Rocky Mountain Fun - Winter Activities in the Rocky Mountain Region

Rocky Mountain FUN

Clearwater knows how to get outside in the colder months!

We all know that the Rocky Mountain region and Western US is amazing in the warmer months, but what is there to do in the winter? Not only can you find solitude in some of our country’s most scenic destinations throughout the winter months, but the region also offers a wealth of unique winter activities, some of which are found nowhere else. Here are some of our top picks:

Skiing is probably what comes to mind first, and we have some of the best ski and snowboard locales in the country: MONTANA Big Sky Resort Bridger Bowl Whitefish Mountain Resort Discovery Ski Area Montana Snowbowl Great Divide Ski Area Blacktail Mountain

IDAHO Cottonwood Butte Silver Mountain Resort Schweitzer Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area Bald Mountain Ski Area Sun Valley Ski Resort

WASHINGTON Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park 49 Degrees North Loup Loup Ski Bowl North Cascade Heli-Skiing

WYOMING Antelope Butte Mountain Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Snow King Mountain Hogadon Basin Cross-Country Skiing… everywhere! Glacier, Yellowstone, and Idaho Panhandle National Forests, the Seeley-Swan Valley, Bozeman, Moonlight Basin, and hundreds of other options. Find a trail near you using www.traillink.com. The Montana Backcountry Alliance is a great resource for some snow day fun. Take a guided ski trip to a secluded, cozy hut for the night!

Snowshoeing is a winter-time must. Nothing beats the tranquility of venturing through untouched wilderness, surrounded by sparkling white. Use an app like All Trails to find the best location near you.

Skijoring- what is that!?! It’s the ultimate mix of the cowboy life and shredding powder. Trick skiers are pulled by horses or sled dogs through courses with jumps and obstacles. It’s a great spectator sport and there are places that you can even give it a try! Yellowstone Country has become a hub of skijoring, with three different events taking place across the region in West Yellowstone, Big Sky, and Red Lodge. It’s the perfect excuse for a winter getaway, and these mountain towns are great places to visit.

Montana Cross-Country Skiing

Dog Sledding in Olney, Montana

Relaxing Hot Spring in Montana

Dog Sledding is popular throughout the Rockies, and it is not just a spectator sport. Dog Sled Adventures in Olney, Montana offers a 12mile trail they refer to as the “Eskimo Roller Coaster.” If you aren’t finding yourself this far north in Montana, there are also several companies throughout Montana, Idaho and Wyoming that offer this dog powered sport. In January & February, the Darby Dog Derby, Race to the Sky, Flathead Classic, and Idaho Dog Sled Challenge are all great spectator events to catch if you’re not too keen on sledding yourself.

Ice Fishing- Northern pike, perch, trout, and kokanee are just a few fish that you can catch and cook up for a tasty dinner. Rent an ice fishing hut to stay out of the elements and cozy while you reel ‘em in. Local angler shops are the best places to visit to see what’s biting and the hot fishing spots nearby.

Explore the backcountry on a snowmobile, go for a sleigh ride on a ranch, visit a craft distillery or brewery, watch a live show in Missoula, Billings, or Spokane, head to a museum or art gallery in Bigfork, play a game of pond hockey or take a turn around an ice rink, plan a tour of festivals and local events, or catch a soak in one of the areas many hot springs!

Snowy Winter

We could go on and on, so here are the

best places to find all of these activities and more.

Idaho- https://visitidaho.org Montana- https://www.visitmt.com Washington- https://stateofwatourism.com Wyoming - https://travelwyoming.com