Blacktail Ski Area - Glacier Country's Best Kept Secret

Blacktail Mountain Ski Area

Depending on how you count them, Montana has 15 downhill ski areas and most Montana skiers haven't even heard of half of them.  Of course, Big Sky and Whitefish get all the publicity.  Snow Bowl and Red Lodge Mountain get traffic because they are close to large population centers.  Mountains like Bridger Bowl and Lost Trail have a reputation for consistent snow and shorter lines so many Montana skiers consider these the secret spots.  There are several smaller ski hills around Montana that can be good if there is a snow storm but many are only open a few days a week and the snow isn't always consistent.

Swan Mountain and Flathead Lake from the lodge

Blacktail Mountain Ski Area stands out from this last group because it does have consistent snow!  In the Flathead and Kalispell area, Whitefish Mountain gets so much press that some skiers never even hear of Blacktail Mountain.  Here are 5 reasons you should plan to visit Blacktail Mountain on your next ski vacation!

1. Snow- Blacktail Mountain typically gets 250 inches of snow per year which isn't quite as much as Whitefish but its pretty great when you look at other mountains across Montana.  Also, because it is closed on Monday and Tuesday, there is the potential of several days worth of untouched powder if you can make it on a Wednesday!  Even if you can't make it till the weekend, because of the lower traffic volumes, there is often still untouched powder.

"Above the Clouds"  Inversion facing West from the lodge

2. Lines- Blacktail has pretty short lines, regardless of the day of the week.  The lodge and parking area are located at the top of the mountain so traffic on the lift regulates itself because of the varying speeds of people going down the mountain.

3. Price- Blacktail Mountain charges $40 for a full day adult pass which is about half of what Whitefish charges.

4. Family Focus- Blacktail Mountain is a family mountain.  This doesn't mean there aren't advanced runs, but it does mean they're more understanding of your kid having problems getting on the lift.  Also, they offer some cool promotions like 5th graders ski for free!

5. Views- From Blacktail Mountain you can see into Glacier, the entire Flathead Valley and Flathead Lake.  I don't think there is a better view from a ski resort in Montana and I have been to most of them!  Even if you're just hanging out in the lodge while the rest of your family skis, you're sure to enjoy your day because of the views!

"You are here"

If you are coming to Kalispell to ski, check out our hotel Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn and Suites in Kalispell, MT.  We offer full day tickets at half day prices for Blacktail Mountain!  We have full Montana breakfast in the morning to fuel your day on the slopes and  a hot tub for your sore muscles when you come back.  We are the closest branded hotel to Blacktail and we're not too far from Whitefish Mountain either if you want to hit both ski areas while you're in the area!