Moonlight Basin ski holidays
Established in 2003 the American ski resort Moonlight Basin lies at ? metres altitude in the Montana region of the American Rockies0 snow cannons ensure artificial snow making covers 0km of trails, which equates to around 0 of the slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Moonlight Basin is Billings at a distance of 288km or approximately 180 minutes driving time. Their season runs from November to April.
SNO-man says
First major new US destination resort for 20 years when it opened in 2003. Located approximately one hour from Bozeman, Montana, is located on the north face of Lone Mountain in the Madison Range. Lone Mountain also serves as home to the famed Big Sky Resort and the two are lift-linked together, a rare thing in North American skiing. Moonlight Basin's northern exposure given deep snow with drier, more consistent snow. The resort is the brainchild of two Montana natives - Joe Vujovich and Lee Poole, and their Fort Lauderdale-based partner, Keith Brown. who purchased the area in the early 1990s.
At build out, ski development will include approximately 2,500 acres of terrain, with a small portion of the partners' original purchase developed for ski terrain and home ownership. The remainder will be preserved as forest and wildlife habitat.
Alpine Downhill Runs
Beginner Trails
 0 runs ?km |
0% |
Intermediate Trails
 13 runs ?km |
26% |
Advanced Trails
 14 runs ?km |
28% |
Expert Trails
 22 runs 22km |
44% |
Resort and Holiday Stats
| Beginners |  |
| Intermediate | |
| Advanced/Expert | |
| Snowboarders | |
| Apres Ski | |
| Family/child Friendly | |
| Snow-Sure | |
| Ambience | |
| Value for money | |
| Lift Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | €168 - €210 |
Traditional Ski Village / Purpose Built Ski Resort |
| Resort Opens | Nov 2013 |
| Resort Closes | Apr 2014 |
| (snow conditions often influence opening/closing) |
Mountain and Slopes
| Downhill Runs | ?km |
| total length of Moonlight Basin trails |
| Longest Lift-Served Run | 4.2km |
| longest piste or trail reachable by lift |
| Slope Orientation | N |
| direction Moonlight Basin area faces |
| Top Altitude | 3048m |
| top station of highest lift |
| Bottom Altitude | 2133.6m |
| bottom of lowest run |
| Resort Altitude | 2133.6m |
| centre of Moonlight Basin ski resort |
| Vertical Drop | 618.8m |
| total descent from top lift to bottom piste |
| Skiable Vertical | ^v 914.4m |
| can include extra hike up above top lift |
Skiing in Moonlight Basin
49 pistes and trails means approximately ?km of runs. 7 Moonlight Basin lifts have capacity to transport 9100 per hour. The longest run in the American ski resort is over 4.2km.
The mountain has 0% beginner runs or nursery slopes, 26% intermediate, 28% advanced slopes and 44% for experts - the most difficult piste is the ?km Three Forks run, with a steepness/slope angle of ?%. There is no night skiing.
Rating for skiing gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Moonlight Basin Apres Ski
Off-Slope activities include:
2 apres ski bars 4 restaurants 0 bowling 0 night club 0 cinema 0 billiards / pool 0 games room 0 concert 0 indoor swimming 1 outdoor heated pools 2 saunas 1 hot tubs 0 solariums 1 masseurs 0 indoor ice skating 1 outdoor ice skating 1 indoor sports centre 0 indoor tennis 0 squash racquetball 1 sleigh rides 0 ballooning 1 horse riding 0 prepare winter walks 0 climbing 1 golf 1 fishing 0 museum 0 library Plus these additional apres ski facilities Spa treatments, complimentary mountain tours, Weddings and Retreats, fly fishing, rafting, canoeing, mountain bike tours, guided hiking tours
.
Rating for apres ski gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
"Moonlight Basin" by any other name
The American resort is also known as Lone Mountain and has common misspellings:
The direction which the various Moonlight Basin slopes face can make or break your ski holiday. To guarantee good snow conditions, choose a resort with piste which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February pick a resort with sunny south facing slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a resort with cool and shady north facing trails will ensure you're not riding on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best destinations have areas which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating conditions whatever the weather. Moonlight Basin has slopes facing N.
Rating for snow gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Moonlight Basin reviews, 4.3 star rating and information is collated by SNO man from staff experience and customer feedback.