Excellent Divide Ski Resort in Montana, located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, provides a world-class skiing experience for skiers of all abilities. Perfect Divide Ski Resort is a powder enthusiast’s dream, with over 1600 acres of skiable terrain and an average yearly snowfall of over 200 inches. The resort has 140 routes, three terrain parks, and a vertical drop of 1,550 feet, making it one of Montana’s most extensive ski slopes. The resort’s proximity to Helena, Montana’s capital city, makes it convenient for skiers nationwide.
Excellent Divide Ski Resort provides a variety of facilities to help tourists have a pleasurable and comfortable skiing experience. The resort features a ski school that trains skiers of all ages and levels and rents equipment to those who need it. After a day on the slopes, guests may unwind in the lodge’s restaurant and lounge, where they can have a meal or a drink. Skiers may also buy equipment and souvenirs in the resort’s retail store.
Overview of the Terrain
- Beginner Runs: 7%
- Intermediate Runs 47%
- Advanced Runs: 30%
- 17% are expert runs
- There have been 127 runs in all
- 3 mi. The longest run
- 1600 acres of skiable terrain
- Night Skiing on 100 Acres
- Night Skiing 9.9 mi
- Making Snow on 150 Acres
- Making Snow 3.7 mi
Great Divide Ski Resort Trail Map
- Base Elevation: 5,730 feet
- Peak elevation of 7,233 feet
- The vertical drop is 1,500 feet
Great Divide is a 1,500-acre ski resort in western Montana near Helena Valley, with 140 routes and six ski lifts. Intermediates and experts are responsible for 85% of the course. Refining your choices of the best ski resorts in Montana is necessary for an unforgettable journey. The terrain includes cruisers, glade lines, chutes, cliffs, and open bowls. Great Divide offers a ski experience with a bite, including night skiing, terrain parks, slope-side food, ski school, and snowmaking. Three peaks and three valleys provide excellent conditions for skiing and cycling.
About
Great Divide is the sunniest ski region in Montana. We’re on the Continental Divide, and this vast mountain has 107 paths spanning three mountain summits and three unique valleys. The winter playground has graceful long groomers, enormous open bowls, and large, nicely spaced woodland glades. On 1600 acres, this is a “Ski-All Terrain.”
Why should you go to Great Divide Ski Resort?
The Great Divide Ski facility, located in the Continental Divide 22 miles northwest of Montana’s capital, Helena, is noted for being the first ski facility to open in the state each year and for its reasonably priced lift tickets. Over roughly 1,600 acres, the ski resort includes slightly over 60 routes, six lifts, including a novice tow, and six terrain parks.
Except for occasional holidays, the ski area is only accessible from Wednesday to Sunday, although you may make up time by night skiing until 10 p.m. There is a rental store on the mountain, and reservations made online before 8 a.m. on arrival are less expensive than reservations made at the counter. There is also a discount for night skiing rentals after 4 p.m.
The Ski & Snowboard School offers both private and group instruction. While there are no slope-side accommodations (a variety of hotels is available in neighboring Helena), there is a day base lodge that serves soup, burgers, and BBQ, as well as the Missing Lynx Saloon, which serves beer and drinks.
The Great Divide Ski Area typically opens in mid-November, with the most significant snowfall in February and March. The ski region is particularly noted for its bright weather, which attracts many visitors even though it results in less yearly snowfall. Keep an eye on their website for the most up-to-date snowfall information. Despite its proximity to Helena, the Great Divide Ski Area seldom sees the crowds that other more enormous mountains do during the season.
Great Divide Ski Resort in Mountain
The Great Divide is constructed atop Mt. Belmont, which has a height of 7330 feet. The peak offers spectacular views because the mountain is the highest in the area, and the landscape is very open.
If there is one thing the Great Divide lacks, it is snow. Great Divide receives less snow than other ski slopes in Montana. According to a ski patroller, it is not unusual for massive snowstorms to rage around the mountain while the ski resort basks in mid-winter sunlight. This meteorological phenomenon is reflected in the Great Divide’s average snowfall of 180 inches.
In contrast to other Montana ski locations, 180 inches of snow is a little. However, creating a firm foundation during a regular winter is more than adequate. Furthermore, due to its position on the east side of the Continental Divide and elevation, the snow that falls on the Great Divide is often light and fluffy. Because the crowds are usually soft, this powder may remain unnoticed in the meadows for several days following a blizzard.
The Great Divide Skiing
Great Divide is separated into three distinct “ski regions” for want of a better term. The first section is Mt. Belmont, which is visible near the base. The second area is Rawhide Gulch, it is essentially a large open bowl that is THE spot to go after a big blizzard. The third section is known as the Wild West. Each of these “ski regions” is discussed in more detail below.
Mount Belmont
Because it is closest to the base lodge, the Mt. Belmont sector of the Great Divide is the most popular portion of the ski resort. Three double chairs serve the Mt. Belmont area. Regarding difficulty levels, the Mt. Belmont area has the most diverse ski terrain. Mt. Belmont has beginner ski routes, beautifully groomed intermediate trails, and steep expert runs with prominent moguls.
There’s a fascinating sight at the peak of Mt. Belmont, at least one that was interesting. The Great Divide Ski Area employs snow barriers at the peak to capture snow. During storms, the winds, which may be rather powerful at times, blow the snow around the mountain. These snow barriers then collect snow and dump it in the paths. This maintains the top courses open and snow-covered even in low-snow years.
The Mt. Belmont area is ideal for novices. The Meadow Mountain chairlift is its novice chairlift. Mt. Belmont’s beginning routes are broad, well-groomed, and lengthy enough to entertain more experienced newcomers. Some of these beginning courses also feature significantly widely separated trees along the trails, which adds an excellent variation to Great Divide’s beginner terrain.
Ski Resort Great Divide
This is paid content. All ideas and views are those of the advertiser and do not necessarily represent those of KTVH. Great Divide is a family-owned ski facility about 30 minutes west of Helena, offering cheap pricing for skiers and snowboarders, child-friendly activities, and routes for beginners to professionals.
It’s also the best area to obtain the most riding days.
“They try to have the longest ski season in Montana,” said Travis Crawford, general manager. “A few other mountains rivals, but over the last 30 years, they have almost always enjoyed the longest ski season. They typically start sooner than any other ski resort in Montana and end later than any other.”
Crawford grew up exploring Great Divide and gained ownership in 2020 with their wife Rose Crawford, and pals Shane and Betsy Moran, the daughter of former owners Kevin and Nyla Taylor. The new owners want to preserve the community the Taylors founded while improving the mountain they adore.
“All of us wanted to keep this same culture and feel at Great Divide,” Travis Crawford said. “For hundreds, if not thousands of skiers who have grown up and appreciated it, it’s like a second home.”
Children’s families
The proprietors are especially keen on providing a pleasurable experience for families with children. “The significant emphasis on family skiing and trying to make it simple for a whole family to visit and get acquainted with the sport, and it’s maybe a little bit personal since they are family-owned and all have young children,” Crawford said. According to the Great Divide website, Great Divide provides group and individual classes, with teachers giving over 8,000 sessions every season.
Beginners who are inexperienced with the equipment might benefit from package offerings like First Day Deal and EZ 1-2-3, which include instruction, equipment, and lift tickets. “If you’ve never skied before, come on up,” Crawford said. “We’ll get you one package and get you on the hill to see what skiing is all about.”
Amenities
Great Divide features facilities for all ability levels in addition to instruction. The novice region, for example, includes a rope tow and is also separated from other slopes. “The novice section is inaccessible from the rest of the mountain, providing those men with a secure and segregated space to complete their first training,” Crawford said.
The remaining 1,500 acres are divided into slow zones, higher mountain intermediate sections, and steeper off-piste and glade skiing for skilled riders. There are six parks with up to 90 attractions, including rollers and boxes, giant leaps, gaps, and rails. They rotate the features during the season, so not all 90 are accessible simultaneously.
Season pass advantages
Lift access, early season warm-up runs, and flexible usage schedules are all included with season passes. Season pass holders also get three complimentary days at partner sites in Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, and Colorado.
“There are no blackout dates,” Crawford said. “They arrive, show the ski area their season pass, and receive a free day ticket.” They want to go to Whitefish Mountain Resort, which is fantastic. If you show up, you can enjoy a long extended weekend for the price of your Great Divide season pass.”
FAQs About Great Divide Ski Resort in Montana
1. What is the Great Divide Ski Resort’s history?
Excellent Divide Ski Resort in Montana has a long history dating back to the 1930s. The resort opened its doors in 1951 and has since undergone various expansions and modifications to become one of the region’s best ski resorts.
2. How would you describe the terrain at Great Divide Ski Resort?
Excellent Divide Ski Resort is well-known for its diverse terrain, which makes it an ideal location for snowboarders and skiers of all ability levels. More than 1,600 acres of the resort are suitable for skiing: 140 routes and three terrain parks. The landscape is divided into three sections: 65% intermediate runs, 25% advanced runs, and 10% novice runs.
3. How much do lift tickets cost at Great Divide Ski Resort?
Lift ticket rates vary according to the season and day of the week. Adult lift tickets start at $53 for a half-day and $64 for a full day during peak season. Tickets for youth and seniors start at $40 for a half-day and $47 for a full day. Children under the age of six ski for free.
4. What are the finest places to stay near Great Divide Ski Resort?
The Snowflake Lodge and the Creekside Cabin are two on-site hotel choices at Great Divide Ski Resort. There are various accommodation alternatives in the adjacent towns of Helena and Cascade, including hotels, motels, and vacation rentals, for visitors preferring to stay off-site.
5. How does the eating scene at Great Divide Ski Resort compare?
The Snowflake Lodge Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and supper and is one of numerous eating choices at Great Divide Ski Resort. There is also a coffee shop and a snack bar on the property.
6. What kinds of winter activities can you do at Great Divide Ski Resort?
Excellent Divide Ski Resort, in addition to skiing and snowboarding, provides a variety of other winter sports, such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and tubing. Regular activities, including live music and après-ski parties, are also held at the resort.
7. When is the ideal time to go to Great Divide Ski Resort?
Excellent Divide Ski Resort is best visited between December and March when the resort is open, and the snow conditions are optimum. The alternative, however, is available from mid-November to early April, so there are several chances to come during the season.
8. What safety precautions does Great Divide Ski Resort take?
Great Divide Ski Resort takes visitor safety seriously and has various safeguards to protect their safety. The resort has a complete ski patrol crew, and all visitors must observe the resort’s safety requirements, which include wearing suitable clothes and equipment and remaining on the slopes within their ability level.