Big Sky

Big Sky is an alpine ski and golf resort community in Montana. The community's two large ski resorts, Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin, merged in 2013. In 2020, it was home to about 3,600 people.

Understand

Big Sky was a ranch up until the early 1970s, when TV newscaster Chet Huntley decided to turn it into a ski hill and resort area. It has grown considerably since then but still is relatively uncrowded as most of the lodging in the area is houses and condos that are used infrequently.

Get in

Big Sky is approximately midway between West Yellowstone and Bozeman on U.S. Highway 191 and 15 miles (24 km) from the northwestern border of Yellowstone National Park.

You can fly into Bozeman and take a 45-minute drive down the canyon along the Gallatin River, or the Skyline bus.

Get around

Big Sky is divided between the Mountain Village (at the base of the Big Sky Ski Resort) and the Meadow Village (that is a 10-minute car ride and several thousand vertical feet below the Mountain).

See

Near the Meadow Village there is a beautiful 30-foot falls, Ousel Falls, that freezes up in the winter. You can usually hear/see water running beneath the ice on the far right side. The trail to the falls is fairly well maintained and receives regular use. As you head from Highway 191 to Big Sky, you will see the golf course on your right. Soon after, there will be a left turn onto Ousel Falls Road. Travel about 2 miles to the obvious parking area and trail head on the left side. The trail to the falls follows a stream and is about 1½ miles long.

Do

There is great skiing and boarding, in particular for more advanced skiers. The lifts are never crowded. Top runs are.

• Cruisers - Calamity Jane, Elk Park Ridge, and Big Horn
• Moguls - Crazy Raven, Mad Wolf, Moonlight, and Bad Dog
• Glades - Wounded Knee, Congo, and Blackfoot
• Steeps - Anything off the Tram, War Dance, Big Rock Tongue, and Snake Pit

This is a big mountain with lots of area to explore. Rocks are not marked very well, so use caution when off the groomers. There are also several good terrain parks for shred-heads and freestylers.

• 1 Bighorn Ridge Disc Golf Course, off Seeway Rd (at Big Sky Community Park). 18-hole course. Lengths vary between 100 and 700 feet. Free. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Big Sky Resort, 50 Big Sky Resort Rd, toll-free: +1 800-548-4486, bigskyinfo@bigskyresort.com. ski resort. (updated Jul 2021)
• 3 Moonlight Basin. ski resort (updated May 2018)

Buy

• Lone Mountain Ranch, 750 Lone Mountain Ranch Rd (5 miles up the Big Sky Spur Road), ☏ +1 406 995-4734. 8AM-5PM daily. The Lone Mountain Ranch Outdoor Shop carries the latest in Nordic Ski Gear in the Winter and Fly Fishing gear in the Summer. There is also clothing and Montana made gifts. The Shop is the central location for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, back country ski tours, snowcoach trips, fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking and Yellowstone Park tours. 

Eat

• Cinnamon Lodge (15 miles south of Big Sky on Hwy 191). This place has great Mexican food and margaritas. Try the pork roast special. Although Mexican food is what it's known for, good steaks and some seafood are available. As an added bonus, if you travel a couple of miles farther south on 191, you enter the northwest corner of Yellowstone Park. It is not a fee area, and you are likely to see quite a few elk in the first mile of so of open valley in the fall and winter. 
• Lone Mountain Ranch, 750 Lone Mountain Ranch Rd (turn on Hwy 64 towards Big Sky Resort; go 5 miles and turn right into driveway), ☏ +1 406 995-4644. 7AM-9PM daily. Breakfast buffet with house made pastries, hot and cold cereals, fresh fruit, hot entrees and beverages. Cozy Lunch buffet with soup, salad and hot entrees. Four-course plated dinner with entrees that range from Bison Wellington, Fresh Flown in Daily seafood specials, Montana grass fed beef and vegetarian entrees, with delicious desserts and an extensive wine list. Copper bar with fireplace and views overlooking the ranch. Starts at $10.95. 

Drink

• 1 Beehive Basin Brewery, 245 Towncenter Ave, ☏ +1 406 995-7444, casey.folley@beehivebasinbrewery.com. Daily noon-9PM. Tap room has 6 staple beers plus a few rotating beers. No food but you are welcome to order from any of the restaurants to eat. (updated Jul 2023)

Sleep

• The Lodge at Big Sky, 75 Sitting Bull Rd, ☏ +1 406 995-7858. 90 suites include mini-fridge, microwave, wet bar, coffee maker, speakerphones, and data ports, and incredible views. $99-189. 
• Lone Mountain Ranch, 750 Lone Mountain Ranch Rd (5 miles up Big Sky Spur Road (Hwy 64) on the right), ☏ +1 406 995-4644. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. Historic guest ranch offering horseback riding, Yellowstone Park tours, fly fishing, mountain miking, guided hikes, kids program, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sleigh ride dinners, backcountry ski tours, amazing food and great service. Starts at $3145/week. 

Stay safe

Big Sky is adjacent to the historic Karst Asbestos mine, which is dubiously marked out as "Asbestos Mine Trail". The mine, which is no longer active, has never been cleaned up, and visitors should stay away from the area due to the danger of breathing asbestos dust.

Go next

• Bozeman Hot Springs & Fitness Center (36 miles north) 9 natural hot springs pools with temperatures ranging from 59 to 106 degrees and both dry and wet saunas.

Routes through Big Sky

Bozeman ← Four Corners ←

N  S

→ West Yellowstone → Yellowstone N.P.