We went for a wedding and the view was really neat. The drive up to the resort gives you some great views of the mountains. We had the reception at the lodge and then stayed the night in the rooms there. The rooms are really small, but they are for skiing so really you are not in them much. I am not sure how the skiing would be but the resort during the summer is beautiful.
Snowbowl has some surprisingly long and challenging runs for an area that is so close to town (Missoula)! If you are in the area you will definitely want to experience the slopes at Snowbowl. The one negative I will mention is that the last mile or so of road up to the lifts is pretty rough. C'est la vie!
It's a quick drive from Missoula for pretty good skiing. It's a very simple place which is what I love about it. It's about SKIING, not about being pampered. Every time I've gone, the skiing has been great! There may only be one place to take a lunch break, but believe me, it's great! There's nothing like some edamame, pizza, and one of the best bloody mary's I've ever had!Paradise is a great run!
We were at Snowbowl for the first time this weekend for our kids' YSL ski race. It is a great hill for spectating, and we also got to watch the annual Gelande Alpine ski jumping competition, which was pretty amazing. But if you actually want to SKI - go somewhere else! There are only 2 lifts, both are slow. Very few runs all the way back to the base if you are anything but expert. Also, a single run takes about 45 minutes because of the sloooowww lifts - and you have to take both lifts to actually get to the top of the mountain. Lodge is also very spartan to say the least. No heat, very small cafe, trash everywhere. We ate at a pizza joint in Missoula on the way home, and saw a picture titled "Snow Bowl in the 1960s." The lodge was pictured. It Looked The Same. They seriously have not updated facilities in 50 years!!!On a positive note - the bar does have good food (wood fired pizza), and I hear, great Bloody Marys (I did not partake). So if you are hear for pizza and the bar scene, great. But again - if you want to SKI then go elsewhere!Lift tickets, at $43 a day, are not cheap by Montana standards either.
Snowbowl is nice that it is right by Missoula, but it's not much of a ski resort. The price is very high for usually not that great of snow, and the mountain can really get crowded later in the day. Afterwards the day can really improve by visiting the bar for some food and local beer. Just avoid Tamarack beer as it is low quality. The people are very friendly and conversation is abundant. Make sure to spend a quarter on the dice roll for a chance to win some money.
Snowbowl is not a "resort" and that's exactly what we all love about it. It's like stepping back in time when skiing was about the skiing: the excellent terrain, steeps, bowls and trees. Back in time when skiing was about real people and kids with huge smiles. Not the flash, the glitz, the shopping, the crowds, the rich tourists. It's a locals place for real people who love real skiing. We love it just the way it is!
We visited here in July. Obviously, there was no snow and only a workman visible. Officially, it was closed. But it looked fascinating. I would like to see this during ski season. The drive to Snowbowl offered some fantastic views.
Only 20 minutes from downtown Missoula or less from the airport, this is one of the city's best winter features. The lifts are old and slow, but the terrain is terrific for intermediate and advanced skiers. Lots of great off-piste bowl and tree skiing. Nice little lodge with a big firepit for warming up in between runs, as well as a friendly bar.
I snowboard all over, especially in Montana. Snowbowl is one of the biggest headaches around. Do yourself a favor and stay away unless there is a lot of fresh snow. Then its almost worth it because the staff are a pain in the but. Constantly getting kicked of the lift because your ticket isn't perfectly placed or is removable.
We were here for a ski competition. The snow wasn't great vey icey but all the people were super friendly and the food was cheap and yummy. That has to be the best deal and eats at any ski resort we have been to. The lodge is a bit tired but the bar and fireplace were great. If they would have had some snow it would have been perfect. My daughter left her brand new name brand ski gloves on the course. I thought they were done but checked the lost and found and they were there. A testament to the good people of Montana. We will be back.