Wow, great skiing and no lift lines. I have skied most of the country and just found Montana skiing this season. I can't believe how good the snow was. The ammenities were a little lacking but I came to ski. The Timbers restaurant in the Moonlight Lodge was a great place to eat. Charlie and his staff in the Timbers Deli were very friendly and make great sandwiches. Their bar was a great place to have a cocktail and an order of nachos at the end of the day. If you like skiing and don't care about all the glitz, then I'd definately say ski Moonlight, it's beautiful there.

Moonlight Basin is an odd ski area. I say ski area because I don't think me, my family & friends consider it a resort - it is so primitive. They don't have any permanent structures for lodges, hotels, restaurants or shops at the base of their main lift. Just a couple yurts and pre-fab log cabins - which look really cheap. So, if you are expecting a whole resort environment to surround the skiing, don't bother coming here - it's not what you are looking for.

But, if you are an extreme skier type, you'll probably enjoy being challenged by the Headwaters-Moonlight's extreme skiing area (fyi - you have to hike to it). It is some of the steepest, most challenging terrain you will find this side of Utah. But, that doesn't feed into the whole family thing, and outside of the Headwaters, the skiing is very limited. If you want the whole range of greens, blues and blacks in Montana, you're much better off at Moonlight's neighbor, Big Sky Resort which is absolutely fabulous.

Another thing that is a pet-peev to me and buddies is that Moonlight misleads you with their mountain statistics. If you look at the website or trail map it says MOONLIGHT BASIN'S highest elevation is the top of Lone Peak (11,266 feet). Well, only after buying our Moonlight lift tickets did we find out this is NOT TRUE, you CANNOT access the top of Lone Peak (the mtn on which both Big Sky & Moonlight are located) with a Moonlight ticket. Not even close. To get to the top, you have to buy the 'Lone Peak Ticket' for combined skiing at Big Sky & Moonlight, which costs $89 a day! To get to the top of Lone Peak, you must go up Big Sky's tram - there is no other way. Moonlight practices a classic bait & switch - tell you one thing and then give you another. Shame on you Moonlight!

So, as an extreme ski area, Moonlight would rate very good. As a family resort, it is poor. Take your family over to Big Sky - way more to offer in terms of family stuff and resort environment. Also, the food at Moonlight was horrible, as our family friend got sick on a raw hamburger he ate some of. I guess that is probably what you would expect from yurt food.....Unless you are practicing for the world extreme competition, spend your family's money at a real resort - don't waste your time & money here.

First trip to Big Sky & Moonlight Basin. Stayed at Huntley Lodge - pricey for the noise levels in the rooms from other rooms upstairs and next door! Never-the-less, great skiing with snow falls a plenty during the last couple of days in March and the first several days in April this year (2007). Then we went over to Moonlight Basin - WOW! This area has won my heart from Colorado - and I am planning my trip for next year but staying at Moonlight Basin not Big Sky. The skiing is so wonderful at Moonlight Basin and more scenic and has the feel of Europe for sure. Also, I am going to look into the Cowboy Heaven Cabins that are right on the slopes. The cabins are so sweet and a great place to stop for lunch etc. Although there were outdoor porta-potties at the Madison Lodge I loved Madison Lodge - the Yert for the cafe was really great! I told my other friends to be sure and bring their friend to hold mittens, coats etc while in the potty - no place to put stuff. All of the runs were fun at Moonlight. Big Sky was good too but in a different way. I would spend most of my days at Moonlight with maybe one or possibly two days at Big Sky. Not only are there great amenities, lodging, and skiing at Moonlight but the lift tickets are about the same price as those in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan! What a deal. See you next year Moonlight.