Big Sky, Montana Resort Offers Year-Round Fun

Both summer and winter activities are plentiful in Big Sky, Montana.

Big Sky, Montana entered into the world of skiing just a little more than 30 years ago when the late NBC newscaster, Chet Huntley, conceived and designed the idea for a premiere ski resort in the Rocky Mountains of Montana.

With a location close to Yellowstone National Park and plenty of room for skiing and other sporting pursuits, Big Sky quickly became a favorite resort among outdoor sports enthusiasts. Recently, it was voted the 7th best ski resort in the nation.

The reasons are obvious. Since the time the resort was purchased from Huntley in 1976 by Boyne USA Resorts, the company has invested millions of dollars in improvements to make it one of the most-visited ski resorts in the western United States.

Skiing and Winter Sports
With 400 inches of annual snowfall and 3,500 ski-able acres, the Big Sky, Montana resort welcomes skiers from November through mid-April to come and enjoy their vast terrain.

Skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of 17 lifts, including two high-speed quads, and 85 miles of trails suitable for skiers and boarders of all levels.

But downhill isn't the only snow sport that's popular in the mountains of Montana. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the area on-board a fun and exciting snowmobile, zipping through sites such as the Gallatin National Forest, led by guides who will help you appreciate the flora and fauna that grace the winter woods.

For Nordic enthusiasts, there's plenty of room to go cross-country skiing. Others may want to try their hand at a snowshoe trek and backcountry enthusiasts will find plenty of opportunity to explore the hills and glades popular in backcountry tours.

For something a little tamer, hop aboard a horse-drawn sleigh for a trip through the snow, ending in dinner at a fine restaurant or around a campfire, roasting marshmallows and singing cowboy songs.

Summer Pursuits
In the warm summer months, the waters of Montana beckon visitors to come and enjoy great fly fishing and amazing whitewater rafting trips. The Gallatin River offers huge cutthroat, brown, and rainbow trout and some of the best Class III and IV rapids in the West.

If land sports are your thing, you'll want to enjoy a few rounds of golf at the Arnold Palmer-designed scenic course in Big Sky, Montana. Most resorts also offer tennis courts and the mountain air makes this area a comfortable place to play either sport.

What happens to those miles of ski trails in the summer? They became great riding experiences for avid mountain bikers who love the thrill of off-road, backcountry experiences. Hikers can also enjoy the mountain trails.

Stables in the area also offer horseback riding and there's even a disc golf course for those who want to try their hand at this sport, which is gaining in popularity throughout the country.

Yellowstone is located nearby, so families can combine visits to both, creating a truly wonderful vacation experience.

Accommodations
Any time of year, visitors can choose from a number of different kinds of lodging in and around Big Sky, Montana. Mountain Village resorts offer close proximity to the mountain, boasting ski in/ski out hotels, condominiums, and private homes.

For accommodations that are less costly, consider staying about 8 miles away in the Meadow Village or the Canyon, where the scenery is equally as lovely.

Many Big Sky, Montana lodges and resorts offer special packages year round that include lift passes or ski lessons in the winter or a few rounds of golf in the summer.

Posted by Pat on Wednesday, October 12, 2005