On the same mountain as Big Sky resort and just an hour away from Yellowstone National Park is the luxurious ski resort called Moonlight Basin. Less well known than Big Sky ski resort, Moonlight Basin is a tremendous find. It has amazing powder, almost no lines for the lifts, and has great food and lodging on site.
flickr image by
Robert Emperley
This classy ski area gets on average 400 inches of snow every year, has seven lifts, 92 trails, and a vertical drop of 4,150 feet. There is a six person high speed chair lift that elevates you at well over 1,000 feet per minute and numerous triple and quad chairlifts taking skiers up the mountain to ski over 1,900 acres of ski trails, including glades and off trail skiing.
Another great feature of skiing Moonlight Basin is the ability to not only enjoy its great trails, but for the chance to buy a joint ticket that connects you to Big Sky ski resort---for a grand total of 220 trails to ski!
Extreme and adventure skiers love the Headwaters, steep chutes which you have to hike to then ski down if you dare. It also has a huge terrain park for adventurous snow boarders and freestylers.
Other ski services at Moonlight Basin are a ski shop, ski rentals and repair, childcare, and ski lessons. You can also book snowmobile tours of Yellowstone National Park, which is something you can't do in other resorts. Plus there are sleigh ride dinners, snowshoeing, ice skating, cross country skiing, and dog sledding available.
In many ways this is a true resort in addition to being a ski area. It has a full service on site spa, heated outdoor pool, tons of entertainment and activities, restaurants, bars, shopping, and stunning places to stay on site.
A highlight of skiing at Moonlight Basin is the unusually friendly service you receive. Imagine being met at your car in the parking lot, offered suggestions for where the best runs are that day for your level of expertise, and offered hand warmers! All with a smile.
The lodge itself is lovely, with a great fireplace and ambiance. There's delicious food at Madison Lodge and when there is spring skiing and the weather is warmer you can sit outside and dine looking up at the hill and getting a great tan to boot!
Lodging choices at Moonlight Basin are world-class. You can rent your own large luxurious townhome at the Saddle Ridge area with full service, or the Cowboy Luxury Suites with over 3,000 square feet of luxurious living space, or the Cowboy Haven Cabins which are cozy cabins high on the hill where you can ski right out the door. They are located on Powder River Run and have the benefit of spectacular views across the mountains. Some have hot tubs outdoors. Also, the Moonlight Lodge offers spectacular Penthouse Suites with three bedrooms and all the comforts and luxuries you do not have at home! In fact, Moonlight Basin has a huge range of accommodations on offer that can be seen and checked for availability on their web site.
View Larger Map
