Big Sky, Montana - Not Just a Ski Town!
Jacket linked here
Big Sky is an area in Southern Montana known for being home to the ‘Biggest Skiing in America”. But if you aren’t into skiing don’t let that deter you from visiting, because the main attraction is not the resort, but rather the entire area. Big Sky is touted as a mountain getaway for every season, full of endless adventure opportunities and things to do. And while this is true for 49 out of the 52 weeks of the year, when we arrived at the beginning of November, we did not know that the first 3 weeks of November are considered pretty dead. Many resorts and businesses close for a few weeks to prepare for the winter season. While we still had a great time, I think it’s important to share this info regarding the month of November, as the resorts and restaurants themselves rarely had their seasonal shut-down dates listed on their sites or social media.
After having explored Paradise Valley prior to Big Sky, we were amazed at how the landscape could look so different over the mountain. Where Paradise Valley had golden rolling hills as you drove alongside the Yellowstone River, Big Sky was packed with gorgeous tall green trees along the Gallatin River.
WHERE TO STAY (non ski resort options)
320 GUEST RANCH - We adored everything about this historical ranch! It sits on 320 acres of land (hence the name) along the Gallatin River, with beautiful views, charming cabins, and a family-run staff that makes you feel so welcome. We loved that we had our own little kitchenette to make meals in our “Grizzly” cabin #24. The ranch also has a nice restaurant and saloon on the premises called McGill’s, and a little cafe you can get coffee and grab and go sandwiches and snacks from. (open seasonally)
In the warmer months, they host Pig Roasts on Tuesdays with live music and on Wednesdays a Riverside BBQ on the banks of the river. The BBQ books up quickly so book in advance. When booking you’ll have the option of arriving to dinner by either a 2-hour trail ride, or a 20-minute wagon ride.
LONE MOUNTAIN RANCH - If you want to splurge, the Lone Mountain Ranch is the place to do it, and their onsite bar and farm-to-table restaurant “Horn & Cantle” is incredible. Just thinking about the foraged mushrooms and goat cheese plate we had there makes my mouth water. The ranch has been listed as one of National Geographic’s “Unique Lodges of the World”.
It depends on the time of year you are visiting, but in prime season their bookings are per person rates of about $375+ per night, which includes three meals (and these are top-notch meals) and some onsite excursions, as well as airport pick up and drop off from Bozeman. They also have an entire week in the Fall dedicated to just the ladies which would be an absolute dream to attend. More info about the Lone Mountain Cowgirl Getaway HERE.
WHAT TO DO IN BIG SKY
Hiking and Horseback riding are two of my favorite activities, but you can also mountain bike, fly fish, golf, zip line, whitewater raft, hunt, kayak, and more in the warmer months. in the winter months besides skiing you can dog sled, nordic ski, snowmobile, snowshoe, or even go on sleigh rides. Then there is the added bonus of simply gathering around a warm fire and spending time at a cozy cabin in the evenings. (Or all day if you just want to relax)
Yellowstone is about 40 minutes to an hour away depending on where you are staying, so Big Sky makes for a quieter spot to stay if visiting the first national park.
HORSEBACK RIDING - WATCH A REEL OF OUR RIDE HERE
JAKE’S HORSES - There is just nothing like taking in the mountain scenery on a trail ride. Many of the ranches offer rides from May/June through October. However, Jake’s Horses is one spot that offers rides year-round! Jake has owned his business for close to 50 years, and he is a tough old man who self proclaims himself as being an animal person more than a ‘people person’. His horses are well taken care of, and I love that the majority of the wranglers on staff are female. Our guide Taylor was so fun and I will definitely book another ride with her when I’m back in the Spring! Tip: When you call, and Jake asks you how long you want to ride, he’ll also ask for the weight and experience levels of each rider in your party so he can best match you with your horse. But what he may fail to mention is that based on how long you want to ride, will determine if you ride in Big Sky or in Yellowstone National Park. We chose a 2-hour ride, and after arriving at Jake’s he told us to follow his truck to the trailhead. We followed him for about 25 minutes to the trailhead. To our delight, it turned out that we’d be riding IN Yellowstone National Park. The ride was glorious and one of my favorite trail rides to date, I just want to let you know that he might not communicate where you will actually be riding, or how far the drive to get there is haha.
Take a ride on the Lone Peak Tram for spectacular views - On a clear day, you can see two national parks and three states from Montana’s highest scenic overlook at 11,166 ft.
Shop for some thrifted ‘Shackets’ at the Consignment Cabin. - One fashion trend of 2020 that we took full advantage of on this trip is the shacket. (wearing oversized shirts as jackets) I found a great blue flannel and Colleen snagged a vintage tan Carhartt.
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
Horn & Cantle - even if you don’t stay at Lone Mountain Ranch, make a reservation at this incredible spot during your trip! Not only is the food delicious, but the staff and atmosphere in this beautiful cabin will be a fond memory long after you leave.
Riverhouse - Good BBQ and drinks, but our favorite thing about Riverhouse is the large outdoor space with firepits, pretty views, and a stage for live music.
McGill’s Restaurant & Saloon - located on the 320 Guest Ranch, and open to the public for dinner. They have ‘elevated fine dining’ and great cocktails.
Corrall Bar - Our trail ride guide Taylor told us about this spot when we asked if there were any dive bars in the area. It did not disappoint and was definitely a non-touristy spot the locals love.
DOWNTOWN BIG SKY - Downtown Big Sky is a few miles from the resorts, and while there are some great restaurants and bars in town, we were surprised that it looks a little like a suburban shopping center in the way that all the buildings are built pretty much the same? If you are used to picturesque ski towns, the vibe might not be what you were picturing when you arrive. However the people are really welcoming and friendly, and if you are there on a Wednesday June-August they have a great Farmer’s Market from 5-8pm. While many places were shut down while we were there, here are the spots we enjoyed the afternoon we spent there.
Beehive Basin Brewery - cute spot with good brews and a nice outdoor area
The Rocks Tasting Room - loved their Bison and mushroom flatbread, and their huckleberry mules.
Big Sky is a breathtakingly beautiful spot, and I can’t wait to come back to the area in late spring/summer. I highly recommend taking a week or more and do a full loop from Bozeman, down through Paradise Valley, through Yellowstone, up to Big Sky, and back to Bozeman to fly home. (or in reverse order) I broke up our Montana leg of the trip into three blogs, you can read about the other two areas below: