How to Plan a Ski Trip to Big Sky Resort in Montana
"A vast Rocky Mountain ski destination that has undergone a more than $150 million investment since 2016 to update lifts, expand hospitality, and improve guest comfort while keeping the mountain’s adventurous character. “I think there’s a long-held skier’s mentality that part of skiing is roughing it,” Nick Dawson said, and he later added, “There’s nothing wrong with being a little more comfortable, a little warmer, when you’re getting yourself into the gnarliest terrain in North America.” The property offers 5,850 skiable acres (technically the third-largest by acreage in the U.S.), 40 lifts (12 recently renovated), 320 named runs, and the Lone Peak Tram that brings advanced skiers and pedestrians to Montana’s highest scenic overlook with views of three states and two national parks on a clear day. Infrastructure highlights include the Madison 8 chair (completed in 2024 and billed as the world’s longest eight-person chair lift), the distinction of having three heated bubble lifts and two eight-person lifts in North America, and an average of more than one acre of terrain per skier, which, as Stacie Harris put it, means on most days “you have much more elbow room than you do at any major destination resort in the U.S.” Terrain runs the gamut from beginner groomed greens and blues—making up roughly 50% of the mountain—to triple-black and hikeable, high-alpine zones; Dawson stresses the value of guides for first-timers and those seeking extreme lines, and he encapsulates the experience with his Fun Scale: “There are two types of fun. Type one is fun in the moment, and type two is fun to look back on when it’s done.” Specific extreme terrain includes the Big Couloir—a 1,400-foot drop with a 50-degree pitch—where checking in with ski patrol, bringing avalanche gear, and skiing with a partner are required. The resort’s typical season (noted for 2024–2025) ran from November 27 through April 27, with the busiest times around the Christmas–New Year week, Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, and Presidents Day weekend; spring (April) is highlighted for festive après and good value. Lift tickets are available via Ikon Pass or directly (day rates vary by season), and day-ticket purchases through the resort now include access to the Lone Peak Tram." - Nina Ruggiero Nina Ruggiero Travel + Leisure Senior Editorial Director Nina Ruggiero oversees T+L's award-winning travel content across digital platforms. She is also the co-founder of Be A Travel Writer, an online course for aspiring travel journalists. When she's not traveling between her current home in Los Angeles and T+L HQ in New York City, Nina can often be found in Italy or the UK. She has lived in NYC, LA, Miami, Rome, and Sicily, and has traveled extensively through Europe, the U.S., Asia, the Caribbean, and Mexico, in addition to visiting Botswana, Morocco, New Zealand, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
