Montana Snowbowl

Montana Snowbowl is Missoula's own ski area, about 12 miles northwest of town on the Lolo National Forest. It opened in December 1962 and still runs several vintage chairlifts. It has a summit of 7,600 feet, a base of 5,000 feet and 2,600 feet of vertical over about 950 acres, with 39 runs and around 300 inches of snow a year.

The lift system mixes old Riblet double chairs with a newer triple chair and a vintage T-bar, plus a rope tow for beginners. The Snow Park expansion opened in January 2020, and NBC Montana has reported on the building of a newer triple chair to the top of TV Mountain. Beginners have a separate rope-tow area with its own cheap ticket, and the longest run is about 3 miles. A 2011 expansion plan proposed more chairlifts, more parking and a mountain restaurant; the part involving TV Mountain was later dropped.

Snowbowl has not announced its 2026/27 opening date. Third-party sites project early December, which is typical for the hill, but treat that as an estimate and check the snow report. The latest published prices on the resort's site are for 2025/26: an adult full day was $76 on weekdays and $82 on weekends and holidays, children 6 to 12 paid $37, and children 5 and under skied free. Students and seniors 60 and over got a small discount, half-day tickets started at 12:30 p.m., and the beginner rope-tow ticket was $10, or free with a lesson or rentals. The resort's site also has an Indy Pass page, so pass holders should check whether Snowbowl days are included this season. Expect 2026/27 prices to differ, and check the resort's lift-ticket page for coupons and multi-day options before buying at the window.

In summer the area runs separate activities, including a zipline, but the summer season has ended and the homepage now reads "Closed for the summer season, see you in the winter!".

The drive is short but climbs steadily on a mountain road, so allow about 35 to 40 minutes from downtown and more after fresh snow. Check the resort's hours, shuttle and road information before going up on a powder day, when the parking fills early.