Bridger Bowl in Montana is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Bridger Bowl, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
, located on the eastern side of the Continental Divide in the Bridger Range, lies roughly 17 miles northeast of Bozeman, Montana. The affordable ski area enjoys heavy snowfall, which makes Bridger popular with locals, especially students from Montana State University in Bozeman. This more egalitarian approach to winter sports is in sharp contrast to Big Sky and Moonlight Basin ski areas, which are located in the Gallatin Mountains about 50 miles south-southwest of Bozeman and cater to a more upscale crowd. If you're planning to fly into Bozeman, Gallatin Field is located between Bozeman and Belgrade, only 24 miles from the ski area.
The Mountain
With a base elevation of 6,100 feet and a summit elevation of 8,700 feet, Bridger Bowl has a vertical drop of 2,600 feet. The ski area's season generally runs from early December through early April, weather conditions permitting. Bridger is noted for its light, dry powder snow known as
The average annual snowfall at Bridger is 350 inches, ensuring good skiing conditions throughout the season. Because snowfall is generally heavy and dependable, the ski mountain's snowmaking capabilities are limited to only 4 percent of its 2,000 skiable acres. Ideal for skiers who enjoy a long and challenging trail, Bridger's longest run covers more than three miles.
Trails And Lifts
With 71 trails, Bridger Bowl boasts a variety of ski runs suited for skiers of all skill levels. In its analysis of Bridger's skiing trails,
rates 25 percent of them beginner trails, 35 percent intermediate, 30 percent advanced and 10 percent expert. Also available is a two-line terrain park that features a variety of rails, boxes and jams sure to challenge even the most proficient freestyle skiers and snowboarders. Providing skiers and boarders access to the mountain are seven lifts: one quad, three triples and three doubles. Popular with expert skiers are Bridger's Avalanche Gulch and the North Bowl. Extreme skiers may choose to explore Bridger's ridge terrain, which the ski area warns contains multiple steep chutes that may end in unmarked cliffs.
In The News
Because of its proximity to Montana State University, which conducts a nine-week, one-credit course on its slopes, Bridger has hosted the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Ski Championships several times. In keeping with its image as a mom-and-pop skiing area, Bridger Bowl is not high on the list of skiing venues for celebrities, who are more likely to be found at Big Sky or Moonlight Basin south of Bozeman. Action ski filmmakers
have both filmed extensively at Bridger.
Cost
Full-day lift tickets are $48 for adults ages 13 to 69, $16 for children 7 to 12, and $21 for seniors 70 to 79. Kids 6 and younger and seniors 80 and older ski free.
are also available. Bridger's rental shop carries K2 alpine and Telemark skis and Nordica boots, as well as Burton snowboards and boots. A standard rental package (ski or snowboard) runs $25 per day for adults, $20 for juniors, $10 for children 6 and younger and $5 for seniors. Rental packages in excess of two days have a discounted daily rate. Group and private lessons are also available. Group lessons are $37, while private lessons cost $90.
Apres-Ski
Food and beverage services are available at Bridger's
: Jim Bridger Lodge, Saddle Peak Lodge and Deer Park Chalet. Jimmy B's Bar & Grill in the Jim Bridger Lodge has a full-service bar, stone fireplace and live music on weekends and holidays. Cafeteria food service is available in all three lodges. In Bozeman, popular hangouts include
and the
.
WATCH: Bridger Bowl
The North Bowl offers challenging terrain for skiers at Montana's Bridger Bowl.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.