Big Sky Resort
Ski resort · Big Sky
50 Big Sky Resort Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Highlights
Expansive mountain destination with 300+ runs, dining & spa
Expansive mountain destination with 300+ runs, dining & spa
"The local ski area dramatically influences peak-season demand—its proximity to nearby lodgings pushes Christmas-time reservations to be both scarcer and more expensive—and it anchors winter Nordic offerings and horse-drawn sleigh-ride experiences in the region." - Brad Japhe Brad Japhe Brad Japhe is a journalist specializing in food, beverage, and travel. He also hosts online video content as an expert in those fields. He’s reported from all 50 states and has visited all seven continents. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Ranked No. 8 on Bounce's 2024 list of the most beautiful ski spots, highlighted as one of the larger, scenic mountain resorts in the United States." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"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
"The resort recently debuted the Madison 8 eight-place chairlift, which replaced the former Six Shooter lift on the Moonlight Basin side; with an incline length of 8,631 feet it is billed as the world's longest eight-passenger chairlift, and the mountain now claims to be North America's only ski destination with three bubble D-line lifts and two eight-place lifts. Troy Nedved, the resort's president and COO, said, "Since the 2025 plan was announced nine years ago, we've had an ambition to create North America's most technologically advanced lift network," and added, "Madison 8, our twelfth new lift installed since 2016, certainly makes this a reality." Skiers and riders can explore 5,850 acres of skiable terrain across 320 named runs, from gentle green groomers to expert-only chutes, with trail breakdowns of 21 percent beginner, 14 percent intermediate, 15 percent advanced-intermediate, 31 percent advanced, 11 percent expert, and eight percent reserved for "extreme" skiers and riders, plus five terrain parks for freestylers. Planned upgrades under the 2025 plan include an Explorer Gondola expected to come online in the winter 2025/2026 season to replace the current Explorer chairlift, a new gondola mid-station that will expand the Mountain Sports School with new magic carpets and easy terrain for beginners, and a new food-and-beverage hub at the connection point between the gondola and tram that will house several dining outlets — including fine dining, new bars, and comfort-food options — all featuring floor-to-ceiling glass windows with panoramic views of Lone Peak." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Montana's Big Sky Resort has introduced new six- and eight-person chairs to reduce wait times."
