Moonlight Basin Ski Resort - Montana
The opening of the Moonlight Basin Ski Resort on the north face of Lone Peak in Big Sky, Montana, marked the first opening of a destination ski area in over 20 years. Now in its fifth season, Moonlight Basin has grown into a first-class, year-round destination resort. Skiing at Moonlight Basin offer 85 mapped trails, chutes and glades, making more than 1,900 skiable acres with a vertical drop of 4,150'. The terrain is served by 7 lifts, including Montana's only high-speed, six-passenger chair. At Moonlight Basin you'll have lots of elbow room--short or no lift lines and no crowds. Plus, the terrain's northerly exposure ensures the more than 400 inches of powder that falls each year stays light and dry.
The Headwaters Chair brings skiers and riders in The Headwaters Terrain, some of the steepest inbounds terrain in the Rockies previously only accessible by hiking. Future expansion plans include 3,500 acres and 12 lifts, positioning Moonlight as an attractive addition to Montana's ski areas.
Moonlight Basin and Big Sky Resort have teamed up to offer joint lift tickets. Now, skiers and riders can access nearly 5,300 acres of interconnected trails and lifts--all with one ticket.
But Moonlight Basin is more than just great skiing and riding. It's a feeling - friendly, unpretentious, laid-back--a feeling that makes you feel as welcome as you do in your own home. Together with breath-taking scenery and exciting terrain, visitors are welcomed by unmatched friendliness and award-winning customer service. In addition to optional valet parking and other amenities, Mountain Guides are available for mountain tours and answer any questions you may have about Moonlight Basin and the surrounding area. A complimentary tour of the mountain is available to all first-time visitors at Moonlight Basin.
Skiing is the latest phase of development stemming from a purchase of 25,000 acres from a subsidiary of Burlington Northern Railroad by two Montana natives, Lee Poole and Joe Vujovich and their Fort Lauderdale-based partner, Keith Brown, 13 years ago. Development of the area has been done with conservation in mind, using wildlife experts and other environmental consultants in the planning process. Currently, over half of the parcel has been placed into conservation easements and under other protected status.
Skiing is not the only activity that makes Moonlight Basin unique. Visitors can also enjoy spa treatments, a health club, dogsledding, snowshoe tours, ice-skating, and swimming in a heated outdoor pool. A concierge service is available to arrange a variety of local activities, including tours of Yellowstone National Park, fly fishing, rafting, canoeing, mountain bike tours, guided hiking tours and rock climbing. And in 2009, Moonlight Basin will unveil its own Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course.
| MOUNTAIN STATISTICS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Base Elevation: | 7,000 ft | (2,134 m) |
| Summit Elevation: | 11,150 ft | (3,399 m) |
| Vertical Drop: | 4,150 ft | (1,265 m) |
| Skiable Area: | 2,000 acres | (810 hectares) |
| Annual Snowfall: | 400 in | (1,016 cm) |
| Longest Run: | 14,784 ft | (4,506 m) |
| Snowmaking: | 0 % | |
| Number of Lifts: | 7 | |
| Uphill Lift Capacity: | 9,000 per hour | |
| Types of Lifts: | 1 Surface Lift 1 Double Chair 1 Triple Chair 3 Quad Chairs 1 Hi-Speed Six |
|
| Number of Trails: | 85 | |
| TRAIL RATINGS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Easiest: |  |
20% |
| More Difficult: |  |
21% |
| Most Difficult: |  |
33% |
| Experts Only: |  |
26% | Trail ratings indicate the relative difficulty of the runs within a given ski area and are not meant to be used for comparison between ski areas. |
| AREA DETAILS | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Skiing: | Yes | ||||||
| Snowboarding: | Yes | ||||||
| Required: | Yes | ||||||
| Restricted Areas: | Yes | ||||||
| Terrain Park: | Yes | ||||||
| Snowshoe Trails: | Yes | ||||||
