Ski Vacation In Popular Ski Resorts In Montana: Snowbowl Ski Resort

The name says it all. Snowbowl. One would assume this implies a lot of snow and one would be right! With 300 inches of snow a year, a huge bowl in which to catch it and fifty years to perfect that bowl, this is skiing at it is best! Moreover, it is not very hard to find where is located Snowbowl Ski Resort in the state of Montana. Visitors must make their way to Missoula that is located off interstate 90 and head north for about twenty minutes. As long as they show up when the season is running, they can be sure the slopes are open because the lifts are up and running every day of the week throughout the whole season from 9:30 until 4:00. At $35.00 to $40.00 for a day pass, skier have access to hills that provide one of the highest vertical drops in Montana at 2,600 feet and much more - all in a very relaxed and laid-back vacation environment, typical to Montana.

Snowbowl Ski Resort Montana was built off a peak called Big Sky Mountain and although the bowl that was formed to create the ski area looks very intimidating and most trails are designed for the expert skier, there are runs for intermediate and beginner sportsman as well. More advanced skier enjoy terrain that has many bumps and glades, while less advanced skier can select trails that are smoother and not as steep. The skiing at Snowball Ski Resort in Montana offers winter sports enthusiasts a unique and fun challenge because there are many trees on some of the ski runs and the 950 acres of terrain is so widely varied that visitors encounter something new on every new trail they try.

Four chair lifts with a lift capacity of 3,400 people an hour are there to service tourists and bring them to the top. The summit itself is quite impressive with spectacular views of the Bitterroot Valley, the Bitterroot Mountains and the town of Missoula. Once one reaches the summit, they will have to choose from one of 39 trails to make their way back to base. This equals out to over forty miles of ski terrain. Some popular runs include "The Grizzly", which has steep, open terrain and lots of powder, and "The Spartan Headwall" that rounds a very steep ridge over the base area. One of the best ways to get from the summit to the base area is to avail of one of the many trails that take skier straight down into the bowl. The longest trail at Snowball runs for 3 miles.

When visitors want to take a break from the slopes, they can do so in the base lodge where they can grab something to eat or something hot to drink. For the low price of about $50.00 a night, guests are welcome to stay overnight there and the European-style lodge has a full kitchen, private baths and a hot tub. Vacation packages to this mountain resort in Montana are available for larger groups and include lodging and lift tickets. For visitors wishing to stay in the town of Missoula, there are plenty of lodging facilities there too. The Super 8 Motel is only twenty minutes from the Snowbowl Ski Resort. C'mon Inn has a typical ski lodge feel to it with five hot tubs, a swimming pool and fitness center. La Quinta Inn has a 24-hour indoor pool and spa and offers a free breakfast. Ruby's Inn and Convention Center has an outdoor hot tub and dry sauna and free, hot breakfast. For vacationers who do not have a car or prefer to leave their car in town a shuttle bus that travels between Missoula and the Snowboal Ski Resort Montana operates on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.