Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area

Beartooth Basin Ski Area is a ski area in the western United States in northern Wyoming, located at Beartooth Pass in the Shoshone National Forest near the Montana border. It is the only ski area in North America that is only open in the summer, generally from late May through early July, since U.S. Route 212 (Beartooth Highway) is closed in winter. Opened in 1962, it totals 600 acres (2.4 km2) at an elevation of 10,900 feet (3,320 m).[1][2][3]

Beartooth Basin Ski Area
June 2017
Beartooth Basin is located in the United States
Beartooth Basin
Beartooth Basin
Location in the United States
Beartooth Basin is located in Wyoming
Beartooth Basin
Beartooth Basin
Location in Wyoming
LocationBeartooth National Forest
Park County, Wyoming, U.S.
Coordinates44°58′30″N 109°26′06″W / 44.975°N 109.435°W / 44.975; -109.435
Top elevation10,900 ft (3,320 m) AMSL
Skiable area600 acres (2.4 km2)
Trails9
Lift system2 surface lifts
Terrain parks1 – Big Air Park
SnowmakingNone
Night skiingNo
Websitebeartoothbasin.com

The north-facing slopes of Beartooth Basin are served by two platter lifts, and there is no day lodge. Parking is alongside the highway at the pass, slightly above the summit of the ski area.

Climate

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Beartooth Pass has an Alpine climate (ET),

Climate data for Beartooth Pass 44.9692 N, 109.4668 W, Elevation: 10,873 ft (3,314 m) (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 20.6
(−6.3)
20.6
(−6.3)
26.4
(−3.1)
32.5
(0.3)
41.7
(5.4)
51.3
(10.7)
61.8
(16.6)
60.8
(16.0)
51.3
(10.7)
37.6
(3.1)
26.1
(−3.3)
19.6
(−6.9)
37.5
(3.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 12.0
(−11.1)
11.1
(−11.6)
16.0
(−8.9)
21.2
(−6.0)
30.1
(−1.1)
39.1
(3.9)
48.2
(9.0)
47.5
(8.6)
39.1
(3.9)
27.3
(−2.6)
17.5
(−8.1)
11.4
(−11.4)
26.7
(−2.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 3.5
(−15.8)
1.6
(−16.9)
5.6
(−14.7)
9.9
(−12.3)
18.5
(−7.5)
26.8
(−2.9)
34.7
(1.5)
34.2
(1.2)
26.8
(−2.9)
17.0
(−8.3)
9.0
(−12.8)
3.2
(−16.0)
15.9
(−9.0)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.99
(127)
4.62
(117)
4.65
(118)
4.29
(109)
4.39
(112)
2.99
(76)
2.00
(51)
1.78
(45)
2.04
(52)
3.02
(77)
4.44
(113)
4.98
(126)
44.19
(1,123)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[4]

Beartooth Lake has a subalpine climate (Köppen Dfc).

Climate data for Beartooth Lake, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals: 9360ft (2853m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 23.7
(−4.6)
26.1
(−3.3)
34.0
(1.1)
40.9
(4.9)
49.5
(9.7)
57.1
(13.9)
66.7
(19.3)
64.7
(18.2)
55.2
(12.9)
41.1
(5.1)
29.2
(−1.6)
22.3
(−5.4)
42.5
(5.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 15.7
(−9.1)
16.4
(−8.7)
23.0
(−5.0)
28.9
(−1.7)
37.9
(3.3)
45.2
(7.3)
53.2
(11.8)
51.8
(11.0)
44.1
(6.7)
32.5
(0.3)
21.4
(−5.9)
14.5
(−9.7)
32.1
(0.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 7.7
(−13.5)
6.8
(−14.0)
11.9
(−11.2)
16.7
(−8.5)
26.3
(−3.2)
33.3
(0.7)
39.7
(4.3)
38.9
(3.8)
33.0
(0.6)
23.9
(−4.5)
13.5
(−10.3)
6.9
(−13.9)
21.5
(−5.8)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.81
(97)
3.44
(87)
3.48
(88)
3.43
(87)
3.21
(82)
2.79
(71)
1.67
(42)
1.36
(35)
1.85
(47)
2.67
(68)
3.40
(86)
3.92
(100)
35.03
(890)
Source 1: XMACIS[5]
Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation)[6]

References

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  1. ^ Teasdale, Aaron (1 August 2017). "The Best Summer Skiing is Hidden in North America". The Best Summer Skiing is Hidden in North America. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  2. ^ Moy, Chelsi. "Skiing, operating little-known summer area atop Beartooth Pass a challenge". missoulian.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Montana's Summer Ski Area: Beartooth Basin". Montana Living. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  4. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved October 13, 2023. To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.
  5. ^ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  6. ^ "Beartooth Lake, Wyoming 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved October 12, 2023.
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