Blacktail Mountain is a mid-sized local hill above Lakeside on the western shore of Flathead Lake, with 27 runs and about 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of terrain. Elevations run from 5,240 ft (1,596 m) at the base to 6,680 ft (2,035 m) at the summit, a vertical drop of 1,440 ft (439 m). Intermediate runs make up 65% of the mix, with 20% advanced and 15% beginner, and there is no expert category. Two double chairs, one triple chair and a surface lift handle the traffic, so lift lines stay short and the hill feels unhurried on most days.

Blacktail runs upside-down: the lodge and car park sit at the top, and every run starts from the summit and heads down. Skiers get open views over Flathead Lake and across to Glacier National Park and the Whitefish and Mission ranges, which is half the appeal. Wide, rolling cruisers dominate, with tree runs and steeper pitches for those wanting more bite. It suits intermediates, families and anyone using Whitefish as the big-mountain stop who wants a quieter day. Skiers chasing serious steeps or a big lift network will find it a modest hill, and should treat it as a friendly change of pace.

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.

Daily snow reports at Blacktail Mountain go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.