Located in Dillon, Montana, Maverick Mountain wreaks of yesteryear. For that reason alone it is a very popular little ski resort. It has one chair lift. No snow bunnies. No professional snow boarders careening past you. But it has tons of character and fits perfectly with the big sky of Montana experience.
Maverick Mountain is a ski hill. It has a small lodge. Lots of great snow. No crowds. Beginning to sound good, isn't it?! Let us repeat. No crowds. Lots of snow. Very inexpensive. Sort of like having your own ski hill. Except that you have to pay a minimal amount for a ski ticket.
This is such a cool ski area. You are in the wide open spaces of one of the country's most beautiful states, and from afar as you drive towards it you can see a sharply rising mountain covered in snow. Majestic, really.
This is cowboy country and big ranch country. You'll hear country music on most radio stations and you'll see cowboy boots in the locker room!
The scenery is absolutely spectacular as you travel up the double chair lift. When you get to the top, take a deep breath of that clean Montana mountain air, take a long look at the stunning Pioneer Mountain range, then glide effortlessly downwards. There are lovely wide slopes to take big turns on. On good days there's lots of powder, which is why so many people choose to ski in the western part of the country. Another reason is the wide trails compared to the traditional narrow trails in the northeast.
There are 24 ski trails to explore and only about a 10 minute wait at the chair lift. There's also a pony lift. The trails are evenly split between beginner, intermediate and expert. The snow school offers lessons for all ages and levels including teaching you how to snowboard.
Down in the ski lodge you will find an attractive, family friendly cafeteria with a view up the mountain. They serve hot home cooked meals and there is a bar and fire pit out on the deck.
Part of the"cool" factor of this small ski area is where it is located. Ghost towns, total wilderness, a national forest, and hot springs surround Maverick Mountain. In the summer it is a mecca for fly fishermen who come to fish over 1,000 miles of streams.
You can visit Coolidge Ghost Town, which is a 1920's old deserted mining town; Virginia City, a popular ghost town for visitors; and Nevada City ghost town right in Dillon where the mountain is. Other activities right in the town of Dillon include movies, historic western architecture, ice skating, snowmobiling, and the Beaverhead County Museum.
For lodging, just a couple of miles away is the Grasshopper Inn which also has a restaurant and bar. It looks like a motel, but it is much more than that with friendly service and a homey atmosphere that keeps guests coming back every year. There are also a lot of low to medium priced motels within driving distance.
