Big Sky Ski Resort

MONTANA / BIG SKY

Montana

Nearby:

Bridger Bowl Maverick Mountain

Elevation

7,500'

Base

11,166'

Summit

4,350'

Vertical Drop

Trails

320

5,850 Acres

Lifts

8 Types

Snowfall

265"

Annual Snowfall

21"

Nov

57"

Dec

44"

Jan

52"

Feb

57"

Mar

42"

Apr

Best known for

# 4 Overall in North America
# 3 Overall in United States
# 1 Overall in Montana

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Where to Stay

Plan Your Trip

Transportation

Important Dates

Projected opening date

Nov 26, 2025

Projected closing date

Apr 26, 2026

Projected Days Open

150

Days Open Last Year

144

Years Open

Average Snowfall

265"

Terrain

Beginners Runs

21%

Intermediate Runs

29%

Advanced Runs

31%

Expert Runs

19%

Runs in Total

320

Longest Run

6 mi

Skiable Terrain

5,850 ac

Snow Making

400 ac

Lifts

40

Gondolas & Trams

Eight Person Lifts

High Speed Sixes

High Speed Quads

Quad Chairs

Triple Chairs

Double Chairs

Surface Lifts

Inside Scoop

Reviews

colin

Big sky lives up to its name. It is one of the biggest ski resorts in North America behind only Park City, Whistler Blackcomb, and Vail(maybe?). One of the biggest strengths about Big Sky is the scenery. While yes, Lone Peak is a beautiful unmistakable mountain, but the surrounding mountains are stunning as well, one of which that you can see particularly well looking south from the peak is Pioneer Mountain, which looks like it could be part of big sky but it isn't unfortunately you will never get to ski there, at the Yellowstone Club. Big Sky sees good but not great snow every year, but the variety of aspects combined with the wind that frequently happens in Big Sky mean that 4" of new snow can ski like a foot if you can find the place where the wind is loading it, also it has snowmaking on a few trails and due to its high elevation, it holds snow well. As for terrain, the beginner experience is quite good compared to other destination mountains. They recently replaced an ancient chair with a new gondola serving the main beginner terrain at the resort, which improves the beginner experience because chairlifts can be harder to load for beginners. Other good beginner terrain pods are derringer, southern comfert, spanish peaks. One thing that the gondola also brings is the ability of foot passengers to access the peak and the new Kirkcliff observation deck, which is both a positive and a negative, tram lines get longer but it brings a beautiful mountain experience to foot passengers. For intermediates, there's a lot to like here. There are at least intermediate runs down almost every major lift, and the "double blue" rating is exactly what it sounds like, just a steeper or more techy blue square that might be black at another resort. Best intermediate pods: Swifty, powder seeker, ramcharger, thunder wolf, madison, lone tree. Also, Big sky boasts a great terain park setup. For advanced and experts, big sky starts to open up. The easier end of single black diamonds typically lie in semi-steep mogul fields and trees, but some of the black diamods are harder then others, but they are rated similarly and consistently across areas. Double and triple black terrain at big sky is always steep and sometimes technical. Please remeber that an unassuming double black may get a lot harder later down. For triple blacks, there is some aspect of the terrain that makes it harder. For example, Otter slide, while being short, is incredibly steep and exposed, and the big couloir, while not technical, is steep and sustained. Good advanced terrain pods: Challenger, Dakota, Thunder wolf, Lone tree. Good expert terrrain pods: Headwaters (watch for the hike, terrifying on windy days), Thunder wolf (only in high tide), Lone peak tram. Lifts: Big Sky has maybe the most technologically advanced lift system in North America, but that doesn't mean it is the best. While lifts like Ramcharger, Swift Current, and Madison, are fast, heated, come with bubbles, and fit 6-8 people, some slow lifts in many areas feel bad and old, like Iron Horse, and lifts like Thunder Wolf, while being High-speed, are incredibly old and prone to closures. Also, a lack of redundency anywhere in the lift system except for Explorer/Swifty leads to some big lines. CONS: Snow could be better, while big sky receives great snow, it is on the worse end in terms of Rockies destinations. If consistent powder is your goal, Big sky will be a good but not great choice, and you may be better off at snowbird, alta, or jackson hole. The value is not good, unless you have an Ikon pass and a friend with a condo there. Lodging is incredibly expensive, and with lift tickets reaching $300 on peak days, you might go broke. Expert terrain is generally very hard to reach. While Big sky's extreme terrain is wonderful, it is very removed from the rest of the resort. While you can access runs like the dictator chutes and north summit easily from the tram, you have to spend money, to ride a ski lift!! that's horrible!!!! unless you have a lift ticket, which nobody should be buying in this day and age. The tram is a beautiful experience and should be ridden at least once or twice on your trip. Otherwise, both sides of headwaters ridge holds harrowing lines, but the hike is very sketchy. Also, navigationally, Big Sky is pretty hard to get around, you cannot reach Madison Base from the top of the Swifty lift, you have to take either Iron Horse or Challenger.

All Reviews

Nearby:

Bridger Bowl

Maverick Mountain

Sleeping Giant Ski Resort

Kelly Canyon Ski Area