Whitefish, Montana
Skiing has been part of the Whitefish area for more than 50 years. In 1937, the Whitefish Lake Ski Club obtained a special permit from the U.S. Forest Service enabling them to build cabins and trails in the Hell Roaring Creek region that is now Whitefish Mountain Resort. Great Falls businessmen Ed Schenck and George Prentice quickly recognized the area's potential and shortly after World War II, began efforts to develop a full-fledged ski resort on the mountain. Winter Sports, Inc. (WSI) was founded on March 31, 1947 and it was a community enterprise from the start with local people selling shares of stock to meet payrolls, donating labor, preparing the slopes, even giving up free time to help push through an all-weather mountain road. On the morning of December 14, 1947, Schenck, Prentice and a thousand townsfolk stood on the slopes of the newly christened Big Mountain Resort to watch the brand new T-Bar lift bring their community vision to life. The Chalet was erected in 1949 just in time to host the U.S. Alpine Championships that same year.
Dates of 2013-2013 Season:
Dec 8, 2012* - April 7, 2013
*weather dependent
FACTS:
Trails & Terrain
•Terrain: 3000 acres
•98 marked trails with vast amounts of bowl and tree skiing
•Terrain Difficulty: 15% Beginner, 35% Intermediate, 40% Advanced, 10% Expert
•Longest Run: 3.3 miles (Hellfire)
•Terrain Parks: 4 Parks & Skier/Boarder Cross Course
Snowfall & Temperatures
•Average Snowfall: 300 inches annually
•Average High Temperature: 32 degrees
•Average Low Temperature: 17 degrees
Elevation
•Summit Elevation: 6817ft/2078 meters
•Base Elevation: 4464ft/1361 meters
•Vertical Drop: 2353ft/717 meters
HOT TO GET THERE:
Planes:
Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) is just 19 miles from Whitefish Mountain Resort. The airport is served daily with flights connecting from Minneapolis (MSP) (Northwest), Salt Lake City (SLC) (Delta/Skywest), and Seattle (SEA) (Alaska/Horizon). Allegiant Air provides twice weekly flights to Las Vegas & Oakland. Delta also offers non-stop summer service from Atlanta (ATL). United Express provides year-round service from Denver (DEN) and summer service from Chicago (ORD).
-Shuttle service and car rentals are available at the airport.
Trains:
The historic Whitefish Depot is a major stop for Amtrak on the Empire Builder line. The train arrives daily from points east and west including
Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Chicago and Minneapolis. From the East, the train arrives just before 9 p.m. From the west, Amtrak arrives at
7:30 a.m. - just in time to get in breakfast before hitting the hill for first chair.
Contact Flathead Travel at (406) 863-3300 for Amtrak deals. Or if you'd rather go by sleeper car, contact Flathead Travel at
www.flatheadtravel.com or 406-863-3300.
Automobiles:
Our version of a traffic jam is a herd of elk on the road. Driving to Whitefish is easy. If you've got GPS, just punch in 48º 26’ 22.87” -114º 21’ 10.65” and that will take you to Big Mountain Road.
Take US-93 North or South to downtown Whitefish
Turn North onto Baker Avenue over the Viaduct. Baker turns into Wisconsin Ave/Mt-487
Turn Right on Big Mountain Road
Hint: Look for the flashing yellow caution light over the road
Follow Big Mountain Road approx 5 miles.
If you're heading to the Base Lodge (rentals, lift tickets, activities)...
Turn RIGHT on Glades Dr. across from the Welcome Sign
Hint #1: Look for the directional brown signs that say Base Lodge
Hint #2: if you pass under the skier bridge, you've gone too far
Follow Glades Drive to the Willow Parking Lot for free parking
If you're checking in to Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging...
Follow Big Mountain Road to the Upper Village.
Go around the round-a-bout and park in Lodging Check-In temporary parking.
Lodging Check-In is located in the Kintla Lodge - look for the sign
SNOWBus:
The free Village Shuttle runs from the Base Lodge to the Village as well as the Hibernation House and the Lodging Front Desk during the winter season. The Base Lodge Shuttle stops in the lower parking lots for a quick ride to The Base Lodge. Call the Lodging Front Desk at 406.862.3687 for more information or to arrange an after-hours pick-up.