Red Lodge Mountain

Since January 1960, the Red Lodge Mountain ski area has grown its facilities and reputation with local park rats and traveling ski bums alike. Sitting along the eastern front of the Beartooth Mountains, the resort provides alpine skiing and riding west of Red Lodge, Montana.

Positioned north of the Wyoming border, motorists will find that the closest Interstate is I-90 to the north. US Route 212 brings travelers to Red Lodge, and State Highway 71 will get them west of town. Anyone flying in can use the Billings Logan International Airport or the Yellowstone Regional Airport near Cody, Wyoming. Ground transportation is available from these facilities.

Open Space and Lots of Drop

The first thing most guests will notice is the vertical rise. A base elevation at Red Lodge Mountain rests at 7,016 feet, with a peak elevation on Grizzly peak of 9,416 feet creates a 2,400-foot drop. Rippers and shredders have room for lots of potentials when working down the slopes here.

Nearly 1,635 acres of skiable terrain await visitors to the resort area, with over half of the mountain rating for advanced or expert skiers and riders. There are 70 runs on the Red Lodge Mountain ski area, with 36-percent of them rating at black diamond/advanced and 20-percent double diamond/expert. Casual alpine skiers and riders have a quarter of the mountain rating as blue/intermediate, with the remaining 19-percent listed as green/beginner for those new to the winter fun.

Those looking for terrain features more than traditional alpine skiing can find their way to the parks at Red Lodge Mountain. Miami Beach offers newbies a place to practice the basics and gain some experience on smaller features. Intermediate and advanced ski bums will find the Scrapyard up to their challenge. Skiers and riders wanting long runs will find the Lazy M trail to their liking as it reaches 2.5 miles in length.

Built by Skiers for Skiers

The Red Lodge Mountain ski area was formed in the late 1950s by local ski bums wanting to develop a mountain that provided access to the pow. These facilities can deliver that, with a season that usually starts after the Thanksgiving holiday. Snowfall average is about 250 inches across the entire park each year, with about 28-percent of the runs equipped with snowmaking equipment to enhance what nature provides. That also helps to start the season sooner or run later if storms are late with delivery.

Red Lodge Mountain ski area uses seven lifts to move visitors around the venue, including six chair lifts and one surface lift. When lifties run these at their capacity, the uphill volume can reach 10,690 guests each hour. Wait lines are rare here, however, with the holidays representing peaks in the ski season.

The Red Lodge Mountain ski area offers a variety of group and individual lessons. Several programs focus on young skiers or riders and those with disabilities. The Main Lodge and Midway Chalet provide daytime amenities on Red Lodge Mountain, with more extensive facilities found elsewhere to accommodate longer stays.