Skiing on an Ikon Pass in Big Sky, Montana

This is probably our 20th year going to Big Sky, Montana, on a couple’s trip. We’ve had five different couples in the mix over the years, but this year we were a group of six.

Three Big Sky Changes for 2026

Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of growth and change in Big Sky. At first, there were two resorts, Big Sky and Moonlight Basin. There’s a third, but it’s off limits to non-billionaire types like us. Big Sky and Moonlight Basin combined years ago, and we’ve become used to iterative improvements to lifts and amenities in Big Sky. This year was especially significant. There’s a brand new Tram that takes you from Midmountain to the top of Lone Mountain. Years ago there was a Gondola, then a tram and now they have a modernized Tram that takes you to a station that has a glass floor where you can stand at 12,000 plus feet and look down to see the entire resort area and miles all around.

The glass floor from the top of Lone Mountain

The second improvement is a new 10-person gondola that takes you just north of the mountain base all the way up to mid-mountain, where the Tram Station is, and also the third new addition — The Igloo Bar. The Gondola has a stop halfway up and one at the end of the gondola. It’s a pretty significant tool for the mountain to get the people spread out from the base. There are now three options — Ram Charger that takes you out to Andesite, Swifty that takes you up to mid mountain, and the gondola that takes you up to mid mountain, about 200 yards away from Swifty. All three are complete with bubbles and heated seats.

The third was the Igloo bar. Although it was a bit expensive for the drinks, as expected, the bar was a fun break for the day. We stopped in and had warm drinks with the music thumping.

New Igloo Bar

Where to Stay

There are basically three areas, and there are plenty of rental units because, unlike some of the mountain towns out west, Big Sky hasn’t zoned the short-term rentals. The areas are the town of Big Sky, Moonlight Basin, and the Mountain Village. The town of Big Sky is about 15 minutes drive from Mountain Village. If you stay there, you’ll have more selections for eating out, live music, etc. But you need reliable AWD or 4WD transportation, or you’ll need to use the free bus system to get to the Mountain Village.

Moonlight Basin has all kinds of mountain homes and townhouses scattered north of Mountain Village. There are ski-in and ski-out options, as there are lifts that take you to different subdivisions. I haven’t stayed there, but we have parked at the base of Moonlight Basin, which can be a fun change of pace if you have only started from Mountain Village.

The Mountain Village has a few hotel-like condo facilities. There are ski-in ski-out options. There are a few stores, ski rental shops, repair shops, restaurants, and a small grocery store. I haven’t stayed in Mountain Village, so I can’t speak to anything that happens after 4 p.m. or so, but we’ve had a lot of fun at Montana Jack’s over the years.

Where to Eat and Drink

For me, it’s pretty simple. Eat at The Riverhouse and Drink at Beehive Basin Brewery. If you get to the Riverhouse in time, you’ll want to get their fried chicken. It’s an incredible value for $7. It comes with three pieces of fried chicken and a couple of sides. They have a nice selection of local beers on tap. Try the Strange Cattle if you like a New England IPA.

Fried Chicken at The Riverhouse

Almost every day after skiing, we stop at Beehive Basin Brewery to fill up our growlers. I choose the Coffee Porter during the winter, and if you go during the summer, the pilsner is great. They give a cash discount and have some great merch. Mostly filled with locals, the staff is always helpful, and you can taste whatever you want before deciding.

Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of restaurants come and go. There are usually good options all around, but we tend to have each couple pick a night to cook, and we pick up groceries at Alberson’s in Bozeman on the way from the airport to Big Sky. Like a lot of mountain towns, the premium on groceries in Big Sky can be high, so it’s better to plan to buy beer, liquor, and groceries in Bozeman.

On the Mountain

We’ve seen it all in Big Sky. I’ve skied -10 degrees with winds cutting through everything you are wearing and lost permanent function in my toes. I’ve also skied plenty of bluebird days with little wind. The runs in Big Sky are fantastic for all levels. When the blues are groomed, I don’t think many resorts can be a match for my favorite kind of skiing. On Andesite Mountain, there is a crop of green runs that are perfect for warm-up laps and for learning. At the crazy end of the spectrum, the runs off Lone Mountain are all blacks, and there are chutes galore, at least from what we’ve seen skiing mid-mountain and down.

Our favorite runs are Elk Park Ridge and Big Horn when the snow is good. Those are great groomed runs with a double blue rating. We love a tree run called Lizette. And for rolling greens/blues, Mr. K and Upper and Lower Morningstar are a ton of fun. If you are on the adventurous side, make your way to the farthest north run called Horseshoe. It’s a couple of miles long and has incredible views of the mountains north and east of Big Sky.