Bridger Bowl Ski Area

The layout of Bridger’s terrain is what sets it apart. While the lower portion of the ski area features standard beginner and intermediate riding on lifts like Sunnyside and Powder Park, the top third of the mountain, known as The Ridge, is wholly unique. You’ll need an avalanche beacon and a burly set of quads to explore the tremendous offerings that lie above. You’ll also need a beacon if you’re looking to head out to Schlasman’s lift on the far skier's right of the mountain.

You can access The Ridge from two main hikes, located above the Schlasman’s and Bridger chairlifts. The Schlasman's hike is brief, and there's incredible skiing to be had right from the lift as well. The Bridger hike can be tiring, but once you get a taste of the tight trees, gripping chutes and ample face shots that await, you won’t want to ski anything else.

There are lines hidden within lines, like a puzzle that never changes but refuses to stay the same with fresh snow reshaping the mountain every season. With very limited trail markers present, The Ridge is best explored with a friend who knows the terrain very well or with a Ridge Guide, who can be booked online. Bring a peace offering and good conversation to the chairlift, or stop in at the Grizzly Ridge Bar, and you’ll likely find a new friend who will show you the secrets. Well, not all the secrets, but enough to get you started.

Given the erratic, dependably cold winters in Bozeman, having a car that you trust is ideal. So if you’re heading to Montana from elsewhere in the mountain west, we suggest driving. But if flying is on the table, the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Belgrade, Montana, is just 15 minutes from Bozeman. The airport has drastically expanded flights in the last few years, so odds are high that you’ll be able to find a connection from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. No matter if you drive or fly in, you can rest easy knowing that Bridger offers free shuttles that conveniently run from town to the ski area and back every day. Pick up is at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, and parking is free. 

Once you reach the parking lots of Bridger Bowl, you’ll have to make your own trail. There are no paved areas, no clear yellow lines and limited attendants telling you where to go. Follow the signs and park with compassion for your fellow skier and all will be well. And did we mention there’s no need for reservations and parking is free? Head on up to the A Lot if you have three or more people in your car and enjoy front row parking. On weekends and holidays, you can catch the roaming trailer shuttle from the lots up to the base area.