Big Sky Ski Guide (2026/27): Opening Day, Lift Tickets, Lone Peak Tram, Hotels, Dining & Getting There

The back story

Season 2026/27: Opening for winter 25 November 2026 (bigskyresort.com) · Ski area: 5,850 acres, 320 named runs, 40 lifts; 4,350 ft vertical · Top viewpoint: Lone Peak, 11,166 ft: Kircliff glass observatory, by Explorer Gondola and Tram · Lift tickets: From $84, Tram included (2026/27); Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective · Nearest airport: Bozeman (BZN), about an hour (bigskyresort.com)

The back story

Big Sky: the back story

Big Sky·In depth

A broadcaster’s dream in the Montana mountains, a family company that built lift after lift, and a tram to the top of Lone Peak.

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Lift passes, ski schools and hire

From $84, Tram included

Big Sky lift tickets, 2026/27

Big Sky·Lift tickets·€€€

Big Sky lift tickets start at $84, with the Lone Peak Tram included; the earlier you buy, the more you save.

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11,166 ft summit

Lone Peak Tram and Kircliff

Big Sky·Signature lift and observatory·€€€

The Lone Peak Tram climbs to the 11,166-foot summit, where Kircliff’s glass observatory looks across three states and two national parks.

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Nearly 600 acres of beginner terrain

Big Sky Mountain Sports School

Big Sky·Ski and snowboard school·€€€€

Group lessons from age 3, private lessons and guides, teen days, night skiing by headlamp and camps with Dan Egan.

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Nearly 600 acres

Big Sky beginner terrain

Big Sky·Beginner area·€€

Nearly 600 acres of beginner terrain, so first-timers have real room to progress.

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Save up to 25% online

Big Sky Sports Rentals

Big Sky·Ski and snowboard hire·€€€

Rentals from $78 and demos at Mountain Village and the Madison Base, with delivery and up to 25 per cent off booked online.

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5,850 acres, 4,350 ft vertical

Big Sky mountain

Big Sky·Ski area·€€€

5,850 acres and 320 named runs on 300 degrees of Lone Peak, served by 40 lifts.

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Where to stay, every budget

Who it suits. On a budget: A room at the Huntley Lodge or Shoshone, tickets bought early from $84, Vista Hall for meals and Skyline’s zero-fare buses. Mid-range: A Village Center condo, lessons on nearly 600 acres of beginner terrain, and après at the Umbrella Bar. Luxury: Montage Big Sky or a Lone Mountain Ranch cabin, the tasting menu at M by The Alinea Group and dinner at Everett’s 8800.

Ski-in/ski-out at Spanish Peaks · In depth

Montage Big Sky

Big Sky·Luxury resort·€€€€

A ski-in/ski-out resort under the Spanish Peaks with the 11,000 sq ft Spa Montage, a 2,978 sq ft indoor pool, plunge pools and steam rooms, Cortina and Beartooth Pub & Rec.

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Mountain Village · In depth

Summit Hotel

Big Sky·Resort hotel·€€€€

Big Sky Resort’s slopeside hotel in Mountain Village, with the Refuge wellness area of Himalayan salt sauna and indoor/outdoor hot tub, Peaks Chophouse and rental fitting on site.

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Big Sky’s landmark since 1973

Huntley Lodge

Big Sky·Resort hotel·€€

The resort’s original, slopeside hotel, with rooms sleeping up to eight, a pool and hot tub, and the famous breakfast buffet.

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Kitchens and balconies

Shoshone Condominium Hotel

Big Sky·Condominium hotel·€€

Hotel service with condo comfort: kitchens, living areas and balconies, slopeside and linked to the Huntley Lodge.

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Direct access to the slopes · In depth

Village Center

Big Sky·Condominium hotel·€€€

Studios to three-bedroom suites in the heart of Big Sky’s Mountain Village, some opening straight onto the slopes, with an outdoor pool and hot tubs, ski valet and rental delivery.

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Cabins and 80 km of Nordic trails · In depth

Lone Mountain Ranch

Big Sky·Guest ranch·€€€€

A historic guest ranch near Big Sky with luxury log cabins, 85 km of groomed Nordic trails, in-cabin massage, Horn & Cantle, the Saloon and the Auric Room supper club.

750 Lone Mountain Ranch Road, Big Sky, MT 59716Explore View on map

Restaurants and mountain huts

Chef Grant Achatz, 10 Dec 2026 – 3 Apr 2027

M by The Alinea Group

Big Sky·Tasting menu·€€€€

Grant Achatz’s multi-course tasting-menu residency returns for a second winter, from 10 December 2026 to 3 April 2027.

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8,800 feet on Andesite Mountain

Everett’s 8800

Big Sky·Mountain fine dining·€€€€

Fine dining at the top of Andesite Mountain, reached by the Ramcharger 8; lunch daily, dinner Wednesday to Saturday.

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Award-winning wine selection

Peaks Chophouse & Wine Lounge

Big Sky·Chophouse·€€€€

A modern chophouse with an award-winning wine selection in Mountain Village.

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Mountain Village

Westward Social

Big Sky·Montana comfort food·€€€

Lunch, dinner and après with elevated Montana comfort food and craft cocktails.

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Seven cuisines

Vista Hall

Big Sky·Food hall·€€

An all-day food hall with seven cuisines, from breakfast to après, with indoor and outdoor seating.

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Historic Huntley Lodge

Huntley Dining Room

Big Sky·Breakfast buffet·€€

An iconic daily breakfast buffet in the historic Huntley Lodge.

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Live music weekly

Montana Jack

Big Sky·Taphouse·€€

Craft burgers and beers in a lively taphouse, with live music every week.

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In the Huntley Lodge

Chet’s Bar & Grill

Big Sky·Family tavern·€€

A family-friendly tavern with homestyle Montana food.

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Après-ski and bars

In the Bowl, below the Tram

Iglu Big Sky

Big Sky·Snow and ice bar·€€€

A bar built entirely of snow and ice in the Bowl at the base of the Tram, reached on foot from the Explorer Gondola.

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360-degree views

Umbrella Bar, Big Sky

Big Sky·Glass après bar·€€

European-style après in an all-glass enclosure with 360-degree views.

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Patio facing Lone Peak

Carabiner Lounge

Big Sky·Lounge·€€€

A lounge with a patio looking up at Lone Peak.

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Madison Base

Headwaters Grille

Big Sky·Slopeside bar and grill·€€

A slopeside bar, grill and patio at the Madison Base.

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Since 1946

Buck’s T-4 saloon

Big Sky·Roadhouse bar·€€

The roadhouse’s game room and pizza saloon, famous for live performances and New Year’s Eve parties.

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Shops

Huntley Lodge Sunken Lobby

Huntley Trading Post

Big Sky·Gift and logo shop·€€

Big Sky logo goods, unique souvenirs and gifts for children in the Huntley Lodge.

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Snowcrest Building, Mountain Village

Big Sky Sports

Big Sky·Ski shop·€€€

The resort’s ski shop and rental centre in the Snowcrest Building, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Village Center

The Rider’s Room

Big Sky·Snowboard shop·€€€

Snowboard demos in the Village Center, Mountain Village.

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Roasted in Bozeman

Treeline Coffee Roasters

Big Sky·Coffee roaster·€

Single-origin, seasonal coffee roasted locally in Bozeman, with a café at the resort.

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Madison Base

Madison Base Rentals & Demos

Big Sky·Ski shop·€€€

Rentals and demos at the Madison Base, 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

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Spas and wellness

Indoor pool

Spa Montage Big Sky

Big Sky·Resort spa·€€€€

Spa Montage at Montage Big Sky, with signature Elements of Wellness treatments and an indoor pool.

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Huntley Lodge, from 25 November

Solace Spa & Recovery Lounge

Big Sky·Resort spa·€€€

Massages, facials and body treatments in the Huntley Lodge, with a recovery lounge of Therabody equipment.

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Getting there

About an hour from Big Sky

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

Big Sky·Airport

Non-stop flights from 19 cities and 21 airports, many arriving early enough for same-day skiing; Big Sky is about an hour away.

850 Gallatin Field Rd, Suite 6, Belgrade, MT 59714Explore View on map
Big Sky and the Bozeman Link

Skyline Bus

Big Sky·Public buses

Big Sky’s public bus: zero-fare local service around Big Sky and a low-fare Link to Bozeman.

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Bozeman to Big Sky and West Yellowstone

Karst Stage

Big Sky·Airport shuttle

Bozeman’s motorcoach shuttle company, with airport shuttles to Big Sky and West Yellowstone; reservations required.

511 North Wallace Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59715Explore View on map
No Uber or Lyft in Big Sky

Big Sky airport transfers

Big Sky·Shuttles and private drivers

Big Sky Resort lists more than a dozen shuttle and private-car firms for the drive from Bozeman; rideshare apps do not operate in Big Sky.

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Property: the neighbourhoods

The resort base

Mountain Village

Big Sky·Neighbourhood

The heart of Big Sky Resort, with the Huntley Lodge, Summit Hotel, Village Center and the Explorer Gondola.

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The second base

Madison Base

Big Sky·Neighbourhood

Big Sky’s second base area, with Headwaters Grille and its own rental shop.

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Below the Spanish Peaks

Spanish Peaks

Big Sky·Neighbourhood

The area around Montage Big Sky, framed by the Spanish Peaks.

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Shops and services

Big Sky Town Center

Big Sky·Neighbourhood

The town centre below the resort, linked to Mountain Village by Skyline buses.

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On the Skyline routes

Meadow Village

Big Sky·Neighbourhood

A Big Sky neighbourhood served, with Town Center, by Skyline’s buses and on-demand rides.

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