Montana Snow Sports

s I'm typing these lines, I'm watching big, soft snowflakes fluttering to the ground, and the odds that I'll be skiing tomorrow are getting stronger by the moment. Montana is normally blessed with nearly five months of light, fluffy, Northern Rockies powder, and there's no sense in spending the winter indoors. No matter what your preferred style of snow travel, Montana has a host of resorts that can accommodate.

For Alpine skiing; world class destination resorts like Big Sky and Big Mountain provide luxurious accommodations, uncrowded conditions, and Lone Mountain, the home of Big Sky Resort prodigious vertical, plus after-ski activities that assure you can wear yourself to a frazzle both on and off the slope. A notch down the scale in size, if not quality; resorts like Bridger Bowl, Red Lodge, Snowbowl, and Showdown generally have less in the way of on-mountain accommodations, but give up little or nothing in the skiing experience. Then there's a host of delightful smaller areas that each boast their own unpretentious, casual atmosphere and darn good skiing. Most have no on-mountain lodging, but virtually all have unique places to stay in the vicinity, and it's great fun to combine staying at a hot springs resort, for instance, with skiing a couple of these smaller areas as well as perhaps a day spent ski touring or snowshoeing.

Speaking of ski touring, Montana has some very unique Nordic ski Cross-country skiing centers. Guest ranches like Lone Mountain Ranch offer extensive groomed ski trails in addition to gourmet meals and unique accommodations. Another favorite is the remote Izaac Walton Inn just south of Glacier Park along the Middle Fork Flathead river. It's a historic railroad-oriented hotel, where you have the unique possibility to ride Amtrak to your destination, and within a few steps of departing the train, strap on skis and disappear into the Northern Rockies wilderness. Those are just two examples; there are a host of top-notch Nordic ski centers throughout western Montana.

Those who prefer motorized snow travel are probably aware that West Yellowstone is known as the Snowmobile Capitol of the World, with Montana snowmobiling extensive lodging and snowmobile rentals servicing the vast network of trails in the area. We can also set you up at lesser-known but equally striking facilities in more remote parts of Big Sky Country, like the Cooke City and Seeley Lake areas.

So, if you're looking for a unique Montana winter vacation, e-mail or call and we'll put our expertise to work for you.