Information about Big Sky, MT

Located half-way between Bozeman, Montana and the western entrance of Yellowstone National Park lies Big Sky, Montana. Renowned for the biggest skiing in America, uncrowded lift lines, rugged peaks, clear mountain streams and it’s endless bounty of recreational opportunities; Big Sky, MT has become a booming destination resort for generations of families.

In the 1960’s famed NBC newscaster Chet Huntley purchased much of what is now known as Big Sky’s Mountain Village. Huntley envisioned building and developing one of Montana’s first ski resorts on the 11,166 foot slopes of majestic Lone Mountain. Construction on the resort began in the early 1970’s and Big Sky Resort opened for skiing in December of 1973. In 1976 the resort was purchased by Boyne USA Resorts who has owned and operated it since.

Today, Big Sky, Montana is home to not only Big Sky Resort, but also shares the slopes of Lone Mountain with Moonlight Basin Resort and Spanish Peaks. The private Yellowstone Club also calls Big Sky home, and with their lifts situated just to the south on Pioneer Mountain.

Winter Season in Big Sky, MT

Although Big Sky is an outdoor paradise no matter what time of year; many visitors to Big Sky choose either the winter or summer seasons to vacation here. The winter season traditionally runs from late-November, through the holidays and into Mid-April. Summer gets into full swing in early-June and lasts late into autumn... usually late September.

Winter in Big Sky, Montana brings the obvious recreational opportunities including alpine and nordic skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. A few other popular activities include snowcoach rides through Yellowstone National Park, horse-drawn sleigh ride dinners, dogsled excursions and night-lit photography expeditions. Winter in Big Sky can be cold, especially during the months of January and February. Average temperatures hover around the 20-degree mark, with the mercury rarely dipping below zero. Big Sky receives a generous portion of snow to fuel your outdoor endeavors... often in excess of 400 inches annually.

Big Sky’s Snow Stats

· Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin offer a combined 4,350 vertical feet of skiing.

The two resorts feature:
· 24 lifts, 220 mapped trails. Longest run is 6 miles with virtually non-existent lift lines.
· Big Sky receives more that 400 inches of snow on an annual basis.
· Big Sky is also home to the private resorts of Spanish Peaks and Yellowstone Club.

Summer Season in Big Sky, MT

Summer season in Big Sky, Montana can be described in one word... perfect! The thermometer climbs to around 60 or 70-degrees, making wildlife viewing a possibility all day long. In early summer, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and many other animals can be found in the low-elevation valleys caring for their newborn young. During mid-May, the Gallatin River experiences the renewing power of spring melting and runoff, setting the stage for blue-ribbon trout fishing just minutes from the Big Sky Town Center. Wildflowers grow abundantly in grassy, mountain meadows and provide a beautiful backdrop to our outstanding alpine trails.

Golf in Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky, MT is home to some of the most scenic mountain golf in the United States. Our area’s championship courses bear the mark of golf’s heavy-hitters including Tom Weiskopf and Jack Nicklaus.

The Big Sky Golf Course is a public, 18-hole course designed by Arnold Palmer.

Moonlight Basin, Spanish Peaks and Yellowstone Club all have private courses available to members and their guests.

Other popular activities during the summer season include the thrills of whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Gallatin River and the earthy pleasure that a trip into Yellowstone National Park (just 15 miles away) brings. Take a horseback ride, or mount another steed - your mountain bike, to explore the Gallatin National Forest and Lee Metcalf Wilderness. Your journey will take you along trails that meander through groves of old-growth pine, Douglas fir and aspen trees. Protruding above the tree line are high-mountain vistas that reward your efforts with grand views of Lone Mountain, the expansive Gallatin and Madison mountain ranges and the Spanish Peaks range.

Big Sky, MT Demographics & Geography

GEOGRAPHY: Big Sky is a census-designated place (CDP) in Gallatin and Madison counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 228.3 square miles (591.2 square km), of which, 228.1 square miles (590.8 square km.) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.4 square km) of it (0.06%) is water.

Just the facts, please

State: Montana
County: Gallatin & Madison
Total Area: 228.3 sq. miles
Elevation: 7,218 ft.
Population (2007): 2,421
Time Zone: Mountain (MST)
ZIP Code: 59716
Area Code: 406

Big Sky Community Profile

Download our in-depth study of the Big Sky community.
Download PDF file (1.3 MB) DEMOGRAPHICS: Estimated full-time population is currently 4,000. Seasonal population can exceed 15,000 on peak days. Most recent Gallatin County population estimate is 87,359 (July 1, 2007), which represents an increase of 28% over the 2000 census population of 68,278. (source: Gallatin County Planning Department) Population of nearby West Yellowstone is estimated at 1,300 full-time residents. (source: West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce)

Over 3200 housing units completed and over 5000 units that are proposed, platted, or remaining to be constructed through master plans. (source: 2006 “Estimate of Residential Units Big Sky, Montana” compiled by Simkins Holdings, LLC)