Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ave. S., 406/761-7441,
www.bigrflyshop.com
, 7:30am-7pm Mon.-Fri., 7:30am-6pm Sat.,
10am-5pm Sun.) is an excellent place to start for advice on local waters and current hatches.
For a guided trip on any number of local waters, try
Fin Fetchers Outfitters
(406/
240-3715,
www.finfetchers.com
,
from $375 half-day). Owner Brian Neilson was born in
Bozeman and raised in Great Falls, and knows as much as you could ever hope to learn
about the sport. Another well-respected guide is Dirk Johnsrud of
Johnsrud Outfitters
(406/253-8408,
www.johnsrudoutfitters.com
, from $350 half-day, $500 full-day), who can
take anglers to a variety of rivers and lakes in the region.
Skiing
Although Great Falls is not often considered a prime alpine skiing destination, with the
Rocky Mountains in such close proximity, it is no surprise that there are in fact three deve-
loped ski areas within a couple of hours' drive.
High atop the Continental Divide,
Great Divide Ski Area
(7385 Belmont Dr., Marys-
ville, 95 miles south of Great Falls, 406/449-3746,
www.skigd.com
,
$40 adults full-day or
$36 half-day; $30 students, seniors, and military; $20 beginner chair, free for preschool
children and beginner rope tow, $9/hour for anyone) touts itself as “Montana's sunniest ski
area” and offers an impressive 1,600 acres and 140 trails accessed by six lifts. The hill av-
erages 180 inches of snow annually and offers night skiing.
Showdown Montana Ski Area
(U.S. 89, south of Neihart, 1 hour southeast of Great
Falls, 406/236-5522 or 800/433-0022,
www.showdownmontana.com
, $40 full-day ages
18-69 or $34 half-day, $30 seniors, $35 students with ID, $22 children 6-12, free for chil-
dren 5 and under) is one of Montana's oldest ski hills, in operation since 1936. In the middle
of the not-so-little Little Belts, Showdown sees an average of 245 inches of powder annu-
ally. There are four lifts and 34 trails on 620 skiable acres at this family-friendly ski hill,
with 40 percent of the runs geared to intermediates and 30 percent each aimed at beginners
and experts. Mountain biking is also offered when the snow melts, with the primary season
running mid-June-October.
Closest to Great Falls,
Teton Pass Ski Resort
(18 miles west of Choteau, 406/466-2209,
www.tetonpassresort.com
,
$35 adults full-day or $30 half-day, $30 seniors, $15 beginner
lift, free for kids 6 and under) is a small ski area—two lifts and 36 trails geared largely to
experts—with an enormous amount of snow (the area averages 250 inches of snow annu-
ally) and some pretty fierce terrain.
