Industry News
Beartooth Basin, Montana, is the only summer ski area in the United States, and it opened on Memorial Day this year. The mountain is geared towards intermediate to advanced skiers and riders due to its steep and difficult terrain with constantly changing conditions perched at 10,000 feet. The ski area has been hit by a number of unfortunate seasons where it wasn’t even able to open or was only open for a short season due to lack of snow and weather conditions. Hopefully, its 2026 summer ski season will be better than past ones.
Currently, the terrain conditions and base levels vary on the mountain, with some spots over 10 feet deep while others are wind-blown, bare spots in between. “This season is rolling really smooth, and the snow looks better than last year,” Justin Modroo, Co-Owner of Beartooth Basin, told SnowBrains in a phone interview. Modroo is one of five co-owners at Beartooth, and he has been hitting the steep terrain for over 40 years and has even competed as a professional big mountain skier.
Once the team at the mountain was able to check out the terrain conditions, they knew this season was going to be better than the previous seasons. Last Thursday, the mountain received about an additional 9 to 10 inches of snow, which helped fill in some of the bare spots. The West did not have a great 2025-26 ski season with warm temperatures and low snowfall. “We will not be skiing into July this year,” Modroo said. “We hope to be skiing to the Summer Solstice on June 21.”
For those who have never heard of Beartooth Basin, it features some of the most unique terrain in the United States. The ski area is actually located in Wyoming, and not Montana. The ski resort’s mailbox is located in Montana, and therefore that is where their address is assigned to. It is a very rustic, die-hard, big mountain type of skier or rider that heads to Beartooth every summer. Two lifts give access to a total of 1,000 vertical feet. However, don’t be fooled by the numbers; the terrain is challenging and raw. “Nikky’s Run is the craziest 500 feet you’ll find anywhere,” Modroo said. Twin Lakes Headwall provides 600 acres of skiing terrain that varies in pitch from 15º to 50º. The surrounding areas offer 3,000 vertical feet of shuttled or hike-in backcountry skiing and riding.
The mountain is not set up to be some bougie ski resort; on the contrary, it is one of the rawest and simplest ski resorts out there. It has a parking lot, no lodge, a bus that it sells tickets and merch, a tool trailer, a connex, and a camper RV used for first aid, and a generator. On an average day, the mountain only has about five to eight employees working. The biggest expense Beartooth Basin has is its insurance cost, which is 5 figures. It doesn’t sound that expensive, but for a ski area that is only typically open from late May until late June, there’s not a lot of time to recoup that money.
However, that’s not what the owners at Beartooth Basin are about at all. “If we break even, we’re happy,” Modroo said. “I never have received any money from being a co-owner at Beartooth Basin, and I’m not doing it for the money.” He has been a co-owner since 2010-11, and he describes what he and the other owners do as “a labor of love.” All the owners have other jobs while also running the ski area throughout the year. Beartooth Basin is a hobby for them to share the spirit of skiing, where everyone is having a great time and fun.
The scenery and great views at the ski area are stunning. Beartooth Basin is surrounded by galacially carved out canyons, and the top of Beartooth Basin is a plateau, which is common for the area. It’s also close to Yellowstone, which is less than an hour away, and Red Lodge, Montana, which has great camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Weather and conditions permitting, the ski area is hoping to build a terrain park. The forecast for June at the mountain is below average, so there might be an opportunity for it. If the temperatures get too warm, the snow groomers would get stuck at the bottom of the mountain. However, there are all kinds of natural features for skiers and snowboarders to hit and grab big air at Beartooth, from dropping in off the first headwall and cornices to catching air off of big rocks throughout the ski area.
Beartooth Basin is one of three outdoor mountains that are still open in the United States. It captures the fire, exhilaration, and adrenaline rush that diehard skiers and riders crave in a very raw and natural way. No big crowds, no ski village, just people enjoying skiing and hitting the mountain. First time vistors to Beartooth Basin are blown away by what it offers; you won’t be disappointed. “Come for a visit, come check it out,” Modroo said.
Basin Ski Resort Stats:
- 10,900 feet peak elevation
- 9,900 feet base elevation
- 1,000 vertical feet
- Two high-speed platter lifts
- Skiing terrain that varies in pitch from 15° to 50°
- 3,000 vertical feet of shuttled or hike-in backcountry skiing and riding
Photos
