When a water park is the perfect escape by Jessica Mayrer
S
ure, Montana’s got plenty of river and lakes to float around on. But sometimes you need the adrenaline rush that only a five-story-tall water slide provides. Luckily, there’s no shortage of squeal-worthy slides, and other water park attractions, within hours of Missoula.
Silver Rapids Indoor Water Park at Silver Mountain Resort As an enclosed facility, Silver Mountain is insulated from the temperature changes and freak snowstorms that frequent the Rocky Mountains in the late spring and early fall. That’s a big selling point, as is Silver Mountain’s balmy 84-degree water. Don’t miss Silver Mountain’s “FlowRider,” a perpetual wave fed by 680,000 gallons of water rushing through every minute. It’s a wholly controlled surfing environment. While the water is toasty and there’s no paddling to catch a wave, don’t get cocky. Staying on your surfboard isn’t easy. Those looking to perfect their surfing technique can purchase a one-hour FlowRider lesson for $15. Or tackle the wave on a boogie board. “Anybody can do it,” says Silver Mountain’s Sales and Marketing Director Neal Scholey. Silver Mountain has a variety of waterslides, including the enclosed Gold Rush and the Moose Sluice, a twisty descent that accommodates several people in a raft. The Hoop Lagoon, meanwhile, is a watery basketball court that provides a unique venue for a game of horse. And then there’s Trestles Surfside Grill, which features two massive hot tubs, flat screen TVs, cold drinks and a refuge from the high-energy park. Trestles offers
a view of the Silver Rapids, meaning parents can sneak in a drink while keeping an eye on the kids. Park admission is included in the price of an overnight stay at the resort, which, depending on the accommodations, runs about $50 per person for a family of four. How to find it: Head west on Interstate 90 into Idaho and take exit 149 at Bunker Avenue.
Big Sky Water Park There’s a reason Roger Elliott has remained at Big Sky Water Park for 31 years. The park’s general manager likes his job, in part because his responsibilities include personally testing out waterslides at the beginning of every season. “It’s really fun,” Elliott says. Of course, fun’s the point. With 10 waterslides, Big Sky is Montana’s largest water park. Less than three hours from Missoula, the trip to Columbia Falls is worth it if only to check out Big Sky’s two speed slides, especially The Geronimo. Built atop a hill, the slide boasts a seven-story descent that spits riders out into the clear water below. “They’re probably going anywhere from 25 to 30 miles an hour,” Elliott says. The Shredder X-Treme is cool, too, because it’s wide enough to accommodate up to three tubers. The Shredder climbs, then stalls just long enough for you to catch your breath, before dropping off suddenly, a stomachlurching sensation.