Big Sky Statistics

Incredible scenery, no lift lines, over 400 inches of light, powdery snow annually and a wide variety of ski terrain are what make Big Sky famous.

Big Sky is a scenic 43-mile drive from Bozeman's Gallatin Airport, and has three villages; Meadow Village, Mountain Village, and the new Moonlight Basin Ranch. These villages provide shopping, restaurants and nightlife, all with views of the majestic Rocky Mountains.

The Rockies newest resort, Moonlight Basin, now provides lift access to the north side of Lone Mountain. With more than 3800 acres, 1850 foot vertical drop, and Montana's only high speed six-pack lift, Moonlight Basin is the place to ski and ride. This summer, a new lift will be installed, to bring skiers & riders to the terrain that was previously accessible only by snowcat. This will add some steep and powder-filled bowl skiing to Moonlight Basin.

ELEVATION STATS

Lone Peak Summit 11,166 ft.
Moonlight Basin 7,200 ft.
Mountain Village 7,500 ft.
Meadow Village 6,200 ft.

The Biggest Skiing in America

5,512 acres, the most in the United States
220 ski runs
4,350 feet of continuous vertical drop
Views of 3 states and the world’s first National Park, Yellowstone
26 lifts able to move 35,000 people per hour
Average daily visitation at 2,500 per day
85 km of Nordic ski trails
World-class blue-ribbon trout streams, snowmobiling, dining, retail and 2,500 local residents welcoming all visitors

Climate
Climate In winter, Big Sky's climate is dry and cold, perfect for light powdery snow!

Daytime average highs during the winter months range from 10 degrees to 35 degrees, with the average at the 20-degree mark. January and February tend to be the coldest months. Big Sky receives a generous 400" of snow on average.
Big Sky in the summer is the escape from heat. With average high temperatures in the upper 80s and very low humidity, you'll be cool and comfortable.

Other Big Sky Area Facts

State: Montana
County: Gallatin & Madison
Total Area: 228.3 sq. miles
Elevation: 7,218 ft. Population (2007): 2,421
Time Zone: Mountain (MST)
ZIP Code: 59716
Area Code: 406
Full-time population is currently 4,000.
Seasonal population can exceed 15,000 on peak days
Most recent Gallatin County population estimate is 87,359 (July 1, 2007), which represents an increase of 28% over the 2000 census population of 68,278. (source: Gallatin County Planning Department)

A Short History of Big Sky

Big Sky Resort was conceived and built by the late NBC newscaster, Chet Huntley, who thought Big Sky was the most beautiful place in the world. Huntley envisioned Montana’s first ski resort on the 11,166 foot slopes of Lone Mountain. Construction began in the early 1970’s and Big Sky Resort opened for skiing in December 1973. In 1976, Big Sky Resort was purchased by Boyne USA Resorts who expanded the resort, resulting in 18 lifts and a gondola that now transports skiers and snowboarders to over 3,600 in-bound acres. With one of the country's highest vertical drops 4,350 feet, Big Sky will prove a memorable vacation Today, Big Sky, Montana is also home to Moonlight Basin Resort and Spanish Peaks.

A second story in Big Sky is Moonlight Basin. Once an overlogged area, enviromentally sensitive resort planning created Moonlight Basin. With new lodging and some of the most pristine skiing and riding imaginable, this new area is gaining more fans as a the 'quintessential' Montana is discovered again.