Bridger Bowl Ski Area

Bridger Bowl is a ski area in the western United States, near Bozeman, Montana. It serves the local population of Gallatin County, including Montana State University. The summit elevation is 8,700 feet (2,650 m) above sea level, with a vertical drop of 2,600 feet (790 m) on east-facing slopes.

Bridger Bowl
Base area in March 2005
Bridger Bowl Location in Montana Show map of Montana Bridger Bowl Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Gallatin National Forest Gallatin County, Montana  United States
Nearest major city	Bozeman: 16 miles (26 km)
Coordinates	45.818°N 110.897°W / 45.818; -110.897
Vertical	2,600 feet (790 m)
Top elevation	8,700 feet (2,650 m)
Base elevation	6,100 feet (1,860 m)
Skiable area	2,000 acres (8.1 km2)
Runs	75
Longest run	3 miles (5 km)
Lift system	8 chairlifts - 1 Quad - 6 Triples - 1 Double
Snowfall	350 in (29.2 ft; 8.9 m)
Snowmaking	minimal
Website	bridgerbowl.com

Located sixteen miles (26 km) north of Bozeman in the Bridger Range of southern Montana, Bridger Bowl is a locally owned non-profit ski area.[1] It provides locals with affordable skiing, great terrain, and outstanding snowfall.[2] The ski area and mountain range are named after the noted mountain man Jim Bridger, and are accessed from state highway 86.[3]

In addition to the existing base lodge and a mid-mountain lodge, a new main lodge opened in 2005 at the base area.[4]

Since 1988, local residents have been alerted to the arrival of fresh snow by a flashing blue beacon atop the Baxter Hotel in downtown Bozeman. Activated every time Bridger Bowl accumulates two inches (5 cm) of new snow, it remains on for 24 hours. Maintenance of the light is a priority, and only once in 20 years was it out of operation for two days.[5]

Bridger Bowl opened the new Schlasman's chairlift for the 2008–09 season, the first lift-served terrain expansion in 30 years. A reconditioned 1976 Doppelmayr double chair, it was previously the "Peruvian" lift at Snowbird in Utah. Named after a miner who died in an avalanche in 1885, Schlasman's has a vertical rise of 1,700 feet (518 m) and adds 311 acres (1.26 km²) of new lift-served terrain for expert skiers only. To ride this lift, skiers are required to carry an avalanche transceiver; partners and shovels are highly recommended.

For the 2013–14 season, Bridger unveiled its new Powder Park and Alpine chair lifts. These brand-new lifts tripled the uphill capacity (3,300 vs. 1,100/hr) compared to the "old Alpine" center-pole double chair that was retired in 2013.[6]

Bridger Bowl is noted for its expert-only skiing terrain known as "The Ridge". There are six sections of the ridge known as Schlasman's, D Route, C Route, B Route, A route, and Northwest/Hidden Gully Areas. In order to ski or snowboard the ridge, an avalanche beacon and shovel are required; most of the ridge is hiking terrain.

Montana State has hosted the NCAA Skiing Championships eight times (1960, 1983, 1985, 1996, 1998, 2008, 2012, 2020), all at Bridger Bowl, with cross-country events at adjacent Bohart Ranch.