Resort Review from an intermediate Snowboarder’s perspective, I like blue and black groomers and tree runs, skip the terrain park and love aprés-ski food and drinks:
Overview:
Big Sky is one of the largest resorts in North America yet it is able to maintain its remote, local vibe. Big Sky has almost 6,000 skiable acres with terrain for all types of riders, even extreme riders thanks to its Lone Peak. If you are looking for world-class terrain this resort should definitely be on your list of places to ride. Just be warned, it doesn’t have the same village amenities as other Rocky Mountain resorts, yet its just as pricey if not more.
Pros:
Large ski-able area
Varied terrain (groomers, glades and bowls)
Close to airport (about an hour)
Near Yellowstone National Park
Cons:
Expensive
Minimal village and nightlife
Getting there:
For my trip to Big Sky Montana, I flew into Bozeman Airport. Bozeman Airport is nice but tiny compared to big metropolitan airports like LAX or EWR. When I visited Big Sky, there was only one daily direct flight from my location so make sure there are flight times that fit your schedule.
Given the smaller volume of passengers it was super quick to get my equipment from baggage claim.
Car rentals are on-site making it very convenient if you are renting a car. The drive from Bozeman Airport to Big Sky Ski Resort should take about an hour and its primarily on one road, US-191.
US-191 is one of the most dangerous roads in the country. The road winds through the mountains and can be quite treacherous with snow on the ground. If you do decide to drive, make sure you have a high quality 4x4 or AWD vehicle. Having driven a rental car on this road, my recommendation would be to hire a shuttle service and leave the driving to the professionals.
Mountain Terrain:
Big Sky really has a bit of everything when it comes to terrain. The mountain is easy to navigate as it has a main front side and a smaller backside that can only be accessed via the Lone Peak Tram. Riding the Lone Peak Tram used to be included in your lift ticket or Ikon pass but it now requires a separate pass, which you need to buy at the resort.
The main base area can be easily accessed via two bubble lifts. While Big Sky currently doesn’t have any gondolas servicing the mountain, excluding the Long Peak Tram, bubble lifts are the next best thing. If you haven’t been on a bubble lift, its a high speed chair lift with heated seats and an enclosure you can pull down to block your body from the elements.
The Swift Current lift will take you up to some fun blues and blacks like Calamity Jane, Lobo Meadows and Stump Farm. One of my favorite runs is Fremont’s Forest, off the Southern Comfort lift. If there is fresh snow its a lot of fun to weave in and out of these christmas tree glades. You can easily spend a half day lapping this area.
The big draw of Big Sky is the Lone Mountain and the bowls at its base. Most of these runs are triple black diamond, yes that’s a real thing, and they were definitely above my skill level so I looked at them in awe from a distance.
Regardless of your skill level I would suggest riding up the Lone Peak Tram at least once, even if it just for a scenic view and you ride the tram back down. The Long Peak Tram is a 15 passenger tram with one car going up and another going down. Expect to wait awhile to get on the tram but its definitely worth it.
At the top of Lone Peak you can see three states (Montana, Wyoming and Idaho) and two national parks (Yellowstone and Grand Teton).
If you are up for the challenge, strap into your board and do a couple runs down the back side otherwise jump back on the tram and enjoy the scenic view going down.
Village/Lodging:
Big Sky’s mountain village is minimal. Big Sky is the type of resort where you enjoy your time riding on the mountain and then at the end of the day you go back to your lodging and hang out there. The village has the bare essentials. There are a handful of restaurants within the village but not a ton of options. If you are looking for a village you can walk around this unfortunately isn't the place for you.
About a 10 minute car ride from the resort you will find Big Sky Town Center. In the town center there are a handful of restaurants and a grocery store. There is a free shuttle, Skyline, that runs frequently between the village and the town center.
Lodging wise there are a lot of condo and home options which are great for large groups. Big Sky has a high end feel with a number of member only options so you if you know someone in the know you’ll be set!
Other Activities:
While the riding at Big Sky is amazing and the key activity on a ski/snowboarding trip, the fact that you are only an hour from Yellowstone gives you another great option for your trip.
Yellowstone is the second largest national park in the lower 48 states. I would highly recommend a snowcat or snowmobiling tour of Yellowstone, you’ll likely be able to see Old Faithful Geyser. I did a snowmobile tour with Yellowstone Vacation Tours and it was a once in a lifetime experience and I would highly recommend the tour company.
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