Big Sky, Montana’s mountain playground enters its elevated era

Big Sky, Montana, is rapidly transforming into one of the American West’s most awe-inspiring mountain destinations. Fifty miles north of Yellowstone National Park, the once-quiet ski town still offers cinematic landscapes and uncrowded slopes. But visitors can now enjoy advanced ski lift technology, meals crafted by Michelin-starred chefs, a stunning scenic viewing platform, and a new luxe resort, all grounded in respect for the surrounding wilderness. 

Elevated horizons

Big Sky Resort boasts 5,850 skiable acres, making it the third-largest ski resort in America by skiable terrain. However, decades of planning and investment help it continue to feel uncrowded.

Kircliff, a glass observation deck will open on Lone Peak’s summit on December 20, 2025. The observatory unfurls sweeping, 360-degree vistas of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are also visible on clear days, along with more than 10 mountain ranges. And you don’t have to ski or snowboard to drink in these views. The new Explorer Gondola whisks visitors of all ages and abilities from the village up to the state’s highest overlook at 11,166 feet in a matter of minutes.

“The Explorer Gondola is the 13th new lift in 10 years, confirming our ambition to make Big Sky the most technologically-advanced ski resort in North America,” says Megan Munley, the resort’s public relations manager. “Lift lines are virtually nonexistent because of how efficient our systems are.”

The balance Big Sky strikes between cutting-edge innovation and a sense of solitude is what sets it apart. Ski patrol director, Nancy Sheil, who has lived in the area for 25 years, says technology has preserved the feeling that you have the place to yourself. Astonishment lights up her eyes each time she talks about being high up on iconic Lone Peak, surrounded by its maze of steep shoots, bowls, and couloirs.

While ski season might be the main draw to Big Sky, bountiful outdoor pursuits beckon year-round exploration.

(Where the pros are skiing this winter)

An adventure for every season 

Winter activities in Big Sky also include snowshoeing through quiet meadows. Neighboring Yellowstone National Park enchants in the colder months, when most roads close to cars and snowmobilers zoom past bubbling geysers and snow-blanketed bison. The ski season stretches from late November until late April, framed by festive holidays and soft powder spring days.

Summer’s sunny splendor opens up adventures from rafting to rock climbing and mountain biking. The Gallatin River, immortalized in the 1992 movie A River Runs Through It, teems with world-class trout fishing opportunities. Hikers on the easy, 1.6-mile trail to Ousel Falls can soak up the majesty of a 100-foot waterfall. Horseback riders clip clop through the Gallatin National Forest with Jake’s Horses.

May and October tend to be the months with uncertain weather, making them ideal times to recharge in cozy spas. Fine dining also evolves with the seasons.

(These national park trails were created by America’s first Black soldiers)

Refined alpine flavors 

M by the Alinea Group: Four-Michelin-starred chef Grant Achatz will helm a culinary residency at Big Sky Resort from December, 2025 through March 31, 2026 as part of the Alinea Group’s 20th Anniversary World Tour. Diners can fork up dishes inspired by Montana winters presented with gastronomic precision.

Sleigh Ride Dinner at Lone Mountain Ranch: Belgium draft horses pull guests through the forest to a lantern-lit cabin for prime rib and cowboy songs. “It’s a magical experience that makes people cry when it’s snowing lightly and the stars are twinkling,” says Chanell Oliver, the ranch’s director of brand partnerships. 

Montana Dinner Yurt: Patrons ride a snowcat in the winter and Army truck in the summer up the mountain for fork-tender filet mignon and Toblerone chocolate fondue, all accompanied by live guitar music.

Akira Back: As a former professional snowboarder, Michelin-starred chef Akira Back brings his appreciation for the mountains to this Japanese-style specialty restaurant inside One&Only.

Horn & Cantle: Cowboy vibes run high at this restaurant and saloon that modernizes Montana flavors into dishes like elk meatballs, trout rillette, and wild game bolognese.

Where to stay in Big Sky

One&Only Moonlight Basin: Open since November 2025, the luxe brand’s first entry into the United States is also its premier mountain destination. “We want to pay tribute to the absolutely most extraordinary destinations in the world and only those,” says general manager Serge Ditesheim. “Nature is the superstar, where the highest building will not supersede a mature pine tree.”

Moonlight Basin stands between two wilderness areas and is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Trail cameras capture footage of moose, elk, antelope, and foxes roaming the 240-acre property. Travelers can retreat to expansive rooms or private homes surrounded by verdant forest. Alpine skiing, guided hiking, and holistic wellness opportunities are mere steps away.

Big Sky Resort: On-site accommodations include hotels like The Summit and Huntley Lodge, as well as private vacation home rentals.  Guests staying in the Mountain Village can take advantage of slope-side access, shopping, dining, a spa, and a recovery lounge to help ease any sore muscles.

Lone Mountain Ranch: A 1915 homestead turned luxury adventure lodge, the restored log cabins feature all the comforts of home—except TVs. Guests are encouraged to connect with Montana’s wide-open spaces instead of screens. Horseback riding, Nordic skiing, and candle-lit dinners immerse visitors in rich Western heritage.

Montage Big Sky: Opened in December 2021, this five-star resort boasts 139 guest rooms, suites, and residences that showcase the surrounding nature. Ski-in/ski-out access, a 10,000-square-foot spa, and artful touches put a modern polish on Montana amenities.

(Big Sky, brighter stars: Why Montana is 2025's ultimate stargazing destination)

A big, wild vision coming to fruition

With each new ski lift and elevated restaurant, the town climbs higher toward its aspirations.

“Chet Huntley was a nightly news anchor for NBC in the in 1960’s who had a dream of building this world-class destination tucked in the Gallatin Mountains, at a time when there was just a gravel road with more cattle being moved down the road than there were cars,” says Brad Niva, president and CEO of Visit Big Sky. “The sad part of the story is that he died three days before the resort dedication in 1974. But wouldn’t it just blow his socks off to see what we’ve done here?”