First-Time Visitors
Welcome to Whitefish, home of good times, great people and year-round adventure!
The mountain, the town and the surrounding valley are the perfect place for your next outdoorsy vacation, full of popular attractions and hidden gems. Adventurers, thrill seekers and leisurely sightseers will feel right at home here, any time of year.
If this is your first time visiting — or you're still planning your trip — let this page be your guide. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to our biweekly newsletter and follow our snow report for all kinds of updates and opportunities at the resort!
An outdoor recreation mecca
Whitefish Mountain Resort is located atop Big Mountain, a 6,817-foot peak overlooking the city of Whitefish in Northwest Montana's beautiful Flathead Valley. The resort is a mere 15 minutes from downtown Whitefish and about 45 minutes from the west entrance to Glacier National Park.
We're also just 30 minutes (or 13 miles as the crow flies) from Glacier Park International Airport (FCA). With dozens of direct flights arriving and departing each day, you'll quickly realize that getting here is a cinch!
From Whitefish you can embark on all kinds of outdoor adventures. In addition to skiing and a wide variety of summer activities at the resort, you can go hiking or snowshoeing in Glacier, paddling and fly-fishing on the Flathead River, or sunbathing on Whitefish Lake's City Beach — to name just a few options!
Downtown Whitefish is home to many shops, bars, cafés, restaurants, art galleries and entertainment venues. You'll find your scene in our welcoming little mountain town, including lively après-ski hangouts, upscale dining experiences and casual options for the whole family.
And getting to town from the resort is fast and easy, whether you take a personal vehicle or hop aboard the free S.N.O.W. Bus. Check out our Getting Here page for more transportation info!
No reservation? No problem!
You'll never need a reservation to have a good time at Whitefish Mountain Resort!
With short lift lines and 3,000 acres of terrain allowing folks to spread out, we never need to cap the number of skiers on the mountain at a given time. That means you can show up, buy your lift tickets and hit the slopes any day of the season — no advance notice necessary! Free parking, on-mountain dining and summer activities are available on a first-come, first-served basis, too.
Of course, some offerings are in high demand at certain times of year, so it’s never a bad idea to book ahead of time. We recommend making reservations for Ski & Ride School lessons, gear rentals, Zip Line Tours and the Aerial Adventure Park to ensure availability on the day of your visit.
Booking online is also an easy way to score discounts — check out our lift ticket and summer activity pages for details! Also check out our Ways to Save page to see all the best deals and discounts available at the resort.
Winter is ski season!
We say this proudly: There's no better value in skiing than Whitefish Mountain Resort.
We operate 11 chairlifts, plus a T-bar and two conveyor carpets. We have 110 named trails, plus powdery glades, steep bowls and freestyle parks spanning 3,000 acres of terrain on nearly all aspects of Big Mountain. And our lift tickets are a fraction of the price of tickets at the more crowded Rocky Mountain resorts!
Nowhere else in the country can you take so many unique runs for such a low price. And no mega passes are accepted here, so you're sure to avoid the mega pass crowds!
Here's how to make the most of your ski trip:
- Stay on the mountain! Our on-mountain vacation rentals offer unparalleled convenience and value all year round! We have lodging perfect for families and groups of all sizes, from townhomes to hotel-style units. Some units even offer ski-in/ski-out access, so you can spend more time on the slopes and less time commuting to and from your room. Lodging ‣
- Eat on the mountain! From the Summit House to the Base Lodge to the historic Bierstube, our on-mountain dining locations offer so much more than burgers and fries. Enjoy a delicious lunch between ski laps, or grab an evening pint and toast to a day well spent on the mountain! Dining & Après ‣
- Take a lesson! Our Ski & Ride School offers private and group lessons for skiers and riders of all ages and skill levels! Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, our friendly and knowledgeable instructors can give you the tools you need to have fun on the slopes. Lessons ‣
- Rent skis and boards! Our friendly, knowledgeable boot fitters and technicians will ensure your skiing or snowboarding equipment is dialed in for your specific needs and skill level. And our rental shops are close to the slopes so you can return any time to ask questions, make adjustments or try a different size if something isn't working for you. That's a level of convenience you simply won't enjoy renting anywhere else! Rental Shops ‣
- Bundle and save! If you're totally new to snow sports, check out our First Time Lesson Package, which includes one day of lessons and equipment rentals, as well as a beginner area lift ticket! Graduates of this package also receive a free frequent skier card and discounts on additional lift tickets, rentals and lessons for the rest of the season! First Time Lesson Package ‣
- Take a free tour! With so much terrain to explore, you might not know where to ski first. Join one of our Mountain Ambassadors for a free tour of the mountain, offered daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Just look for the orange coats at the top or bottom of Chair 1 and an Ambassador will help you find your ideal skiing terrain! Ambassador Tours ‣
- Go night skiing! Whitefish Mountain Resort is home to some of the best skiing you'll find after dark! Night skiing takes place on Fridays and Saturdays during much of our winter operating season, and around the holidays. The slopes under Chairs 2, 3 and 6 are illuminated by the stars and stadium lights so you can maximize your time on snow. Night Skiing ‣
- Attend an event! From eye-popping fireworks displays to freestyle trick contests to the annual Pond Skim, we keep a full schedule of on-mountain events throughout the winter and summer operating seasons. Check out our events calendar to see what's happening during your visit! Events ‣
Summer fun for everyone!
When sunshine replaces snowy slopes during the warmer months, Whitefish Mountain Resort becomes a giant outdoor playground with all kinds of family-friendly activities! And with our convenient on-mountain lodging, the resort is the perfect base camp for anyone looking for a summer vacation immersed in Montana's mountains or traveling to visit Glacier National Park.
Here you can soar above treetops on Montana's longest lift-served Zip Line Tour, cruise down the Alpine Slides, test your agility in the Aerial Adventure Park, hike and go huckleberry picking along the Danny On Memorial Trail, enjoy a peaceful Scenic Lift Ride and lunch on the summit of Big Mountain, or go downhill mountain biking on more than 20 miles of flowy and technical trails.
The Whitefish Bike Park features downhill and cross-country bike trails for riders of all skill levels. Newcomers to the sport will enjoy flowy trails with modest features, while more aggressive riders can send jumps, whip around berms and drop into technical rocky sections. When you get to the bottom, load up your bike and hop on the chairlift to do it all over again!
Plus, young kids will love climbing Spider Monkey Mountain, and guests of all ages can learn about the region's plants and animals at the U.S. Forest Service's Summit Nature Center, featuring numerous hands-on nature exhibits.