Winter in Big Sky

Big Sky Resort is scheduled to open for the 2026-27 season on Wednesday, November 25. The resort will post opening-day terrain closer to the date, so check its conditions page before you finalize travel plans.

The resort has 5,850 acres of skiable terrain across four connected mountains and a 4,350-foot vertical drop. Lone Peak tops out at 11,166 feet, and the base at Mountain Village sits at 7,500 feet. The Lone Peak Tram runs to the summit.

Big Sky Resort lists its average annual snowfall at more than 400 inches. For what's on the ground right now, the resort's snow report is the best check.

It's about an hour from Bozeman, south on Highway 191 through Gallatin Canyon, and you should add time when the roads are snowy. Carry chains or have all-wheel drive from winter through spring, cell service in the canyon is spotty, and gas stations along the route are sparse, so fill up in Bozeman. If you'd rather not drive, private shuttles run door to door from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, and the Skyline Bus runs between Bozeman and Town Center.

Yes, mostly. The Skyline Bus gives free rides between the slopes and Town Center, and shuttles run every few minutes from the Mountain Village lots between 8 AM and 6 PM in winter. Uber and Lyft aren't available in Big Sky.

Snowshoeing, cross-country trails, backcountry touring, and snowmobile tours all get people outside. In the evenings, Town Center and Mountain Village have fireside dining and a local after-ski scene. At the top of Lone Peak, Kircliff is a two-story glass observation deck at 11,166 feet with views of more than ten mountain ranges, two national parks, and three states. Check the resort for its current operating days.

Mountain Village is the base area for Big Sky Resort. Moonlight Basin and Spanish Peaks Mountain Club each have their own skiing too.

Several of Yellowstone's five entrance stations are closed to regular vehicles in winter, and the National Park Service lists most park roads as open mid-April through October 31. Highway 191 runs south from Big Sky to West Yellowstone, and bus service from Bozeman to West Yellowstone runs all year. Check the park's site for current road status before you go.