Big Sky

About Big Sky Resort

If you're looking for uncrowded slopes, mixed terrain ideal for groups or families with varying levels of expertise, a massive amount of terrain—5,850 acres to be exact—and a relaxing, laid-back mountain setting then a Big Sky Resort ski trip should be a top-of-mind choice. Being off the beaten path, as Big Sky is, certainly has its perks. Lift lines are nonexistent and locals and return visitors often joke that if they have to wait in line for more than two minutes, it’s a very busy day. Big Sky also offers a handful of exceptional, rustic Montana dining experiences, sure to gratify guests looking for a unique meal.

With one of the U.S.’s most loved treasures just a couple minutes up the road—Yellowstone National Park—winter visitors to have an overwhelming amount of things to do in Big Sky. Most of them trend toward outdoor activities; you’re in Montana after all. You name it, you’ve got it when it comes to outdoor activities in Big Sky. Winter enthusiasts can enjoy everything from a family-friendly sleigh ride or afternoon at the resort’s Tube Park to an exhilarating snowmobile tour to a lively trek the resorts 53 miles of Nordic trails. A popular outdoor activity unique to Big Sky and the Yellowstone area is a wildlife- and wilderness-viewing snowcoach tour for capturing photos.

How to get to Big Sky Resort

Located just 53 miles from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), getting to Big Sky is relatively easy. The airport is serviced by five airlines and receives non-stop flights from 15 domestic cities and a slew of international departures. Once you’ve arrived at BZN you can choose from a laundry list of shuttle services or rental cars. Take note that apps like Uber and Lyft are not readily available in the area.

Navigating Big Sky is convenient with tons of shuttles and taxis that can be reserved. Additionally, the Skyline Bus offers transportation around the Big Sky area and to nearby attractions.

Skiing in Big Sky Resort

One thing’s for sure on a Big Sky ski trip, your legs are going to get tired, which makes the ski in ski out hot tubs that much sweeter. There's a lot of skiing to be had at Big Sky.

The resort hosts a 4,350 vertical drop of skiing from the impressive and 11,166-foot Lone Peak, which is accessed via its namesake, Lone Peak Tram. Beginners have their own private area without the interference of intermediate or expert skiers in the area between the Pony Express and Derringer lifts. Intermediate skiers have incredible access and can get the feel of Big Sky’s expert terrain via trails at the base saddle of Lone Peak. It takes only one look at Lone Peak to realize that this mountain is an expert or extreme skier’s sanctuary. With challenging terrain in nearly every direction from the peak’s summit, experts can enjoy one of North America’s longest vertical runs.

Beginner Skiing in Big Sky:

Where better to learn or progress, but on uncrowded, wide trails? The Big Sky Resort beginner skiing is all this and more. The Moonlight Basin area of the resort offers beginners a large swath of green terrain. On the Big Sky area of the resort offers more experienced beginners the opportunity to ski higher up on the mountain, plus an incredible up-front view of Lone Mountain.

When skiing at Big Sky beginners want to start out at the Mountain Village base area, there they can smooth at the basics on the magic carpets and poma lift. When they’re ready, the Explorer Lift is a great lift to start out on. This short ride brings beginner skiers to several meandering green circle trails, including Lower Mr. K and Chet’s Knob. The Southern Comfort Lift offers novice skiers their own little private playground. Once beginners feel ready the Swift Current High-Speed Quad offers great alpine views and longer sustained green runs, like Upper Mr. K and Natural Half Pipe.

Moonlight Basin’s entire bottom, left half of the mountain is green trails only—specifically between Pony Express Lift and Derringer Lift. Moonlight’s lack of crowds and beginner area is perfect for beginners looking to pick up the sport in the most comfortable environment possible. Beginners who’ve skied a couple times beforehand, and feel they’re ready to mix it up on the slopes with skiers of other levels can take Six Shooter Lift to the top and enjoy skiing down winding Lazy Jack.

Big Sky Ski School:

Big Sky's certified, professional ski instructors will guide you through the basics, so learning to ski or snowboard is fun and stress-free. They will review everything from how to operate your equipment and ride the lift to sliding on the snow and stopping. For beginner youngsters, the ski school recommends starting with a half-day program, so they aren't overwhelmed and ready to come back again the next day, learn more and have fun.

Expert Skiing in Big Sky:

Driving up to Big Sky or Moonlight Basin, expert skiers will notice the gigantic, looming centerpiece, Lone Peak, and want to ski it. Lone Peak not only offers incredible 360-degree views of Yellowstone and the Tetons but has endless expert and extreme terrain just waiting to be slashed, carved and bombed out. To enjoy both sides of Lone Peak, the southeast-facing Big Sky and Northwest-facing Moonlight Basin, be sure to purchase the Biggest Skiing in America ticket. Combine all the terrain possibilities with the fact that you’ll never have to wait in a lift line, and a Big Sky ski vacation is a no-brainer 

Every aspect of Lone Peak slopes into challenging bowl skiing, complete with extreme terrain nuggets like steep chutes and challenging couloirs. Big Sky and Moonlight Basin offer four lift-accessed bowls brimming with expert goodies. Take Big Sky’s Lone Peak Tram for incredible views, and to access extreme zones like the double black diamond Big Couloir, on Looker’s right side of the ridge, and The Gullies and South Wall on looker’s left side. Extreme seekers also have steep options on South Face, which provides access to the south aspect from the Lone Peak summit. Expert skiers will find everything from steep wall skiing, wide open, above-tree line fields with variable snow and chutes. 

Expert skiers looking for more “on-piste” skiing will not be disappointed that there are black and double black runs scattered literally all over both Big Sky and Moonlight.

Family vacations in Big Sky Resort

With trails that are miles long, and feel miles wide, and are virtually empty, your entire family can cruise around Big Sky practically side-by-side. Upgrade the family to the Biggest Skiing in America lift ticket for access to both Big Sky and Moonlight Basin. The two resorts combined 5,532 acres offers a nice mixture of terrain, so every skier in the family will have the time of their lives with three ideal “beginner zones,” miles upon miles of cruisin’ groomers, six terrain parks  and the challenging steeps, chutes and bowls of Lone Peak.

Novice families have an entire dedicated beginner section of the mountain at Moonlight Basin, between Derringer and Pony Express Lift. These trails weave around private homes and lodges, which makes for a fun and interesting experience. At Big Sky, beginner families can learn to ski in the “slow skiing” base area, which tends to be an uncrowded part of the mountain during the day. More experienced beginner families looking to warm up their legs should head to Southern Comfort High-Speed Quad lift.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find better intermediate skiing than Big Sky. More than 60 percent of the resort's terrain is designated at intermediate to advanced intermediate. Combine that with Big Sky, and Moonlight Basin’s, uncrowned reputation, and intermediate families will want to return year after year.