Big Sky

History Before the resort, the valley was ranch country, and the Crail Ranch Homestead Museum preserves ranch buildings that show life in Big Sky more than 100 years ago. Big Sky Resort opened in 1973 on the slopes of Lone Mountain. Big Sky is not a town but a census-designated place that straddles Gallatin and Madison counties. In 2013 the resort absorbed the neighbouring Moonlight Basin, giving it the acreage it markets as the "Biggest Skiing in America". For its 50th season the resort replaced its 1995 jig-back tram with the new Lone Peak Tram, which opened on December 19, 2023.

Skiing Big Sky Resort covers 5,850 acres with a vertical drop of 4,350 feet. The Lone Peak Tram starts at 9,024 feet and rises 2,142 vertical feet in about five minutes to a top terminal at 11,166 feet, the highest scenic overlook in Montana. Building the top terminal took about 3,000 helicopter flights. Lone Mountain Ranch runs a Nordic centre with more than 75 km of groomed cross-country trails.

What to See Big Sky has three main parts. The Meadow lies in an alpine valley in the east of the community, and the Crail Ranch Homestead Museum is a short stop there for the valley's homestead history. The Mountain area, west of the Meadow at a base elevation of about 7,400 feet, is the base for the resort's lifts in both seasons. The Canyon area lies in Gallatin Canyon along US-191, the road from Bozeman, where the Gallatin River is popular with whitewater rafters and kayakers.

Outdoors The Ousel Falls trail is an easy 1.6-mile round trip from its trailhead to a waterfall, about 0.8 miles each way, with about 250 to 400 feet of climbing. Dogs are allowed on a leash, and the parking area fills at busy times. In summer the resort runs lift-served hiking and mountain biking, and the Gallatin River is used for fishing, rafting and kayaking. Lone Mountain Ranch also operates as a summer resort.

Getting There Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is about 46 miles away by road, mostly on US-191 through Gallatin Canyon. Yellowstone's West Entrance at West Yellowstone is about 51 miles south on the same highway. US-191 is a two-lane mountain road with heavy traffic at peak times, so allow extra time, especially in snow.

When to Go The ski season runs through winter into spring. Summer, roughly late June to September, is the time for hiking, biking and Yellowstone trips. Spring and late autumn are shoulder seasons when some lifts, shops and restaurants close. The West Entrance road into Yellowstone was open to cars from April 17 to October 31 in 2026, so a Big Sky stay can be combined with the park for most of the summer half of the year.