Unusually Warm, Dry Winter Cancels Groomed Ski Trails at Bill Roberts

City officials and the Last Chance Nordic Ski Club announced that Bill Roberts Golf Course will not have groomed cross-country ski trails this winter because unusually warm, dry conditions left insufficient snowpack for safe grooming. Doug Smith, Helena Parks and Recreation and Open Lands director, summed up the season’s abrupt end: "We had maybe 4 days of skiable conditions instead of 40."

Organizers and volunteers said the groomer requires roughly 6–8 inches of continuous snow to operate without damaging the course or skier equipment. Pete Behrends, a Last Chance Nordic Ski Club board member, warned that ungroomed conditions expose cart paths and gravel that scratch ski bases and reduce safety. Behrends said, "Even if we did get a spring storm at this time of year, the ground’s too warm, and the snow wouldn't last long enough to be worth grooming."

The cancellation removes an in-town, beginner-friendly option that the Last Chance Nordic Ski Club grooms when conditions permit. LCNSC maintains approximately 5 kilometers of skate and classic track around the Bill Roberts perimeter using volunteer labor and club equipment. Behrends noted the local popularity of the course: "When there's snow here, it's very popular, just being closer to town and more beginner-friendly terrain than Macdonald Pass." He added bluntly, "It's disappointing." Smith also highlighted the odd overlap of users this season: "There were a couple of days of limited snow, but it didn't last long, and then that led us to a situation where you had cross-country skiers and people hitting golf balls at the same time."

Alternatives are limited and less convenient. LCNSC points skiers to a MacDonald Pass trail that is more challenging and farther from downtown Helena, making it a poor substitute for beginners and families who usually rely on Bill Roberts for quick, accessible outings.

Bill Roberts Golf Course, established in 1925 and listed as an 18-hole, 6,782-yard public course, continues to offer year-round amenities such as three indoor golf simulators and Muni's Sports Grille; the course phone is (406) 442-2191. During winter months walking golf has been free for those willing to walk the course when weather permits, and simulators remain bookable even if the course lacks groomed snow.

The lack of snow this winter is not unique to Helena. Organizers in Bozeman, Missoula and Seeley Lake have cancelled some races for the same reason, signaling a broader regional shortage of snowpack. For local updates, LCNSC lists parking for Bill Roberts at 2201 North Benton Avenue, requests donations via a slot at the parking lot to defray grooming costs, and provides club contact at PO Box 1893, Helena, MT 59624; LCNSC also posts on Facebook, Instagram and a club listserv.