Beat The Crowds At Bridger Bowl
Fun, Family-Friendly Skiing In Bozeman, Montana
Having skied at the destination resort of Big Sky, Montana for the last decade, our family decided to try something different a few trips ago to mix it up. Don’t get me wrong- we still love Big Sky Resort with its endless choice of terrain and trails.
We decided to check out Bozeman’s local ski area at Bridger Bowl. And we loved it.
We found out on that first trip a few years ago that Bridger Bowl is a fantastic, family- friendly, uncrowded, and relatively inexpensive place to ski. Our family has been back on subsequent trips as has Amanda’s, and it is now a Simply Awesome Trips favorite ski destination.
Why Bridger Bowl Is Awesome
The Price Is Right
Run by a non-profit board of Montana citizens, Bridger Bowl focuses on providing great skiing while keeping it affordable for locals.
Convenient To Bozeman
The college town of Bozeman, Montana is 30 min from the mountain and has plenty to keep the family entertained with fantastic restaurants, events, museums, and outdoor activities like some fun sledding hills. The greater availability of lodging choices and restaurants also helps to keep a family ski trip here a little more budget friendly.
Bridger Bowl is so convenient to Bozeman that it isn’t uncommon for professors and students at Montana State to wear snow pants to class so they can squeeze in some runs during the day. I only wish I knew that when I was applying to colleges!
Way Less Crowded Than Other Ski Resorts
Because Bridger Bowl has less of a “name” than the big resorts (and decidedly less advertising), crowds and lift lines are not really an issue despite the fact that the skiing is terrific.
The continued growth of Bozeman as more and more people find out how great it is means that Bridger is more crowded than it used to be. But still nothing like Vail or Aspen or Keystone on a weekend.
Enjoying the view from the top of Pierre’s Knob lift at Bridger Bowl.
View from Alpine lift over at Bradley Meadows which is a fun little area of blues and greens, great for kids to practice their skills.
Mountain Info
(per Bridger Bowl website)
Projected Operating Season: December 10, 2021 – April 10, 2022
Daily Lift Operations: 9 am–4 pm (Christmas Day 10 am–4 pm)
Vertical Rise: 2,700 ft (2,600 ft lift-served)
Skiable Terrain: 2,000 acres
Top Elevation: 8,800 ft (the top is the Ridge Terrain and it is recommended only for advanced skiers with avalanche transceivers)
Average Seasonal Snowfall: 300 inches
Trails: 75 + many unmarked runs
Lift System: 1 Quad, 6 Triple and 1 Double Chair Lifts along with 3 Surface Lifts
Snowmaking: On 5% of area
Terrain Parks: 2
Click to enlarge trail map. Courtesy of www.bridgerbowl.com.
“Generally speaking, the ski area offers first-time beginner slopes in the base area, novice terrain across the lower middle, wide-open intermediate runs in the center, advanced open bowl terrain in the upper third and, finally, expert terrain coming off the ridge top.”
Beginner Ski Area
Base Map- Courtesy of www.bridgerbowl.com.
Learning To Ski
The super beginner area has 2 magic carpets and a short ski lift for those just trying out skiing for the first time.
The Sundog magic carpet and the Flurry magic carpet are covered which is nice when it is windy or super snowy. They lead you to the top of the beginner hill, or you can pop over to the Snowflake Lift to ski the short and easy Hickey Hollow run.
It’s the perfect sequencing of easy and manageable beginner ski terrain. And it offers the chance to practice getting on and off a chairlift that moves slowly and doesn’t get far above the ground before you move over to “real” ski area.
Sundog “Magic Carpet”
Beginner ski hill next to Sundog “Magic Carpet”
Snowflake chairlift to the short and easy Hickey’s Hollow
Snowflake Hut
As a bonus to any parent skiing with young children, you’ll find Snowflake Hut conveniently located right next to the Flurry magic carpet and Snowflake lift. It offers a warm respite with benches, a water fountain, and restrooms when you need a break.
Green Runs
After graduating from the beginner area, head on over to Virginia City and Sunrise Lifts just in front of the two main lodges at Bridger. You can spend a whole day here as there are lots of runs to explore.
The view from the Virginia City Lift over the green slopes.
The base of the Virginia City lift is between Jim Bridger Lodge and Saddle Peak Lodge, perfect for kiddie bathroom breaks.
The main area of green runs at Bridger Bowl are grouped around Virginia City and Sunnyside lifts.
Intermediate Ski Area
You have quite a few choices for blue runs at Bridger, and we spent a lot of time on these runs as a family. Basically the whole middle section of the mountain is good for intermediate skiers although we spent the majority of our time on the far left and far right of the mountain, using Alpine lift and Pierre’s Knob lift the most.
Intermediate area of Bridger Bowl is basically the whole middle section of the mountain. Map courtesy of bridgerbowl.com
Bradley Meadows and Alpine Lift
We like to hang out in Bradley Meadows because of its great collection of blues and greens, perfect for kids ready to ski some blues without being too hard. There are also some more difficult sections, like a little chute off of Porcupine Run, for them to try out. This is one of my favorite places to end the day when my legs are tired as the views are nice and the runs aren’t steep.
Alpine lift usually never has a long line, so it is easy to keep going up and down. The Alpine Cabin makes a very convenient and scenic restroom stop, always a consideration when taking kids anywhere.
* Avoid Alpine Return to Timmy’s Return. These are marked blues but in reality they are catwalks in winter/roads in summer that are long and slow going. And not easy to get off once you start down.
Bradley Meadows is a great little area with a number of intersecting blues for a “choose your own adventure” kind of feel.
Powder Park Lift
This was another lift to a nice collection of blues, particularly when there is fresh powder. And again, like Alpine lift, with a whole lift just for these few runs, it doesn’t get very busy. Because the bases of Alpine and Powder Park lifts are right next to each other, you could spend entire afternoons hopping between the two.
A few of the runs at the top of Powder Park lift on a great powder day.
Bridger Lift
This lift in the center of the mountain can take you to the top of the lift- served ski area and then you must ski a black diamond to get down. Or, you can get off at the halfway point to access some more difficult blues. It is pretty easy to get off at the halfway point, even for some of our less confident skiers.
The confident skiers in the group really like this area; the less confident find it a little challenging.
Pierre’s Knob and the South Bowl
This area is another favorite of the family with Emil’s Mile in high contention to be our single favorite run at Bridger Bowl. It is long and steep enough for speed demons to work out their angst while not so hard that more cautious kids can’t slow themselves down. It is also pretty open and the views are fantastic.
Pierre’s Road to Thunder Road, Sacajawea, and Missouri Breaks are also great runs but avoid anything that ends on Pierre’s Return, a slow catwalk that we took once and hated as you have to maintain a steady squat to keep any sort of speed up. You could just do a wall sit for 10 minutes and have the same experience. We triple checked the trail map after that to make sure no more of our runs ended up there again.
The view from Pierre’s Knob lift overlooking Emil’s Mile and the south bowl. This might be our favorite run at Bridger.
Advanced Ski Area
The bowls are where it’s at for advanced skiers. The North and South Bowl are accessed by Pierre’s Knob and Bridger lifts respectively and these are super fun for those ready to try them out.
You can even ski “The Ridge” which is accessed by hiking a few hundred feet above the lift serviced ski runs (avalanche transceiver, partner required). There are signs when you get to the top of Pierre’s Knob and Bridger lifts and a place to check your transceiver if you are hiking up. Or you can also ski over to a dedicated lift, Schlasman’s, to get to the top of the ridge.
We have never skied “The Ridge” as we aren’t exactly ready to be a Warren Miller video just yet. More like a blooper reel at times.
Looking from the blue run Easy Money back towards to the North Bowl. If double blacks make you roll your eyes, then you can hike up to the very top of the ridge in this picture and ski down. We loved watching those people from the lifts.
Trail maps for the North and South Bowls
Bridger Bowl Amenities
There are two main lodges at the base of the mountain, Saddle Peak and Jim Bridger. Both are easily accessible from the parking area. You’ll find cafeterias in both, and Jim Bridger has a restaurant and bar.
Lift Tickets, Lessons, and Lockers
Buy your lift tickets at the window at the base of Saddle Peak Lodge or book ahead online to save a little cash. The prices are very reasonable and they even have a junior lift ticket for the teens in the group which is awesome.
Prices per the Bridger Bowl website in 2021 https://bridgerbowl.com/tickets/prices
If you want lessons for your beginner skier (so much easier than trying to teach them yourself sometimes- been there, done that), then you can get those at the snowsports desk at Saddle Peak Lodge. They also have day care for kids 18 months- 6 years old.
We recommend booking online ahead of time though to be sure you get a spot. More advanced skiers who want tips from the professionals on moguls or any other kind of skiing can get those as well.
For convenience, we usually rent a large locker ($8 by credit card for the day) in the Saddle Peak Lodge so we can store our large backpack, shoes, and some snacks from home. (They also offer smaller $0.50 coin-operated lockers in the Jim Bridger Lodge.) They also have a bag valet with unlimited retrieval throughout the day in Jim Bridger Lodge.
Tickets are on the lower level of the Saddle Peak Lodge, facing the parking lots.
Ski and Snowboard Rentals
Ski rentals are found at the Bridger Bowl Ski Shop at the top level of Saddle Peak Lodge on the side over by the bunny slope (basically opposite end of building of ticket window and up the stairs). Adult complete ski packages were $40 per day and kids 12 and under were $20.
You can also rent over at Roundhouse Sports which is not affiliated with Bridger Bowl but is an independent shop. Their main location is on Main Street in Bozeman but they also have a satellite location at Bridger Bowl next to the parking lot. If you want to hit the ground running at the mountain then go ahead and rent in town when you arrive. We rented at the shop at Bridger Bowl and didn’t wait long at all because of our online reservation. It was slightly cheaper to rent at Roundhouse than the Bridger Bowl Ski Shop.
We have rented skis at both and found them both to be fine, although we liked the fit of the boots at Roundhouse a little better. Nobody in either of our families is a snowboarder so we don’t have advice on which was better for that.
*Pro Tip- Book ahead of time online to save yourself a little bit of wait and endless form filling out at both places.
The Bridger Bowl Ski Shop is on the right hand side of this picture. This is the slope level of Saddle Peak Lodge with Jim Bridger Lodge in the distance.
The building that houses Roundhouse Sports Rental shop also has a cafe/ bar called Grizzly Ridge down below. Definitely seemed like the rocking place to have an apres ski beer.
Eating On The Mountain
Bridger Bowl website has a decent write-up of all the 4 choices available on the mountain. The only place not covered is Grizzly Ridge, because it is an independent bar that is very much a locals place with monthly tabs for said locals and excellent deep dish pizza. Look for it underneath Roundhouse Sports near the parking area.
At The Base
At the base, you’ll find dining in both Saddle Peak Lodge and Jim Bridger Lodge.
Both lodges offer a cafeteria-style dining area with plenty of slopeside windows to take in the scenic view of the mountains. Each lodge serves breakfast and lunch (pizza, BBQ, chili, hot dogs, etc.) as well as muffins, chips, yogurt, slushies, --you get the idea. The prices were fairly reasonable for the convenience, and the cafeteria dining area was a pleasant place to relax and watch the skiers glide down the mountain.
You can also bring your own food and eat at the outside tables, especially at Saddle Peak Lodge.
Jim Bridger Lodge has additional food options with a bar serving gourmet coffee and other adult beverages (beer, wine) as well as Jimmy B’s Bar and Grill which offers table service, a full-service bar, and seating by the fireplace.
On The Mountain
Deer Park Chalet is a busy place at the top of Virginia City lift and the base of Bridger lift. Serves soups, sandwiches, baked goods, and beer/ wine. I mean what else do you really need on a good ski day?
Alpine Cabin is a small cabin perched on the edge of Bradley Meadows and has the best views out of all the places to eat on the mountain. Has chili, soup, bratwursts, some baked goods, beer, and wine.
Après Ski
On the way back to Bozeman, be sure to stop by one of our favorite breweries for a tasty beer and a bite to eat. MAP Brewing is a cozy place to hang out with great views, while Mountains Walking Brewery offers fantastic wood-fired pizzas and a Pac-Man video game for the kiddos. Both are excellent stops and offer kids menus as well.
Lodging For Bridger Bowl
Although Bridger Bowl has two “lodges,” they only provide dining and skier services and do not offer onsite lodging.
Your best bet for lodging is in Bozeman, 30 minutes away, which has lots of hotels and vacation rentals to choose from. There are scattered vacation rentals in the hills surrounding Bridger Bowl as well so you can also check VRBO and Airbnb for them.
Where to Stay in Bozeman
Several hotels in Bozeman offer ski and stay packages. We like the modern, clean vibe of the Lark Hotel on Bozeman’s Main Street where you can walk to fantastic local restaurants like Nova Cafe or Jam for breakfast and dinner at Montana Ale Works. (Don’t miss their small plate/happy hour special from 4-6pm each night!)
Other good downtown options include:
The Element. A nice, new Starwood hotel located downtown, one block off Main Street. It’s more expensive though. Average price in summer is $320 night. Offers rooms and suites.
RSVP Motel. This mid-century modern and brand new motel has been brought back to life--featuring retro wallpaper, bright colors, plush fabrics, and an outdoor pool for the kiddos. Free bike rentals for guests. It’s a bit further from Main Street than those above. From $150 to $399 depending on room selection and season.
Armory Hotel. This Kimpton property has recently opened on Bozeman’s Main Street as well. We love the rooftop pool and lounge for drinks with a view. The building has an interesting history as well. Edible Bozeman writes about it here.
We have also stayed at the Residence Inn Bozeman, which while not walking distance to downtown, is only a 10 minute car ride and has family suites that sleep 6 in 2 bedrooms/ 2 bathrooms with a full kitchen.
There is also a brand new Residence Inn in Downtown Bozeman that is walking distance to most everything if you like the family suites and kitchen but want a more convenient location.
Heads up: We are not sponsored in any way and don’t write about places in return for free lodging, food, or even a T-shirt. We only recommend places we have stayed at or want to stay at with our families. If you book one of our recommended properties through our links, you won’t pay a penny more but we may get a small commission that helps support the website. Thanks! Disclosure Statement.
More Hotel Options
Vacation Rental Options
Vacation Rentals Near Bridger Bowl
If you want to stay close to the skiing or just have a more secluded vacation, check out these places near Bridger Bowl.
Mountain Lodging For Winter Ski And Summer Activities. This 3 bedroom/ 3 bath house sleeps 11 and has a cool game room in the garage with foosball and ping pong. Located across the street from the entrance to Bridger Bowl so making first tracks won’t be a problem.
Escape To Montana ** Luxury Log Cabin**SKI This 4 bedroom/ 3 bath cabin sleeps 10 with plenty of room and a hot tub to boot. 1 mile from the entrance to Bridger Bowl and has fantastic views of it.
Happy Trails!
We love Bridger Bowl for its relaxed vibe and beautiful mountain scenery. And we certainly appreciate spending far less on lift tickets as compared to Big Sky Resort.
Plus, Bozeman is a super fun town with great non-ski activities like sledding hills, the Ellen Theater for a movie, the Museum of the Rockies, and fun shops and restaurants along its charming Main Street. It is has fast become our go-to ski vacation destination of choice!
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