Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area — Attraction in Red Lodge

Awesome drive up. Still skiing and snowboard first week of June. Perched at 10,900 feet along the breathtaking Beartooth Highway, is a unique gem for diehard skiers craving summer turns. North America’s only summer-only ski area, it offers a raw, no-frills experience that’s equal parts challenging and exhilarating. Open from late May to early July (snow permitting), the 600-acre terrain, served by two Doppelmayr platter lifts, boasts 1,000 vertical feet of steep slopes, cornices, and chutes, with pitches from 15° to 50°. It’s not beginner-friendly—advanced skills are a must.

The vibe is laid-back, with a passionate community of ski bums and freestyle enthusiasts. No lodge or fancy amenities here; operations run out of trailers, and tickets (capped at 100 daily, $50 full-day, $40 half-day) are cash or check in-person. The 2025 season, after a 2024 closure due to low snowpack, promises a return to form with 28 inches of snow reported in April. The stunning alpine views and quirky, soulful atmosphere make the drive worthwhile, though unpredictable weather and highway closures demand flexibility.

Challenges include high maintenance costs and remote access, but the experience—described as “skiing’s soul”—is unmatched. Beartooth Basin is for those who live for the stoke of summer skiing. Check conditions and highway status before...

This place FREAKING ROCKS!!! Anyone with anything negative to say about this funky, super-cool operation is a complete tool. We skied on July 5th in Wyoming! What else can you say? Took my son and his friend up, and we had a GREAT time! We stayed in Red Lodge, MT, the night before and drove up the pass that morning.

We are decent skiers but were by FAR the least qualified on the hill that day. We saw a lot of dudes pulling back flips in the terrain park and met a 14u Alpine Skiing Regional Champion and her dad who were hiking out and hucking themselves off an adjacent cornice.

It was warm but not hot--about 45 for the high--and we just loved it. I snowboard, and the Poma lifts were a bit of a challenge for me, but I enjoyed trying to learn and getting the upper body workout .

I met the owner, who was hanging out in the trailer up top with his dog, selling lift tickets and merch. Super cool guy, and he gave me the history of the place. It was started in the 60's by some Europeans who just wanted a place to practice downhill racing. He bought in a few years ago, and he does it because he loves it. Go give this dude some business and support a...

Looking up Beartooth? A great start to planning your trip to one of the most unique, old school ski experiences of your life. Two poma lifts, open Memorial Day-early July with lots and lots of steep terrain and great views. Advanced and above skiers only to make it down into the bowl. It's steep!

*Edit 06/17/2025: Thanks Austin and crew for another great couple of ski days at The Basin this spring! The place is still awesome, on a scale of 1-10 The vibes are a 13. If you want your best second ski season in June, this is the place to go and it's one of the most unique ski settings I've ever been to. Can't wait for the next time I...