No Nordic Skiing at Bill Roberts Golf Course This Year

Warmer winter leads to lack of snow, forcing cancellation of cross-country ski season

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Due to a warmer than usual winter, the cross-country ski trails at Bill Roberts Golf Course in Helena, Montana will remain closed this season. The Last Chance Nordic Ski Club, which grooms and maintains the trails, says they only had about 4 days of skiable conditions compared to the usual 40, making it impossible to keep the trails open.

Why it matters

The Bill Roberts Golf Course trails are a popular and convenient option for cross-country skiers in Helena, as they provide beginner-friendly terrain right in the city. The lack of snow has impacted Nordic skiing across Montana, with races being canceled in places like Bozeman, Missoula, and Seeley Lake as well.

The details

The golf course trails typically open on November 1st, but this year the snow didn't last long enough to allow for grooming. Parks and recreation director Doug Smith said there were a couple days of limited snow, but it quickly melted, leading to a situation where cross-country skiers and golfers were using the course at the same time, which is unsafe. The ski club needs about 6-8 inches of snow to be able to groom the trails, but that never materialized this winter.

  • The cross-country ski trails at Bill Roberts Golf Course typically open on November 1st.
  • This year, the trails only had about 4 days of skiable conditions, compared to the usual 40 days.

The players

Doug Smith

The Helena Parks and Recreation and open lands director.

Pete Behrends

A board member of the Last Chance Nordic Ski Club, which grooms and maintains the trails at Bill Roberts Golf Course.

Last Chance Nordic Ski Club

A local ski club that uses the trails at Bill Roberts Golf Course when there is enough snow.

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What they’re saying

“We had maybe 4 days of skiable conditions instead of 40.”

— Doug Smith, Helena Parks and Recreation and open lands director (kxlh.com)

“It's disappointing. This is the first year in my about 15 years of being involved with cross-country skiing in Helena that we haven't had enough snow to groom.”

— Pete Behrends, Last Chance Nordic Ski Club board member (kxlh.com)

What’s next

Even a late-season snowstorm would not be enough to open the trails at this point, as the ground is too warm and the snow would not last long enough to be worth grooming, according to the ski club.

The takeaway

The lack of snow this winter has forced the cancellation of the cross-country ski season at the popular Bill Roberts Golf Course trails in Helena, highlighting the impact of warmer winters on outdoor recreation in Montana. This issue extends beyond just Helena, with ski races being called off in other parts of the state as well.