Red Lodge Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Lodge Mountain |
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Palisades area at north end
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 Red Lodge Mountain
Location in Montana
Red Lodge Mountain
Location in the United States
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| Location | Carbon County, Montana |
| Nearest city | Red Lodge |
| Coordinates | 45°11′28″N 109°20′06″W / 45.191°N 109.335°W |
| Vertical | 2,400 ft (732 m) |
| Top elevation | 9,416 ft (2,870 m) |
| Base elevation | 7,016 ft (2,138 m) |
| Skiable area | 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) |
| Runs | 65 - 17% easiest - 45% more difficult - 38% most difficult |
| Longest run | Lazy M - 2.5 miles (4.0 km) |
| Lift system | 6 Chairlifts - 2 High-speed Quads - 1 Triple - 3 Doubles 1 Magic Carpet |
| Lift capacity | 10,690 per hour |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 250 in (640 cm) |
| Snowmaking | 31% of runs, full coverage |
| Night skiing | none |
| Website | redlodgemountain.com |
Red Lodge Mountain is a super fun place to ski and snowboard! It's an alpine ski area located in the western United States. You can find it in south-central Montana, right along the eastern edge of the amazing Beartooth Mountains. It's just west of the town of Red Lodge.
Contents
The Story of Red Lodge Mountain
How It All Started
In the late 1950s, some excited skiers from Red Lodge and Billings had a big idea. They wanted to build a ski area! They formed a group called Grizzly Peak, Inc. They raised $250,000 by selling shares to people who believed in their dream.
Red Lodge Grizzly Peak officially opened on January 2, 1960. Back then, it had one double chairlift, three ski trails, and a small lodge.
Growing Bigger and Better
Over the next few years, the ski area kept getting bigger. They added more lifts and new trails for skiers to enjoy. The Grizzly Peak Chairlift was added in 1971, and the Miami Beach Chairlift came in 1973. More and more people heard that Red Lodge Mountain was a great place to ski. They also loved the friendly, old mining town of Red Lodge.
The ski area continued to grow in the 1980s. In 1983, they added the Winter Sports Center and a new Triple Chairlift. The Midway Lodge was also replaced in 1986.
Huge Expansion and Snowboarding Fun
In the summer of 1996, Red Lodge Mountain had its biggest growth spurt ever! They opened the Cole Creek area. This new part of the mountain included two super-fast detachable quad chairlifts. They also added 18 new slopes and trails. The mountain's snow-making system was completely updated too, making the skiing experience even better.
Red Lodge Mountain also opened its first snowboard park in 1996. It became so popular that they made it even bigger. By 1999, skiers were also welcome to use the terrain park!
Today, Red Lodge Mountain is owned by JMA Ventures. The base of the mountain is at 7,016 feet (2,138 meters) above sea level.
What You Can Do at Red Lodge Mountain
Red Lodge Mountain offers a variety of slopes for all skill levels.
- Easy Trails: About 17% of the trails are marked with a green circle. These are perfect for beginners and those who like a gentle ride.
- More Difficult Trails: Around 45% of the trails are marked with a blue square. These are great for skiers and snowboarders who have some experience.
- Most Difficult Trails: About 38% of the trails are marked with a black diamond. These are for advanced skiers and snowboarders looking for a challenge.
The longest run at Red Lodge Mountain is called Lazy M, and it's 2.5 miles long!
Lifts and Terrain Park
To get up the mountain, Red Lodge has 6 Chairlifts:
- 2 fast high-speed quad chairlifts
- 1 triple chairlift
- 3 double chairlifts
There's also a Magic Carpet for beginners.
If you love jumps and tricks, you'll enjoy the terrain park at Red Lodge Mountain. It's a special area designed for snowboarders and skiers to have fun.
