Big Sky
5,850 acres, 317 runs in Montana. Lone Peak Tram, 4,364ft vertical, Ikon Pass access.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
25 Nov 2026
Closes
25 Apr 2027
Days open
151
Annual snow
400in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Big Sky's summit reaches 11,165 feet, dropping 4,364 vertical feet to a base at 6,801 feet across 317 runs spread over 5,850 acres in Montana. Terrain splits 35 per cent advanced, 25 per cent intermediate, 22 per cent beginner and 18 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 400 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective access and markets itself as America's biggest skiing by acreage. Forty lifts, including an aerial tram, a gondola, seven quad chairs and nine triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside five double chairs, an eight-person chair, three six-person chairs, eight surface lifts and five t-bars.
Big Sky's 4,364-foot vertical drop and vast 5,850-acre terrain footprint place it among the largest ski resorts in North America, with the Lone Peak Tram providing access to some of the most dramatic expert terrain in the country. Its Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective access has transformed the resort from a Montana curiosity into a genuine national destination. The sheer scale of the lift network, forty lifts across the combined terrain, reflects decades of expansion since the resort's modest 1970s origins.
Big Sky was founded by Montana native Chet Huntley, the recently retired co-anchor of NBC's Huntley-Brinkley Report, who returned to his home state to develop the resort after leaving broadcasting. Big Sky opened for its first winter season in 1973, but Huntley died of lung cancer on 20 March 1974, just three days before the resort's official dedication. Ski industry pioneer Everett Kircher, owner of Michigan-based Boyne Resorts, purchased Big Sky in 1976 for 8.5 million US dollars.
The resort's most significant recent expansion came in October 2013, when Boyne Resorts purchased neighbouring Moonlight Basin, including the terrain of Spanish Peaks, bringing the combined resort's total acreage to more than 5,850 acres. Adult daily tickets run from 98 to 222 US dollars using dynamic pricing, reflecting Big Sky's position as one of the premier destination resorts in the American West.
4,364ft
Vertical
317
Runs
5,850 acres
Skiable
400in
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
317 runs across 5,850 acres skiable
Big Sky spreads 5,850 acres (2,367 hectares) of lift-served terrain across 317 runs, making it one of the largest ski areas in the United States. The mountain climbs from 6,800 ft (2,073 m) to 11,170 ft (3,403 m) at the top of Lone Peak, a vertical drop of 4,360 ft (1,330 m). The split is 22% beginner, 25% intermediate, 35% advanced and 18% expert, so it tilts towards confident skiers. Average snowfall is around 400 inches a year, and the lift network ranges from a gondola and eight-person chair to the aerial tram, 40 lifts in all.
The Lone Peak Tram opens the steepest ground, including the Big Couloir, which requires a partner, avalanche gear and a signed waiver at the top. Dakota Territory adds about 212 acres of black diamond glades, chutes and high bowls beside Liberty Bowl, while Challenger is a favourite for consistent expert tree skiing. Wide groomed runs on the lower mountain and Moonlight Basin side keep green circle and blue square skiers busy. Big Sky suits advanced and expert riders wanting size and steeps, plus strong intermediates and families who will happily chase groomers all day. Ikon and Mountain Collective passes both cover it.
Terrain split
317
runs
317 runs across 4 grades
Beginner70 runs · 22%
Intermediate79 runs · 25%
Advanced111 runs · 35%
Expert57 runs · 18%
Time it right
When to visit Big Sky
The 2025-26 season at Big Sky ran from 28 November 2025 to 27 April 2026, a roughly twenty-two-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 400 inches. This substantial snowfall, combined with the resort's enormous 5,850-acre footprint, supports reliable conditions across a genuinely vast range of terrain throughout the season. Season dates can shift slightly depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across Big Sky's varied terrain, from beginner slopes to the extreme runs accessed via the Lone Peak Tram. As an Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective destination, the resort draws substantial national and international visitor traffic, with holiday periods bringing the heaviest crowds, though the sheer scale of the terrain helps disperse visitors more effectively than at smaller resorts.
The resort's identity as America's biggest skiing by acreage continues to shape its marketing and visitor expectations each season. Boyne Resorts' ownership since 1976, and the transformative 2013 Moonlight Basin acquisition, have together built Big Sky into one of the premier destination resorts in the American West. School holiday periods bring particularly strong demand given the resort's national visibility.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Founder Chet Huntley's vision for the resort, realised only after his death just before its 1974 dedication, remains part of Big Sky's founding story referenced throughout its history. The resort's combination of vast scale and extreme terrain continues to define its position among North America's leading ski destinations each season.
Season 2026 - 2027
25 Nov 2026
Opens
25 Apr 2027
Closes
151
Days open
400 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Big Sky
Daily snow reports at Big Sky go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
14 in
Snowiest day
6 Mar 2026
21 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
230 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Big Sky, and where to stay
Big Sky sits in southwestern Montana, with a base elevation of 6,801 feet and a summit at 11,165 feet across a 4,364-foot vertical drop over 5,850 acres. This puts the resort within reach of Yellowstone National Park and the broader Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, one of the most scenic settings of any major North American ski resort.
The town of Big Sky, developed largely around the resort, provides extensive lodging, dining and services close to the mountain, while Bozeman, roughly 45 minutes away, offers a larger regional city with its own airport and amenities. Yellowstone National Park's northern entrances lie within a reasonable drive, giving visitors an additional draw beyond skiing during shoulder seasons.
US Highway 191 connects Bozeman to Big Sky, providing the main route for visitors approaching from the north. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though it is well maintained given the resort's status as a major destination. Local shuttle and transit options within the Big Sky area reduce the need for a vehicle once visitors arrive.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, roughly 45 minutes from the resort, offers direct flights from numerous major US cities, making Big Sky one of the more air-accessible destination resorts in the Rocky Mountain West. This convenient combination of a major airport and a relatively short drive has supported the resort's growth into a genuine national and international ski destination.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Big Sky, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
Arapahoe Basin Opens First for North America’s 2026/27 Ski Season
Winter has officially started in North America, and it is one blue run long. On Wednesday 28 October, Arapahoe Basin fired up the Black Mountain Express at around 10:30 am after a surprise announcement just hours earlier, becoming the first major North American resort open for 2026/27. Cold nights, a dusting of natural snow and a lot of snowmaking made it happen in the resort’s 80th winter. More terrain is promised as the snow guns keep running.
28 Oct 2026
Big Sky Trail Map
Downloadable Big Sky trail map
Terrain split
317
runs
Beginner22%
Intermediate25%
Advanced35%
Expert18%
5,850 acres skiable2,367 hectares
Resort Stats
Elevation
Base6,801ft
Summit11,165ft
Annual snowfall
400in
Season
2026 - 2027
25 Nov 2026 - 25 Apr 2027
Trail coverage
317 runs
5,850 acres (2,367 ha)
About Big Sky's trail map
Explore Big Sky's full trail map with 317 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗
More Big Sky intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.