Beartooth Basin, the only summer-only ski area in the United States, could open as soon as this weekend if all goes right. The most recent update from the ski area showed that crews were working hard to get the mountain prepped, with winching, grooming, lift setup, and more going strong.
Beartooth can only open when Beartooth Highway, which connects Red Lodge, Montana, to the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, is open. That route typically opens around the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, but it’s weather and condition dependent. According to the Montana DOT, that opening date is likely this year.
According to the Beartooth Basin website, opening day is likely to be around May 25th (Memorial Day) give or take a few days. Lift tickets are currently available for between May 27th and June 10th, the ski area’s estimated closing date. Earlier and later dates will be made available on the website when an opening day is confirmed. Full day lift tickets are available on the website for $50, while a season pass can be purchased for $395.
About Beartooth Basin:
Beartooth Basin is one of the oldest alpine ski training areas in North America, originally founded in the mid-1960s by Austrian ski legends as a summer racing ground. Under new ownership, it has evolved from a private training facility into a public ski area situated above 10,000 feet. While it operates with professional ski patrol and lift attendants, it has no lodge or warming facilities. It’s more like backcountry skiing with a lift than a proper resort experience, and they’re very proud of that.
Operating under a special permit with Shoshone National Forest, Beartooth offers skiing and snowboarding access with two high-speed platter lifts. The mountain provides some truly gnarly steep headwall and cornice skiing in addition to a big air park with purpose built jumps and rails and terrain for ski race training. This is advanced and expert terrain only, so don’t come expecting a great learning experience. There are no greens on this mountain.
