Big Sky Resort is gearing up for the 2026/2027 season, and the lifts spin daily from November 25, 2026 through April 11, 2027, with bonus weekends April 16 to 18 and April 23 to 25, conditions permitting.
Big Sky was just named SKI Magazine's number one resort in the West, Expedia's 2026 Destination of the Year, and Conde Nast Traveler's number two ski resort in the US. But the fun does not end on the slopes. Here are ten ways to fill a Big Sky winter bucket list, with current contact details for every one.
1. Ski the Slopes at Big Sky Resort
Address: 50 Big Sky Resort Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (800) 548-4486
Website: bigskyresort.com
5,850 acres. 4,350 vertical feet. 320 named runs across four mountains. 40 lifts. Seven terrain parks. With roughly an acre per skier on a busy day, the scale translates into elbow room rather than lift lines.
Two things changed that matter this season. The Lone Peak Tram and Kircliff are now included with every lift ticket, where the tram used to be a separate per-ride fee. And Ikon and Mountain Collective passholders no longer need reservations, though those passes do not cover the tram, so enable Tram Autocharge before you travel.
Sharpen your skills at the Mountain Sports School, which runs private and group lessons, guided experiences, adaptive programs, and kids seasonal programs from age 3. Then buy lift tickets early for the lowest rates.
Start planning with our guide to the Best Time to Ski Big Sky, and let us handle the logistics with gear delivered to your door at a 15% guest discount.
2. Cross-Country Ski the Nordic Trails
Big Sky Nordic Center at Big Sky Golf Course
Address: 2100 Black Otter Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-5780
Lone Mountain Ranch Nordic Center
Address: 750 Lone Mountain Ranch Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-4644
Website: lonemountainranch.com
Classic cross-country or skate skiing, and both are genuinely beginner-friendly. The Big Sky Nordic Center in Meadow Village connects to the trail network at Lone Mountain Ranch, repeatedly voted the top Nordic ski destination in North America, with roughly 85km of groomed trails between them. Lessons and rentals are available for the whole family, and it is one of the few winter sports where you can be competent by lunchtime. See our Nordic skiing and snowshoeing guide.
3. Book a Sleigh Ride Dinner at Lone Mountain Ranch
Address: 750 Lone Mountain Ranch Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-4644
Season: December through March
Book online: lonemountainranch.com/sleigh-ride-dinner
The legendary Lone Mountain Ranch sleigh ride takes you off the beaten path on a moonlit ride to a family-style dinner at the historic North Fork Cabin. Oil lanterns, honey moonshine, a feast cooked over an old railroad stove, and live entertainment from cowboy singer storytellers. It is the single most requested experience on our guest list every winter, and it sells out weeks in advance. Book the moment your dates are confirmed. See more sleigh ride options.
4. Learn to Drive a Dogsled
Spirit of the North Sled Dog Adventures
Phone: (406) 682-7994
Area: Big Sky and Moonlight Basin
Yellowstone Dog Sled Adventures
Address: 2300 Taylor Fork Rd, Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730
Phone: (406) 580-0053
Snuggle into a sled under a blanket, or take the runners and learn to drive your own team. These are working kennels with high-drive Alaskan huskies, and the guides will genuinely teach you the commands rather than just seating you in a basket. Expect hot chocolate at the halfway point and puppies if the timing is right. The access roads are snow-covered, so bring an AWD vehicle. More on dogsledding in Big Sky.
5. Snowmobile the Gallatin National Forest
Canyon Adventures
Address: 47200 Gallatin Rd, Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730
Phone: (406) 995-4450
Hours: Daily 8 AM to 5 PM
Alpine Adventures
Address: 47650 Gallatin Rd, Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730
Phone: (406) 580-3812
Hours: Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM, closed Sunday
Summit All Terrain Rentals
Address: 42895 Gallatin Rd, Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730
Phone: (406) 581-5086
Hours: Daily 8 AM to 4 PM
Over 100 miles of groomed trails plus endless backcountry make the Gallatin National Forest a top snowmobiling destination. Rent and ride on your own, or take a guided tour with someone who knows the region intimately. Most operators supply full gear, which matters more than you think at 30 miles per hour in February. Early season can be thin on snow at lower elevations, so ask about conditions when you book. See our snowmobiling guide.
6. Snowshoe or Fat Bike the Winter Trails
Gallatin Alpine Sports
Address: 169 Snowy Mountain Circle, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-2313
Hours: Daily 9 AM to 6 PM
Website: gallatinalpinesports.com
East Slope Outdoors
Address: 44 Town Center Ave, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-4369
Hours: Monday to Saturday 8 AM to 7 PM, Sunday 8 AM to 6 PM
If you can walk, you can snowshoe, which makes it the most accessible activity on this list. Local favorites: the easy Ousel Falls Trail with a frozen waterfall at the end, scenic Beehive Basin, and Moose Tracks Gully in Mountain Village. Fat biking is the other option worth trying, and it is more fun than it looks. Both shops rent gear and will tell you honestly which trails are riding well that week.
7. Take a Winter Tour of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Vacation Tours
Address: 415 Yellowstone Ave, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Phone: (406) 646-9564
Hours: Daily 8 AM to 5 PM
SeeYellowstone
Address: 211 Yellowstone Ave, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Phone: (800) 221-1151
Hours: Monday to Friday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Yellowstone Expeditions (multi-day yurt camp ski trips)
Address: 536 Firehole Ave, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Phone: (406) 646-9333
Yellowstone in winter is a different park: geysers steaming against snow, bison shaking off frost, wolves visible against white, and a fraction of the summer crowds. Big Sky sits about 50 miles from the West Entrance, which makes it an ideal base. Choose from heated snowcoach tours to Old Faithful, guided snowmobile trips, wolf and wildlife safaris, or cross-country ski tours through Lamar Valley. Winter capacity is genuinely limited, so book early. See all Yellowstone winter tours departing from Big Sky.
8. Dine in a Montana Mountain Yurt
The Montana Dinner Yurt
Address: 50 Big Sky Resort Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-3880
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, seatings from 6:30 PM; closed Monday and Tuesday
Website: bigskyyurt.com
The evening starts with a snowcat ride up the mountain and ends with a candlelit dinner in a yurt tucked into the trees. Between those bookends: soup on arrival, sledding for the kids, two fire pits on a big deck, a multi-course dinner with steak and salmon options, live acoustic guitar, and a quiet ride back down under the stars. Bring your own wine or beer. Popular dates sell out by Thanksgiving, so this is another one to book the day you confirm your trip. Dress warmer than you think you need to.
9. Skate and Explore Big Sky Town Center
Marty Pavelich Ice Rink
Location: Big Sky Town Center
Cost: Free open skating
Skate rentals: East Slope Outdoors, 44 Town Center Ave, (406) 995-4369
Schedule: Big Sky Community Organization
Town Center sits about 7 miles from Big Sky Resort in Meadow Village and holds the deepest concentration of shops, restaurants and apres bars in the valley. At the center of it, the Marty Pavelich Ice Rink offers free public skating, with rentals steps away and a weekly schedule posted by the Big Sky Community Organization. You may catch a local hockey game or a curling league in progress. Check signage at the rink, since it can supersede the posted schedule.
Mark your calendar: after a hiatus in 2026, Best in the West Skijoring returns in February 2027 at a brand-new venue in the heart of Town Center on Aspen Leaf Drive, with a course built for better spectating. Horses pulling skiers over jumps is exactly as wild as it sounds. Town Center also hosts the Christmas Stroll and other seasonal festivals, plus the Spring Series, which turns The Bowl into an open-air amphitheater for four Saturdays in April.
10. Eat and Drink Your Way Through Big Sky
Between Mountain Village, Meadow Village and Town Center, you are spoiled for choice: family-friendly restaurants, fine dining, slopeside apres, whiskey bars and tasting rooms, live music, and local Montana breweries.
Start with our updated guides to the best restaurants in Big Sky Town Center and the best apres ski in Big Sky, plus the full dining and grocery guide.
Local's tip: the Skyline Bus runs zero-fare service connecting Town Center, Meadow Village and Mountain Village, so nobody has to draw the short straw as designated driver.
Bonus: Relax and Unwind in the Montana Mountains
Big Sky consistently ranks among the best small mountain towns in the US. The crisp air, the natural beauty, and the sheer amount of untouched landscape make doing nothing a legitimate agenda item.
Our collection of luxury vacation rentals sits in Big Sky's finest resort lodging neighborhoods, with gourmet kitchens, game rooms, roaring fireplaces, fire pits, and private outdoor hot tubs looking out at the mountains. Browse ski-in ski-out rentals, multi-family homes, pet-friendly properties, or our Platinum Properties.
Ready to Book?
Big Sky Vacation Rentals
Address: 1569 Lone Mountain Trail, Suite 161490, Big Sky, MT 59716
Toll Free: 888-915-2787
Email: Contact our team
Website: bookbigsky.com
Check current specials, browse all Big Sky vacation rentals, or download our Big Sky Vacation Guide app. We look forward to welcoming you to Big Sky this winter.
Operator hours, seasons, phone numbers and pricing are current as of publication and subject to change. Winter activities are weather dependent. Please confirm directly with each operator before booking.