Montana Snowbowl Ski Area

Montana Snowbowl is an alpine ski area in the western United States, located on the Lolo National Forest of western Montana, twelve miles northwest of Missoula. It is known for long expert runs such as West Bowl and its throwback operations; there is no significant base development; the access road is significantly improved as of 2011, but still unpaved. Its lift system includes four chairlifts; three vintage Riblet doubles, and one Skytrac triple chair; and two surface lifts, a vintage Doppelmayr T-Bar, and a beginner rope tow. Montana Snowbowl is also known for its steep runs and a 2,600-foot vertical rise. The Grizzly Chair ascends 2,000 feet from the base area and the midmountain LaValle Creek Chair tops out at 7,600 feet below Point Six summit. When the resort first opened in December 1962, it was promoted as having the most vertical in the Pacific Northwest.