Wyoming — For many North American skiers and riders, the season was underwhelming due to the lack of snow. If you’re looking for a little redemption, a few ski resorts will be open during the last full week of May, including Beartooth Basin.
Beartooth Basin announced earlier today that it plans to open for its 2026 ski season on May 25th. The news follows the full opening of the Beartooth Highway, which occurred yesterday.
Lift tickets are now available from May 25th to June 14th. There’s a chance the season lasts longer or shorter than that, as it’s obviously weather-dependent. Lift tickets cost $50 per person, with a season pass going for $395. Lift tickets are limited to 100 people, so booking ahead of time is a wise move. When it’s open, Beartooth typically operates daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
About Beartooth Basin
Operations at Bearooth Basin, situated in the Shoshone National Forest, began in 1962. Austrians Pepi Gramshammer, Eric Sailer, and Anderl Molterer began running ski camps at various locations along the Beartooth Highway to train athletes during the warmer months. In the 1970s, they settled on the current location of the ski area, which became known as The Red Lodge International Ski and Snowboard Camp. For decades, it was a private ski area for campers.
In 2003, the operation was sold to new owners, who made it a public ski area and renamed it Beartooth Basin. The ski area was previously listed for sale in 2024. However, while one of the owners sold their share, the rest of them decided to keep their stake due to the lack of serious interest.
Beartooth Basin has had an inconsistent operating schedule, not operating for a few summers in recent years (including 2022 and 2024). These closures were due to a lack of snowpack. However, they had a fairly long season in 2025 by recent standards, which lasted from May 30th to June 15th.
The setup of Beartooth Basin is modest. It’s an upside-down ski area, meaning guests park at the top and then ski down to the lifts. At the top are some trailers to get tickets and merchandise, but there’s no actual lodge. The ski area features 9 trails, 2 lifts, a terrain park, and plenty of backcountry terrain to explore. The ski area can be reached via the Beartooth Highway, which has access points in Montana and Wyoming.
Image/Video Credits: Beartooth Basin, Ski Dad TV
