Social Distancing Comes Naturally in Montana’s Big Sky

Big Sky is all about being outside, having fun while social distancing in the great outdoors. That includes everything from rivers, lakes, waterfalls and mountains to vast alpine meadows. As you drive through Gallatin Canyon, you’ll pass panoramas of high alpine meadows before cruising alongside the Gallatin River and you’ll soon realize that Big Sky has plenty of room to roam. As you venture deeper into the canyon, no one is around, but you may spot deer, elk, moose, bear and bighorn sheep. On the mountain, you’ll never find long lines for the lifts —Big Sky has more than an acre per skier on average —providing ample amounts crowd-free fun. Restaurants offer online orders and take out, while ski in/ski out condos or luxurious ranch cabins can provide a place to unwind as you distance from other travelers.

Sky’s the Limit in America’s Biggest Little Ski Town

Big Sky is a winter wonderland for skiers and snowboarders, averaging more than 400 inches of snowfall on its 5,850 skiable acres and 300 named runs on four connected mountains. Big Sky is the third largest ski resort in North America and has the most consistent powder in the Rockies. Ski terrain ranges from the famed Big Couloir, a triple-black diamond run to challenge even the experts, to more than 2,300 acres of gentle slopes perfect for beginner and intermediate levels. Big Sky has 38 lifts capable of carrying more than 38,000 skiers per hour with the most cutting-edge lift system on the continent. Beginning this season, the newly upgraded Swift Current 6 chairlift will whisk skiers 1,200 feet per minute in a heated, weatherproof, six-person dome – the fastest six-person chairlift in North America. The Lone Peak Tram carries skiers to the summit of the 11,166-foot Lone Peak, where 300 degrees of skiing are accessible including the six-mile, 4,350 vertical foot Liberty Bowl to Mountain Mall run.

Exploring Big Sky Country for Non-Skiers

Love a winter wonderland adventure but aren’t into skiing? Big Sky caters to all types of travelers with plenty of other activities such as horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing or snowmobiles to ramble through the white wilderness. In the heart of Big Sky, you can enjoy 85-kilometers of cross-country ski trails at Lone Mountain Ranch. Dog sledding is available with a team of friendly huskies who live to run through the snow blanketed forest. Snow-coach and snow-mobile tours to Yellowstone National Park are offered in the winter season so you can sit back and let experts lead the way. Ice-skate at the town center on a full-size hockey and ice rink and even enjoy some sledding behind the Town Center (insider tip: sleds can be purchased at the grocery store). Yoga and group exercise classes are available year-round, as well as numerous options for shopping and luxurious spa treatments. For those interested in history, the Crail Ranch Homestead Museum tells the story of Big Sky’s first ranching family which worked the land for half a century before TV News Anchor Chet Huntley purchased the land and began what would become Big Sky.

A River Runs Through Big Sky

Surrounded by an abundance of rivers, alpine lakes and mountain streams, Big Sky is a world-class blue ribbon trout fishing mecca. Southwest Montana is home to a network of wild rivers including the Madison, Big Hole, Yellowstone and the headwaters of the Missouri. But the most famous is Big Sky’s legendary Gallatin River, where scenes from “A River Runs Through It”, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2022, were filmed. Rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, brown trout and cutthroat trout are some of the species of fish to be found year-round in the Gallatin, where experts estimate the fish population from Spanish Creek to Yellowstone National Park to range from approximately 2,500 to 3,000 fish per mile. Novice and seasoned visitors may want to hire a flyfishing guide to teach you everything from the perfect casting techniques to the best fishing holes and which flies to throw during a specific time of year for the best results.

Big Sky is Nature’s Wellness Sanctuary

Tucked away in southwest Montana, Big Sky is filled with heart nourishing natural beauty in every direction. Travelers in pursuit of enhancing a healthy lifestyle can nurture their mind, body and spirit with deep breaths of crisp mountain air, bask in the beauty of picture-perfect postcard views, and soak away stress in a nearby healing hot springs. Those needing a dose of pampering can indulge in a restorative massage, facial or pool time to bliss out at a full-service spa. Slow-paced travel may be as simple as getting a good night’s sleep in a quiet mountain town, taking time to read a good book, alpine forest bathing or an outdoor yoga class with awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain vistas that remind us to be in the present.

Big Sky Dining and Après Ski

Whether you need to fuel up before or after hitting the slopes, or you just come for the après ski culture, Big Sky’s gastronomic scene will warm your belly. Mountain-inspired food is all about hearty indulgence (elk bolognaise, anyone?) and it’s not hard to find locally sourced game and fish, five-course meals or even a rustically elegant bistro perched 8,800 feet above sea level. There are also many causal options to delight your inner foodie, including a gourmet hotdog stand, a food emporium offering everything from sushi to street tacos or a family-friendly tavern serving up the best barbeque in the Rockies. Quaint bars offer diverse hand-crafted cocktails and wine menus while relaxing next to a warm fire, and local breweries serve up crisp, cold beer. Unique dining experiences include a slope-side dinner in a casually elegant yurt, accessed by snowcat. For the ultimate hygge experience, hop on a horse-drawn sleigh for a ride through a winter wonderland under starry skies to a cozy oil-lantern-lit cabin for a prime rib dinner.

The Luxury of Big Sky

From high-end lodging to high-concept dining and everything in between, Big Sky’s luxury truly knows no bounds. The Montage Big Sky will bring 150 luxurious and artfully designed guest rooms to complement 39 finely appointed residences and an array of high-end amenities and guest services by December 2021. Big Sky Resort’s Summit Hotel and Huntley Lodge are performing complete renovations, updating guest rooms and common spaces with a lighter, sleeker, luxe aesthetic across all rooms and common spaces. The recent lodging news joins a wide array of sophisticated condos, cabins, and homes available throughout the area which are accessible to skiing at Big Sky Resort. Other upscale experiences include Lone Mountain Ranch, which caters to travelers who want a taste of rustic-luxe Montana with Dude-Ranch packages that include Nordic ski lessons, kayak, and paddle boarding or sunset horseback rides with wine tastings. Explore the geologic wonders of nearby Yellowstone National Park with a first-class private tour in a stylish SUV or sprinter van. These outfitters will take you on a journey to explore the vastness of the park on a trip specially curated to fit the needs, interests, and ambitions of your group. Modern fine dining is found throughout the community as well as longtime icons such as Rainbow Ranch and Buck’s 4-T Ranch which still delights diners with scrumptious meals.