Resort ready to open for summer
Whitefish Mountain Resort is back in business this weekend.
After closing for the winter sports season in April, the ski resort opens Saturday with a variety of summer amenities, including the alpine slide, Aerial Adventure Park, zip lines, Walk in the Treetops tours, Spider Monkey Mountain, scenic lift rides and the hands-on nature center at the Summit House.
The resort expects to be 100 percent open for the summer season.
Thanks to an unusually warm spring, areas typically covered with snow in June are melted out and the network of trails is ready for hikers and mountain bikers.
The resort’s nearly 30 miles of mountain biking trails offer downhill and cross-country options, along with a chairlift to the top. According to the resort, it’s the first time the fast-paced, downhill Runaway trail has been open in June completely free of snow.
Improved trails include Kashmir, where pavers and culverts were added and berms were raised. Drops were added and improved on Cyndis and Drop Park.
The Flower Point Hiking Trail, which was closed last year, is now open after the construction of a new chairlift.
The mountain’s two zip-line tours stretch over a mile and include a chairlift ride with views of Glacier National Park, the Canadian Rockies and Flathead Valley. Another all-ages activity is the alpine slide, a water-less water slide on which participants can grab a specialized sled and race down the chute.
Additionally, nonbikers can hike the Danny On Memorial Trail, which climbs Big Mountain through forests and wildflower fields to the 6,817-foot summit. Four different hiking loops vary between 3.8 and 5.6 miles. Nature lovers can also visit the resort’s mountain top nature center, or enjoy a 2-hour guided nature walk along an elevated boardwalk in the tree canopy. The elevated walk stretches for 700 feet, 70 feet above the forest floor.
The Summit House will be open all summer, despite a $1 million remodeling that will add more seating space and a new facade.
The resort also plans to rebuild the summit ski patrol headquarters and drill a new water well.
Visitors will still have access to the Summit House food court, bar, gift shop and restrooms during construction.
The Summit House deck will be closed to public access, but a balcony on the north east face will remain open.
There’s a preview of summer fun on Big Mountain on Friday: Anyone who purchased a 2014-15 winter pass will have free access to alpine slide rides, the Aerial Adventure Park and Spider Monkey Mountain, as well as zip line tours.
New this summer is a free bus that will shuttle passengers between Whitefish and the resort. Four round-trips are planned daily.
The service is funded by the Big Mountain Commercial Association, the same group that backs the SNOW Bus during winter.
Lodging at the resort is available through Oct. 31. Whitefish Mountain Resort will be open seven days a week until Labor Day, then be open Fridays through Sundays through the rest of September.
For reservations, prices and more information, call 877-SKI-FISH or visit skiwhitefish.com.