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    Montana, USA

    Montana Snowbowl

    950 acres, 37 runs 12 miles from Missoula. 2,600ft vertical drop, National Forest terrain.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    6 Dec 2025
    Closes
    13 Apr 2026
    Days open
    128
    Annual snow
    19ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Montana Snowbowl's summit reaches 7,579 feet, dropping 2,600 vertical feet to a base at 4,980 feet across 37 runs spread over 950 acres roughly 12 miles from Missoula, Montana. The resort carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation and operates under a Special Use Authorization on National Forest land. Specific lift configuration details beyond the resort's core chairlift network are not confirmed in available resort information.

    When Montana Snowbowl opened in December 1962, it was promoted as offering the most vertical drop of any ski area in the Pacific Northwest region at the time, a distinction that has remained a point of pride for the resort ever since. Its proximity to Missoula, a considerable university city, gives Snowbowl a distinctly local, no-frills character relative to Montana's larger destination resorts. The mountain hosted the National Alpine Championship in 1967, a notable early marker of its standing among serious ski racers.

    The resort's origins trace to a facility known as Snow Park on TV Mountain, developed with connections to the Thorsrud family, who had earlier been involved with the smaller Diamond Mountain ski area near Potomac, Montana. By the early 1960s, a single chairlift served the mountain, supporting the area's opening in December 1962 and its rapid rise in reputation given its considerable vertical drop.

    By the mid-1980s, the resort faced closure, and Brad Morris and his family purchased Snowbowl to save it, installing the LaValle chairlift around 1985 as part of their investment in the mountain's future. Specific current ownership and adult daily ticket pricing are not confirmed in available resort information.

    2,598ft
    Vertical
    37
    Runs
    950 acres
    Skiable
    19ft
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    37 runs across 950 acres skiable

    Montana Snowbowl spreads 37 runs across 950 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 40%, with 7 beginner runs to find your feet and 15 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    37
    runs
    37 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner7 runs · 20%
    Intermediate15 runs · 40%
    Advanced13 runs · 35%
    Expert2 runs · 5%
    Time it right

    When to visit Montana Snowbowl

    The 2025-26 season at Montana Snowbowl ran through the winter months, with the resort's considerable 2,600-foot vertical drop and elevation supporting reliable conditions across the season. Specific opening and closing dates for the 2025-26 season are not confirmed in available resort information.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the mountain's varied 950-acre terrain. Given Snowbowl's proximity to Missoula, roughly 12 miles away, the resort draws heavily from the university city's population, giving it a distinctly local, accessible character relative to Montana's more remote destination resorts.

    As an independently operated resort without major pass affiliation, Snowbowl's visitor base skews toward Missoula-area locals and University of Montana students and staff seeking convenient, nearby skiing. Weekend crowds draw primarily from the Missoula region, with the resort's considerable vertical drop attracting skiers seeking a genuine mountain experience close to the city.

    Specific event programming beyond the resort's historic hosting of the 1967 National Alpine Championship and standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Brad Morris and his family's purchase in the mid-1980s, which saved the resort from closure, Snowbowl has continued operating under Special Use Authorization on National Forest land. The mountain's considerable vertical relief remains central to its seasonal appeal for Missoula-area skiers.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    6 Dec 2025
    Opens
    13 Apr 2026
    Closes
    128
    Days open
    19 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Montana Snowbowl, and where to stay

    Montana Snowbowl sits roughly 12 miles from Missoula, Montana, with a base elevation of 4,980 feet and a summit at 7,579 feet across a 2,600-foot vertical drop over 950 acres of National Forest land. This proximity to a considerable university city makes Snowbowl one of the more accessible mountains in Montana relative to its scale.

    Missoula, home to the University of Montana, provides the resort's primary lodging, dining and visitor base, with the ski area functioning as a genuine local mountain for the city's population. The broader Missoula Valley combines the resort with extensive additional outdoor recreation options across the surrounding region.

    Local roads connect Missoula directly to the resort, a relatively short drive given the mountain's proximity to the city. Winter driving conditions on the approach can include snow and ice, though the route is well travelled given the resort's role as Missoula's primary nearby ski destination. Specific public transport service to the resort is not confirmed in available resort information.

    Missoula International Airport, within the city itself, is the nearest airport with commercial service, making Snowbowl notably accessible for fly-in visitors given its short distance from both the airport and downtown Missoula. This combination of proximity and considerable vertical drop distinguishes Snowbowl among Montana's ski areas.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Montana Snowbowl, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032

    FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032

    The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.

    4 Sept 2026
    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.

    4 Sept 2026
    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.

    2 Sept 2026
    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.

    1 Sept 2026
    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.

    31 Aug 2026
    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.

    28 Aug 2026
    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

    A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.

    27 Aug 2026
    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.

    26 Aug 2026

    Montana Snowbowl Lift Tickets

    Montana Snowbowl lift tickets & passes

    The 2025 - 2026 season at Montana Snowbowl closed on Apr 13, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.

    Day passes start from US$25, with peak rates up to US$47.

    5 pass options
    Buy passes ↗

    Single-day passes

    Adult 18–59

    Adult Daily Lift Ticket

    US$37up to US$47 peak

    Montana Snowbowl adult lift tickets provide access to 2,600 vertical feet of steep terrain just 12 miles from Missoula. Known for deep powder bowls and expert terrain, Snowbowl offers authentic Montana skiing at affordable prices.

    Buy pass
    Senior 60–99

    Senior Daily Lift Ticket

    US$30up to US$35 peak

    Montana Snowbowl senior lift tickets for ages 60+ offer discounted access to steep Montana terrain. Enjoy Snowbowl's legendary West Bowl and challenging runs with senior savings.

    Buy pass
    Youth 13–25

    Student Daily Lift Ticket

    US$30up to US$35 peak

    Montana Snowbowl student lift tickets provide discounted access with valid school ID. University of Montana students can purchase discounted coupons at the Outdoor Recreation office for additional savings.

    Buy pass
    Child 6–12

    Child Daily Lift Ticket

    US$25up to US$30 peak

    Montana Snowbowl child lift tickets provide affordable family skiing for ages 6-12. Kids enjoy access to Snowbowl's beginner terrain and ski school programs at discounted rates.

    Buy pass
    Child 0–5

    Children Daily Lift Ticket (5 & Under)

    Free

    Children 5 and younger ski free at Montana Snowbowl when accompanied by a paying adult. Free lift tickets include access to beginner areas and family-friendly terrain near Missoula.

    Buy pass

    Lift tickets FAQ

    How much does a Montana Snowbowl day pass cost?+
    Montana Snowbowl day passes range from US$25 to US$47 depending on the date and advance booking.
    Can I buy Montana Snowbowl lift tickets online?+
    Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
    Are there discounts for multi-day passes?+
    Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
    What is included with a Montana Snowbowl lift ticket?+
    Full access to all lifts and trails at Montana Snowbowl, including mountain safety and patrol services.
    What is the difference between Montana Snowbowl lift tickets and ski passes?+
    "Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Montana Snowbowl - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
    When should I buy Montana Snowbowl lift tickets for the best price?+
    Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
    Does Montana Snowbowl offer group discounts on lift tickets?+
    Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Montana Snowbowl directly for group booking information and rates.
    How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?+
    Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Montana Snowbowl.

    More Montana Snowbowl intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.