Red Lodge Mountain

Red Lodge Mountain is the ski area on Grizzly Peak, on the eastern front of the Beartooth Mountains just west of Red Lodge. It opened on January 2, 1960, as Red Lodge Grizzly Peak. Billings is about an hour and a half away by car, which makes this the nearest sizeable ski area for many people in south-central Montana.

The resort lists a summit of 9,416 feet and a vertical drop of 2,400 feet. The main lodge sits at 7,433 feet and the lowest base, at the Palisades quad, at 7,016 feet. There are 1,635 acres of ski terrain and 70 runs, served by six chairlifts and two surface lifts. Snowmaking covers about 28 percent of the trails, and the resort says its snowmaking capacity is the second largest in Montana, which helps in a dry early season. The summit stands nearly 3,800 feet above the town of Red Lodge, so expect colder, windier weather on the upper lifts than in town.

For 2026/27 the resort has announced opening day as Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving; the operating schedule is still to be set. Lift ticket prices for the season are sold online, and the resort says buying early can save up to 30 percent. A Magic Carpet beginner area carries a $5 RFID card fee. Check the resort's site for current prices, since they were not posted in full in October.

The six chairs are two high-speed quads, a high-speed triple, a fixed triple and two doubles, with a combined capacity of about 10,690 skiers an hour. In summer the resort also runs a golf course; check its site for tee times.

The base area is at 305 Ski Run Road, about 8 miles and 20 minutes by road from downtown Red Lodge. From Billings, follow US-212 southwest through Roberts to Red Lodge, then take Ski Run Road up the mountain. Opening day falls on the day after Thanksgiving, two days after Big Sky's listed opening, so early-season terrain will depend on the snowmaking system. Expect winter driving conditions on the access road, and carry chains or use snow tires after a storm.