Look for something with lots of elevation change in the area.

I live in Utah at 4500 foot and ride all winter. Trails are covered in snow and cold, but I can ride. I have 9 ski resort within an hour drive of my home, Most of their parking lots are around 7000 foot. So lots of skiing/boarding nearby with plenty of deep snow.

Any riding at the ski areas would be pretty slim during the winter. Basically riding on the areas they plow the snow off. Even the wildlife, like Elk and deer migrate off the mountains in the winter. But their is great summer riding in those areas.

I can trailer to warmer parts of the state to ride during the winter. The St George UT area is 2000 foot elevation and always 30° warmer than the temp at my home. But it's a 5 hour drive away.  I mostly ride on Antelope Island during the winter. It's very sandy or granular, So little mud, surrounded by the Salt lake that acts as heat sink and keeps the surrounding air slightly warmer and I ge to see the snow on the mountains in the distance

You will just have to look at each of the Ski areas in Montana and see which ski area has some lower elevation areas close enough to allow you to do both.

That is some great info on the elevation changes. I have been snowboarding most all my life and incorporating the horse stuff. So it would be a good long week to board and ride.

Bob, thanks for the input. I will check with them, sounds like some good possibilities!

If anyone else has any thoughts, let me know!

Ski resorts are typically located in areas that get lots of snow.  This are not the same areas where you would ride horses in the winter months. So finding a place that allows you to do both during the same vacation will be a challenge. Unless you want to ski on the mountain during the day and ride in an indoor arena during the evening.

Most of the trails we use during the summer and fall become trails for Snowmobiles or cross country skiers in the winter. The pack down the snow making it icy and dangerous for the horses. If we leave the trails and just ride cross country, deep snow drifts hides obsticles under the snow that can't be seen. It easy to get a horse hurt by getting their legs wedged or caught in blow down logs hidden under the snow. Let alone the badger holes or rabbit burrows that are covered.

This is an old photo of an old truck I had as a young man, But it shows how the snow was that winter up at one of the ski resorts. Unless you know of a way to put snow shoes on your horse, There just is no riding a horse thru that.

Ski resorts are usually located on North or East facing slopes. My winter riding is usually found on South or West facing slopes that get lots of afternoon sun to help melt off the snow. The snow melts off and is not as deep and it's warmer for me to enjoy the outing.  I have to ride much lower in elevation during the winter to get away from the deeper snow.

The Ski resorts around here will avg 400" of snow a winter. That doesn't mean we will have 400" on the ground. It will snow and accumulate, then melt then snow off and on all winter. The foot hills see the same snow then melt routine, So I can often ride foot hills or desert areas and only see 6-10" of snow. Which is doable for the horses. It allows me to get out and exercise the horses and keep them tuned up and enjoy some sunshine

Even the deer and elk leave the mountain tops in the winter and migrate to lower elevation to escape the deep snow. Hence we start seeing wildlife down near the human population centers.

The trick is too find areas that are not prone to heavy snow, that are with in a reasonible trailering distance of the ski resorts. I don't think you will find alot of that in Montana. I have numerous friends that trailer down from northern homes during the winter to get a riding fix in Utah, Because they just can't ride back home.

I know around here, Most of the places that offer horse rides during the summer months around the ski areas, all change over to offering snowmobile rides in the winter. They put their horses out to pasture for the winter months. As locals we load up and head for areas that we know don't get a lot of snow. We ride during the middle of day when it's warmest and can enjoy the warmth of the sun.

This is a February Ride in central Utah in the high desert. This particular area had 25" of snow 10 days earlier, But a warm spell had quickly melted it. The night we left it got another 18" of snow. As locals we knew we could get out and ride, But as a tourist, there is no guarantee that you would have those same warm sunny days during your vacation stay.

love the effort you guys are putting in for me!

The pictures are awesome!

Now are there any places that i could be about an hour from ski lifts to board and be close to trails? Or am i still asking too much? i definately dont want to create a danger for the horses because my wife uses them for competition too. Maybe its worth it to split the trip up?

Loving the replies! Thanks!

Most people get altitude sickness because they don't drink enough water. Horses typically don't drink Soda Pop, Beer or coffee.  All contain diuratics that reduce your hydration.  Giving your horses good opportunities to drink good water is usually enough.  My horses live at 4472 foot and frequently ride up and over summits and passes at 10,000-11,000 foot during the summer.  They may blow a little because the air gets thin. But I've never notice anything I could blame on altitude sickness.

Ski season here in Utah is in full swing.  I was riding yesterday and last Saturday less than 30 miles away from one of the local ski resorts.

A week ago I loaded up and went to Southern Utah.  Brianhead ski resort is near Cedar city and I was riding in the Red Cliff Reserve maybe 60 miles away from the skiers. The skiers were at 10,000 foot and I was at 3000.