Imagine showing up at a ski resort with 600 acres of terrain, more than 1,000 feet of vertical drop, perfectly groomed runs and fresh powder, only to discover that you have to share the entire mountain with a maximum of 11 other people.
That’s pretty much the experience at Green Mountain, a private ski area operated by Brush Creek Ranch near Saratoga, Wyoming. Unlike conventional ski resorts that welcome hundreds or thousands of visitors each day, Green Mountain limits access to just 12 skiers and snowboarders, giving its guests an unusually intimate mountain experience.
There are no chairlifts, no crowded base lodges and certainly no lift lines. Instead, guests ride heated snowcats to the top of the mountain, where they can choose between groomed trails, tree skiing and untouched powder.
It sounds like something a billionaire might build in their backyard, but Green Mountain is an established skiing operation that guests of Brush Creek Ranch can reserve as part of a luxury winter vacation.
600 Acres, 12 Runs and Only 12 Skiers
Green Mountain sits roughly 25 minutes from Brush Creek Ranch in southern Wyoming, surrounded by the Medicine Bow National Forest. The mountain offers 600 acres of skiable terrain, 1,200 vertical feet and a surprisingly diverse selection of runs for such a small operation.
The mountain features 12 groomed trails and six glade runs, with individual descents stretching up to a mile in length. Terrain ranges from beginner-friendly slopes to challenging expert skiing, making it possible for groups with different abilities to enjoy the mountain together.
What makes the experience particularly unusual is the combination of groomed runs and traditional cat-skiing terrain. Most cat-skiing operations focus primarily on ungroomed powder, taking guests deep into the backcountry in search of fresh snow. Green Mountain offers that powder experience alongside maintained trails that would look right at home at a conventional ski resort.
And with no more than 12 people skiing at any given time, there’s not much competition for fresh tracks. The mountain’s small-group approach also allows guides to tailor the day around the people participating. Guests can spend time cruising groomers, exploring glades or searching for powder when snow conditions allow.
No Chairlifts, Just Heated Snowcats
Getting uphill at Green Mountain is a little different from what most skiers are used to.
Rather than purchasing a lift ticket and hopping onto a chairlift, guests climb aboard a heated snowcat for the ride up the mountain. The tracked vehicles transport skiers and snowboarders to the upper terrain, where they unload, make their descent and meet the snowcat for another lap.
The setup eliminates the need for chairlifts, lift terminals and much of the infrastructure associated with a traditional ski resort. It also means that every trip uphill is part of a guided experience rather than a race to load the next chair.
The day begins with a journey from Brush Creek Ranch to Green Mountain, where guests arrive at Rendezvous Yurt to meet their guides and get outfitted for skiing.
And this is where the luxury aspect of the operation becomes apparent. The ranch provides head-to-toe Rossignol equipment, including skis or snowboards, boots, helmets, goggles, jackets, pants and gloves. Guests can bring their own equipment, but they don’t have to pack much if they prefer to travel light.
The resort even describes having ski boots warmed beside a wood-burning stove before guests head out for their first runs, nice touch.
Throughout the day, skiers can stop at the mountain’s heated yurts to warm up and relax. Lunch is catered at Pat’s Porch, where guests enjoy a meal overlooking the surrounding Wyoming mountains. It’s a different approach from the typical ski day spent grabbing a quick cafeteria lunch before rushing back outside to squeeze in a few more runs.
The Mountain Wasn’t Always a Private Ski Destination
Green Mountain has an interesting history that predates its current luxury-ranch operation.
The property was previously associated with a proposed development known as Grand Encampment Mountain Resort, an ambitious project that envisioned a more conventional mountain destination in the area.
Those plans never developed into the kind of large public ski resort originally imagined. Instead, Brush Creek Ranch acquired the mountain in 2019 and began developing it into a private winter recreation experience.
In September 2019, the ranch announced plans to open Green Mountain that December, introducing snowcat skiing and snowboarding along with cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and tubing.
The acquisition helped transform Brush Creek Ranch from a destination traditionally associated with summer ranch activities into a year-round outdoor recreation property.
You Can Rent the Entire Mountain for $8,500
Of course, skiing at a mountain this exclusive doesn’t come cheap. Brush Creek Ranch currently advertises a private mountain buyout for $8,500, allowing a group of up to 12 guests to reserve Green Mountain exclusively for the day.
The package includes guided skiing or snowboarding, heated snowcat transportation, equipment and clothing, and a catered mountain lunch. It provides an opportunity for a group of friends or family members to enjoy an entire ski mountain without sharing the slopes with anyone outside their party.
Splitting the price among 12 people makes the mountain rental considerably more approachable than paying for the entire experience individually, although it remains a premium product.
The operation generally runs from late December through early April, depending on snowfall and mountain conditions. Participants must be at least 12 years old, and the skiing experience is designed as a full-day outing rather than a quick morning or afternoon session.
More Than Just a Ski Mountain
Green Mountain is just one part of the larger Brush Creek Ranch property, which encompasses more than 30,000 acres of private Wyoming wilderness near the historic town of Saratoga.
The ranch offers a wide range of winter activities, including horseback riding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing and sleigh rides. Guests can also enjoy the property’s restaurants, culinary experiences, spa facilities and other amenities.
But Green Mountain is arguably one of the property’s most interesting attractions for skiers and snowboarders. The combination of 600 acres of terrain, professionally guided skiing, heated snowcat transportation and a strict 12-person limit is difficult to replicate at a traditional ski destination.
While it’s unlikely to replace a traditional ski vacation for most people, Green Mountain offers an interesting reminder that ski resorts don’t all have to follow the same formula.
Some mountains compete by building faster lifts, expanding terrain and attracting more visitors. Green Mountain has taken almost the opposite approach, keeping its infrastructure simple and its guest numbers extraordinarily small.
For anyone who’s ever wished they could have an entire ski mountain to themselves, this little-known corner of Wyoming comes surprisingly close.
