Whitefish Mountain Resort | |
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Aerial view of The Big Mountain and surroundings
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Location in Montana
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Location | The Big Mountain Flathead Nat. Forest Flathead County, Montana United States |
Nearest city |
Whitefish Kalispell Missoula |
Coordinates | 48°30′10″N 114°20′25″W / 48.50278°N 114.34028°WCoordinates: 48°30′10″N 114°20′25″W / 48.50278°N 114.34028°W |
Vertical | 2353 ft - (717 m) |
Top elevation | 6817 ft - (2078 m) |
Base elevation | 4464 ft - (1361 m) |
Skiable area | 3,020 acres (12.2 km2) |
Runs | 93 - 15% beginner - 35% intermediate - 40% advanced - 10% expert |
Longest run | 3.3 miles - (5.3 km) Hellfire |
Lift system | 11 chairs - 3 high-speed quad - 2 quad - 6 triple 3 surface tows |
Terrain parks | 1 |
Snowfall | 300 in. - (762 cm) |
Snowmaking | yes |
Night skiing | Fri & Sat lower lifts |
Website | skiwhitefish.com |
Whitefish Mountain Resort is a ski resort located at The Big Mountain in northwestern Montana, located west of Glacier National Park in the Flathead National Forest. It is 4 miles (6 km) from the town of Whitefish and 21 miles (34 km) north of the city of Kalispell.
The area currently has 11 chairlifts: 3 high-speed detachable quads and 6 fixed grip (2 quads and 4 triples). There are also three surface lifts: two T-bars and a magic carpet. Of these, 9 lifts operate regularly, including one T-bar which is normally only open on weekends.
The mountain is separated into three faces. The front side is primarily serviced by the Chair One high speed quad and has the most skiable terrain. Chair 2, which also runs on the front side was replaced with a high speed quad in 2007. The front side has 7 of the mountain's 9 chairlifts. The back side of the mountain is serviced by Chair 7, also a high speed quad. The back side has more tree skiing terrain, and additional terrain can be accessed by T-Bar 2 on weekends and during select holiday periods. The western aspect of the mountain contains the Hell Roaring basin. Serviced by Chair 8, a fixed grip triple chair, Hell Roaring basin is the most advanced skiing on the mountain with cliffs, vertical chutes, and tight tree skiing. The intermediate Hellfire trail is the longest on the mountain; it runs 3.3 miles (5.3 km) from the summit to the base of Chair 8.
The vertical drop of the ski area is 2,353 feet (717 m), with a summit elevation of 6,817 ft (2,078 m) and a base of 4,464 ft (1,361 m). The average annual snowfall is 300 inches (760 cm).
The ski area is about 19 miles (31 km) north of Glacier Park International Airport and 35 miles (56 km) south of the Canada–US border.