Bridger Bowl may be one of Montana's most well-loved local ski areas. Turning out pioneers in extreme skiing like Scot Schmidt and Tom Jungst, this mountain has a reputation for having some of the best in-bounds extreme skiing in the nation. In recent years, Bridger has expanded their beginner and intermediate terrain, so there is plenty of room for any ability to explore. But for those who still love the thrill of adrenaline, the black and double black diamond runs are nothing short of spectacular.
In addition to the main area, Bridger has two ungroomed areas requiring an avalanche transceiver (457 khz), Schlashman's, which is lift-served, and The Ridge, which involves hiking. Having a partner, a shovel, expert skiing or snowboarding abilities, and knowledge of the terrain is strongly recommended before venturing into any of Bridger's designated lifts or hike-accessed ridge terrain.
Bridger Lift
The High Traverse branches off from the Bridger lift, taking you to three double black diamond runs: Lower Nose, Zits, and Exit Chute. The traverse itself is a bit tricky and involves skiing around a pine tree at the top of some cliffs, but once you're there, these three little gems are not only steep, but they fill up with snow, making it some of the most sought-after and challenging areas on the mountain. Lower Nose, in particular, is an extension of The Nose, a popular part of the ridge area, with vast open snow fields that are killer on a powder day. Keep in mind, accessing these runs requires a sidestepping ascent, which can definitely be a slog.
Avalanche Gulch, Ptarmigan, Sluice Box
These three black diamond runs are some of the longer runs on the hill, and while they are challenging, they have a nice fall line and the opportunity for many turns. Avalanche Gulch is accessed from the High Traverse, but before you reach the area that requires sidestepping.
Bronco
One of the more iconic runs on the mountain is Bronco, which runs straight under Bridger Lift. It can sometimes turn into a mogul field, but it can also house big pockets of powder and has an excellent pitch.
The John
From Bronco, exit onto The John, a fun little offshoot with an excellent funnel to bank off. It's a short but fun run, dropping you into the North Bowl for the runout.
North Bowl Run
With plenty of room to spread out, a steep pitch, and an excellent snowfield, the North Bowl is a favorite any time of year…but if you hit it on a powder day, you're in for a real treat. Skiers have been known to wear snorkels!
Powder Park Lift
While most of Powder Park has intermediate runs, Baby Bear, Eagle, and Powder Hog are great little chutes with lots of trees and some opportunities for air if you are so inclined.
Pierre's Knob
Pierre's Knob has some of the area's longest runs, as well as access to the South Bowl, but for the extreme skier, Flippers and Last Chance are two steep and technical runs with a significant fall line that drops into the South Bowl. Flippers has some popular cliffs and jumps, notably “Angels Flight,” and “Hollywood.” If you look to your left as you ride the lift; you can scope them out!
If you enjoyed this blog, take a look at some of our other related articles:
- How to Ski Kind in Bozeman
- Top 10 Places for Winter Photos in Bozeman
- Why Bozeman is One of the West's Best Ski Towns
In our never-ending quest to keep up with all things new in Bozeman, we have been producing content for years and can't possibly update every blog when new businesses open or existing businesses close. Please reference the publish date and do your own due diligence when making plans.