached from the highway along the lake's western shore. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled highway is regularly maintained given its role as a major regional corridor. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.
Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell is the nearest airport with commercial service, offering a practical option for visitors flying into the Flathead Valley region. Most Blacktail Mountain visitors, however, are local and regional skiers from the surrounding Flathead Lake communities rather than fly-in destination travellers.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Blacktail Mountain, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season
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17 Aug 2026
Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope
Italy's Stelvio Glacier has pulled the plug on summer skiing from August 15. It was the last lift-served ski option left standing in continental Europe, and now there's none. Operator SIFAS pointed to persistent heat, storms, and a snowpack that simply wasn't refreezing overnight anymore. The cable car keeps running. Whether skiing comes back later this summer depends on the weather turning - and right now, nobody's promising anything.
15 Aug 2026
Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area
Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.
15 Aug 2026
Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening
Fairmont is bringing its second Japanese property to Niseko, and this one's got history. The 165-room resort will rise on the site of the stalled La Plume project, which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2025 before J-Will Partners bought the site for redevelopment. Set between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, it's slated for an early 2028 opening - putting it in play for the 2027/28 season. Expect two restaurants, a spa, onsen bathing, and a kids' club, a short drive from Niseko Village and Hirafu.
12 Aug 2026
Saas-Fee Closes Its Glacier to Summer Skiing as Heat Wave Drags On
Saas-Fee is closing its glacier to summer skiing from Monday, August 10 - the second major Swiss resort to shut in under two weeks after Zermatt suspended operations on August 1. Persistent heat and warm nights that won't let the glacier refreeze are behind the call, per Saastal Bergbahnen. That leaves Italy's Stelvio as the only glacier ski area open in the Alps. Reopening could come as early as August 17, though nothing's confirmed - and racing teams are already looking south instead.
8 Aug 2026
Lift system
Blacktail Mountain runs four lifts: two double chairs, one triple chair and one surface lift, serving 27 runs across 1,000 acres above Flathead Lake. This modest network reflects the resort's founding intent as a smaller, simpler alternative to the larger, more heavily developed Big Mountain resort in nearby Whitefish.
The lift network has remained relatively stable since the resort's December 1998 opening, when founders Steve Spencer, Tom Sands, Dennis Carver and Jeff Sorg established the ski area under the first new US Forest Service special-use permit granted since 1978. The November 2021 sale to Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort, under Washington-based owner Larry Scrivanich, brought new ownership without dramatically altering this core infrastructure.
The double chairs and single triple chair distribute skiers across the resort's intermediate-weighted terrain, while the surface lift supports beginner areas near the base. There is no gondola or high-speed six-pack chair, and with no expert-rated terrain to serve, the lift network is calibrated specifically for approachable, family-friendly skiing.
Since the 2021 ownership change, which brought Blacktail Mountain under common ownership with Mission Ridge in Washington, investment has continued to support the existing four-lift network. Specific recent lift replacement or expansion projects beyond this configuration are not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's lean lift count relative to its acreage remains consistent with its founding identity as an affordable, low-frills mountain.
4lifts across 3 types
1
Triple Chair
2
Double Chairs
1
Surface Lift
Blacktail Mountain lift system
Blacktail Mountain is served by 4 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Blacktail Mountain intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.