The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Maverick Mountain's summit reaches 8,520 feet, dropping 2,021 vertical feet to a base at 6,499 feet across 22 runs spread over 450 acres near Polaris, Montana. Average annual snowfall runs to roughly 250 inches across the resort's compact but genuinely varied terrain. The resort carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation. Two double chairs serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.
Maverick Mountain sits within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest along the Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway, roughly 40 miles from Dillon, in a genuinely remote corner of southwestern Montana. Its origins as a community-built facility for the Grasshopper Valley area give the resort a distinctly grassroots character that persists in its modest, uncrowded operation today. The mountain's proximity to Bannack State Park, site of Montana's first territorial capital and an 1862 gold rush boomtown, adds historic interest to the surrounding region.
The ski area opened in 1946 to serve the small Grasshopper Valley community, beginning with nothing more than a single rope tow. In a detail that speaks to the resort's resourceful, do-it-yourself origins, the lift's early support posts were reportedly dragged into place by draft horses given the lack of mechanised equipment available in the area at the time.
Randy Shilling ran Maverick Mountain for roughly 25 years, guiding the resort through decades of steady, unglamorous community operation. In 2015, Erik and Kristi Borge purchased the ski area, continuing its tradition as a small, independently run mountain. Specific current adult daily ticket pricing is not confirmed in available resort information.
2,021ft
Vertical
22
Runs
450 acres
Skiable
13ft
Annual snow
The Terrain
22 runs across 450 acres skiable
Maverick Mountain is a small, community-run ski hill at Polaris in the Pioneer Mountains, about 40 miles from Dillon. It has 22 runs across roughly 450 acres (182 hectares), rising from 6,500 ft (1,981 m) at the base to 8,520 ft (2,597 m) at the top, a vertical drop of 2,020 ft (616 m). That is a big drop for the size of the hill. Terrain splits 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced, with no expert category. One double chair and a surface lift serve the mountain, so lift capacity is modest and the pace stays relaxed, even on weekends.
The hill has a steeper, longer feel than its acreage suggests, with groomed runs on the open slopes and tree skiing in the glades between them. Advanced skiers get their fix on the steeper top-to-bottom lines, while beginners and intermediates have enough gentle ground near the lodge to build confidence. Maverick suits families, locals and southwest Montana road-trippers who want a quiet day away from the larger resorts. Expect minimal facilities, short lift lines and a friendly crowd, and check current operating days and rebuilding updates before travelling, as the area has had recent challenges after wildfire damage.
Terrain split
22
runs
22 runs across 4 grades
Beginner7 runs · 30%
Intermediate9 runs · 40%
Advanced7 runs · 30%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Maverick Mountain
The 2025-26 season at Maverick Mountain ran through the winter months, supported by average annual snowfall of around 250 inches across the resort's compact terrain. Specific opening and closing dates for the 2025-26 season are not confirmed in available resort information, though the mountain typically operates through the core winter period given its elevation and snowfall totals.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the resort's varied 450-acre terrain. Given Maverick's remote location roughly 40 miles from Dillon along the Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway, the resort draws a genuinely small, dedicated skier base from the surrounding Beaverhead Valley region rather than national destination traffic.
As an independently operated resort without major pass affiliation, Maverick's visitor base skews heavily toward locals and regional skiers specifically seeking out its uncrowded, community-focused character. Weekend visitation draws primarily from Dillon and the broader southwestern Montana region, with the mountain's remote setting naturally limiting crowds throughout the season.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Erik and Kristi Borge's 2015 purchase, following Randy Shilling's roughly 25-year tenure, the resort has continued its tradition as a modest, independently run community mountain. Maverick's proximity to Bannack State Park's gold rush history remains a distinctive point of regional interest for visitors throughout the winter.
Season 2026 - 2027
19 Dec 2026
Opens
28 Mar 2027
Closes
99
Days open
13 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Maverick Mountain, and where to stay
Maverick Mountain sits near Polaris, Montana, within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest along the Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway, with a base elevation of 6,499 feet and a summit at 8,520 feet across a 2,021-foot vertical drop over 450 acres. This remote southwestern Montana setting places the resort roughly 40 miles from the nearest larger town.
Dillon, the nearest town of any size, provides lodging, dining and services within a considerable drive of the resort. The historic Bannack State Park, site of Montana's first territorial capital and an 1862 gold rush boomtown, lies within the same broader region, adding a notable historic attraction for visitors to the area.
The Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway provides access to the resort, a route valued for its scenery but requiring careful winter driving given the remote, mountainous terrain it traverses. Snow and ice are common on this route during winter months, and traction tyres or chains are often advisable during storms. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.
Bert Mooney Airport in Butte is the nearest airport with commercial service, a considerable drive from the resort. This distance reinforces Maverick Mountain's identity as a genuinely remote destination reached deliberately by regional skiers rather than a convenient fly-in resort.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Maverick Mountain, powered by Stay22.
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