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Driving north from West Yellowstone on Highway 191, the driver climbs over Fur Ridge Pass. Origionally, this land was settled by homesteaders. Later, it was civilized by numerous dude ranches that served as vacation sites and stopover points on the long journey up the Gallatin to the west entrance of Yellowstone Park. Today, the Gallatin River Valley is home to Big Sky Ski & Summer Resort and numerous recreational possibilities.
Big Sky first gained the public’s ear due to the fame of its original founder, Chet Huntley, one of the most prominent newscasters of his era. Long before Montana was the home of movie starlets, media moguls, and captains of industry, Huntley recognized Big Sky as a place to enjoy the rewards of hard work and the good life. Under the guidance of Boyne U.S.A., Big Sky has grown into a world class resort that complements the summer and wintertime offerings of West Yellowstone.
With over 3,500 acres of skiing and 15 lifts to explore, Big Sky offers a truly “big” skiing experience. Now, with the addition of the tram to the top of Lone Mountain, Big Sky claims the biggest vertical drop of any resort in the United States for skiers and
snowboarders.
If you don’t ski, a trip to the top of the mountain is well worth the effort, summer or winter. Lone Mountain (11,150 feet) towers over the surrounding mountains with 360° views of the surrounding Gallatin Range, the neighboring Absarokas and Madison Ranges, Yellowstone National Park, the Bozeman Valley, and, on a very clear day, the towering Teton Mountain Range in far off Jackson Hole. If you are a first-time skier or snowboarder, Big Sky offers plenty of opportunity with a ski school eager to teach all levels and abilities. If you’re interested in cross-country skiing, be sure to visit Lone Mountain Ranch which grooms over 65 kilometers of trails.
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