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    Montana, USA

    Discovery Ski Area

    2,400 acres, 74 runs near Anaconda. Balanced terrain for all abilities, uncrowded Montana skiing.

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    Live Discovery Ski Area conditions, webcams & maps. Opens straight here.

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    Live Discovery Ski Area conditions, webcams & maps. Opens straight here.

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    Weekly report
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    Montana snow report
    Week of 8 Nov

    Only light snow for Montana so far

    Season 2026 - 2027
    Opens
    4 Dec 2026
    Closes
    4 Apr 2027
    Days open
    121
    Annual snow
    200in
    Snow record
    0in
    Last winter · 2026-27
    0% of a typical winter41in
    Explore 2 winters of snowfall→
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Discovery Ski Area's summit reaches 8,150 feet, dropping 2,379 vertical feet to a base at 5,771 feet across 74 runs spread over 2,400 acres near Anaconda, Montana. Terrain splits 30 per cent expert, 25 per cent advanced, 25 per cent intermediate and 20 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 200 inches. The resort carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation. Eight lifts, including two double chairs and five triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.

    Discovery's genuinely balanced terrain split across all four ability levels, combined with its distance from Montana's larger population centres, has earned it a reputation as something of a hidden gem among experienced Western skiers. The resort's history is closely tied to the fortunes of nearby Anaconda's copper mining industry, a connection that nearly ended the ski area's operations in the early 1980s. Its current scale, expanded twice under long-term ownership, reflects a steady rebuild from that low point.

    The ski area opened in 1974 as Discovery Basin with a handful of runs and a rope tow, developed by a combination of Spokane investors and local ski enthusiasts seeking better terrain than the nearby Wraith Hill offered. The resort's fortunes turned sharply downward when Anaconda's copper smelter closed in 1981 and Butte's open-pit mine followed two years later, devastating the local economy and, with it, Discovery's skier numbers, leaving the resort with a deteriorating lodge and lifts in urgent need of repair.

    In 1984, Peter and Beatriz Pitcher submitted the only bid to purchase the struggling resort. Under their ownership, Discovery added 50 acres of trails and the Limelight chairlift in 1986, followed by a second expansion in 1991 that added a further 180 acres and another lift on the mountain's back side. Adult daily tickets run from 68 to 78 US dollars.

    2,379ft
    Vertical
    74
    Runs
    2,400 acres
    Skiable
    200in
    Annual snow
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    The Terrain

    74 runs across 2,400 acres skiable

    Discovery Ski Area, near Philipsburg in the Flint Creek Range, covers about 2,400 acres (971 hectares) across 74 runs. The base is 5,770 ft (1,759 m) and the summit reaches 8,150 ft (2,484 m), giving a vertical drop of 2,380 ft (725 m). The difficulty mix is even and leans towards harder skiing: 30% expert, 25% advanced, 25% intermediate and 20% beginner. Five triple chairs, two doubles and a surface lift serve the hill, which keeps lift lines short and the terrain feeling like a big Montana mountain with a small-town pace. Average snowfall sits near 200 inches a year.

    The mountain is spread over four faces on Rumsey and Jubilee mountains. The front face holds wide groomed runs for beginners and intermediates, while the Limelight lift reaches north-facing terrain that ranks among the steepest lift-served pitches in the state. The backside brings chutes, powder bowls and glades for strong skiers who want room to roam, and the Anaconda and Granite lifts cover intermediate cruising. Discovery suits advanced and expert skiers hunting uncrowded steeps, plus families content with an easy front face. It is a destination hill, as the nearest towns sit 25 miles away and services are limited.

    Terrain split
    74
    runs
    74 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner15 runs · 20%
    Intermediate19 runs · 25%
    Advanced19 runs · 25%
    Expert22 runs · 30%
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    Time it right

    When to visit Discovery Ski Area

    The 2025-26 season at Discovery Ski Area ran from 6 December 2025 to 6 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 200 inches. This snowfall total supports reliable conditions across the resort's genuinely balanced terrain mix 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 varied terrain. Given the resort's distance from Montana's larger population centres and its history of economic hardship tied to the Anaconda mining industry's decline, Discovery draws a smaller, more dedicated visitor base than resorts closer to Missoula or Bozeman, contributing to its reputation as a relatively uncrowded option.

    As an independently operated resort without major pass affiliation, Discovery's visitor base skews toward regional Montana skiers and those specifically seeking out its balanced terrain and lighter crowds. School holiday periods bring some increase in family visitation given the resort's substantial beginner and intermediate terrain alongside its expert-rated runs. Weekend crowds draw from the broader southwestern Montana region.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Continued ownership under the Pitcher family since 1984 has maintained the steady, incremental investment approach that rebuilt the resort following the early-1980s economic collapse tied to Anaconda's mining industry. Discovery's reputation as a hidden gem among experienced Western skiers remains central to its seasonal identity.

    Season 2026 - 2027
    4 Dec 2026
    Opens
    4 Apr 2027
    Closes
    121
    Days open
    200 in
    Annual snow
    The record

    Historical snowfall at Discovery Ski Area

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

    9 in
    Snowiest day
    5 Mar 2026
    0 in
    This winter · 2026-27
    so far
    41 in
    Typical winter
    average of complete seasons
    Explore historical snowfall →
    Winter totals
    in
    Past wintersThis winter
    Getting there

    Getting to Discovery Ski Area, and where to stay

    Discovery Ski Area sits near Anaconda in southwestern Montana, with a base elevation of 5,771 feet and a summit at 8,150 feet across a 2,379-foot vertical drop over 2,400 acres. This puts the resort within a historic mining region shaped substantially by the copper industry's boom and subsequent decline.

    Anaconda, roughly 25 minutes from the mountain, offers hotels, bars and restaurants along with a distinct mining-town character shaped by its industrial history. Philipsburg, a smaller historic town, lies nearby as well, adding another option for visitors exploring the region. Missoula and Butte, the nearest larger cities, both lie within a reasonable drive.

    Montana Highway 1 and local roads connect Anaconda to the resort, climbing into the mountains above the historic mining town. Winter driving conditions on the approach can include snow and ice, though the route is well used given the resort's role as the region's primary ski destination. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.

    Missoula International Airport and Bert Mooney Airport in Butte both offer commercial service within a reasonable drive, providing practical options for visitors flying into southwestern Montana. Most Discovery visitors, however, are regional Montana skiers driving from Anaconda, Butte or Missoula rather than fly-in destination travellers.

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    Discovery Ski Area Snow Report

    Never miss powder

    Real-time Discovery Ski Area snow reports & forecasts in your pocket.

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    Week of 8 NovMontana weekly snow report→

    Never miss powder

    Real-time Discovery Ski Area snow reports & forecasts in your pocket.

    Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
    Snow Report
    Updated 11 Nov 2026
    8,150ft
    summit
    +0in
    new snow · last 24 hours
    Overcast38°F / 52°F · SE 12mph
    Snowfall
    24 hours
    0in
    48 hours
    0in
    7 days
    0in
    Base depth
    0in
    Season total
    0in
    Typical winter 41in
    See how this winter compares→
    Total lifts8

    Live open status isn’t available right now.

    4 Dec 2026 - 4 Apr 2027

    Hour by Hour

    Next 48 hours· Updated Nov 12, 2026 at 5:02 AM
    Thu12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pFri12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pSat12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a
    Conditions
    Temp°F · feels
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    Snowfallin
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    Precipin000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
    Wind / gustmph
    3G13
    4G11
    5G13
    7G14
    6G8
    9G14
    10G14
    10G16
    11G17
    12G18
    10G15
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    9G12
    8G11
    8G8
    7G12
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    7G11
    8G10
    8G13
    9G15
    7G12
    7G18
    8G19
    8G17
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    8G16
    7G17
    5G15
    7G9
    7G14
    11G25
    13G27
    11G21
    9G13
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    5G5
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    5G4
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    5G4
    4G4
    5G4
    4G4
    4G4
    4G8
    6G9
    6G9

    Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo

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    7-Day Outlook

    7,674 ftUpdated Nov 12, 2026 at 5:02 AMOpen-Meteo

    Days 1–7

    0.2"

    Days 8–14

    7.1"

    Unlock days 8–14

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    Thu, Nov 12

    Overcast
    Temp52° / 38°°F
    Snow0.0"
    Wind12 mph SE

    Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.

    Understanding the Discovery Ski Area snow report

    See what's happening on the mountain at Discovery Ski Area right now — snowfall, snow depth, and weather data to help you plan your day in Montana.

    Snow measurements

    Snow depth at Discovery Ski Area is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 725m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.

    Weather conditions

    Current weather conditions affect snow quality. Cold temperatures with low wind typically preserve snow quality, while warm temperatures or rain can impact conditions negatively — something worth watching closely at Discovery Ski Area's 1759m base elevation, where temperatures run milder than the summit.

    Data sources

    We pull Discovery Ski Area's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 8 lifts in total.

    When to check

    The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Discovery Ski Area's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.

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