Looking for the best things to do in Big Sky Montana that don’t involve flying down the slopes? Stay right here! In this guide, we share several Big Sky activities, many of which you can enjoy year-round, without strapping on a pair of skis (although we recommend you try that, too!).
With unbelievably gorgeous scenery, proximity to multiple national parks, easy access from Bozeman, and endless outdoor recreation, the town of Big Sky is the perfect destination for just about anyone.
If you’ve only sorta heard of Big Sky, it was likely in the context of skiing, as Big Sky Resort touts the “Biggest Skiing in North America.” Indeed, 5,850 skiable acres with 4,350 vertical feet is big. It’s massive — way bigger than even the biggest mountain resorts in Colorado.
With that said, though, there are many, many other things to do in Big Sky Montana besides ski, whether it’s the dead of winter or the middle of summer.
We explored and tried nearly all of them, and now we’re sharing the best of the best with you. Big Sky is the little mountain town that first made us fall in love with Montana many years ago, and the love affair has been going strong ever since.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission — at no cost to you — if you click or make a purchase through any of them. For more information, read my disclosure statement. I appreciate you!
The Best Things to Do in Big Sky Montana
We first visited Big Sky in the summer. Side note, I genuinely didn’t want to leave and still haven’t stopped raving about that trip — years later. It was part of a mini Montana road trip that also included Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Multiple people told us that if we love it in the summer, we absolutely had to come back and check out all the Big Sky things to do in winter. No matter when you go, you’ll find plenty of awesome activities in Big Sky Montana.
1. Big Sky Hiking Trails
One of the (many) great things about Big Sky is that you don’t have to leave town for amazing hikes. Since you’re tucked so high and so deep into the Madison Mountain Range, the best Big Sky hiking trails are rightthere.
Uplands Trail, Beehive Basin Trail, and Ousel Falls Trail are some of the more popular Big Sky hikes. There are dozens to choose from, but you can hike these three year-round and they’re easily accessible from town. In fact, there’s a path from town directly to the Ousel Falls trailhead!
I’m a sucker for waterfall hikes, so Ousel Falls was an obvious choice for our first trail.
The well-beaten path runs parallel to the Gallatin River and features a few picture-perfect footbridges. This family-friendly hiking trail is just 1.6 miles roundtrip, but the high alpine Montana elevation still gives you an excellent workout.
Check out our detailed Ousel Falls trail guide!
Quick note: while hiking lower-elevation trails (like Ousel Falls) is easily one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter, it’s crucial to dress appropriately.
Wear wool socks and proper winter hiking boots. It’s also a good idea to keep a pair of crampons in your pack, because ice sometimes forms even on clear, sunny days.
Alternatively, snowshoeing is another one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter and spring. Check out Grizzly Outfitters at Big Sky Resort for rentals.
Our top picks for women’s winter hiking boots
Our picks for the best men’s winter hiking boots
2. Horseback Riding
If you want to explore Montana’s incredible wilderness up-close-and-personal, horseback riding is one of the best things to do in Big Sky.
Whether you prefer a short tour around town or a guided trail ride through rugged backcountry, there are options for horseback riding in Big Sky for every preference and experience level.
Several outfitters offer year-round horse riding, making it one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana in the winter and summer.
Lone Mountain Ranch has been at it for over a century and Jake’s Horses has options ranging from one hour to a full day. You can’t go wrong with any of ’em — horses are kinda their ‘thing’ in Montana.
If you’re looking for one of the most memorable things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride.
Lone Mountain Ranch and 320 Guest Ranch both offer afternoon and evening horse-drawn sleigh rides, complete with hot chocolate or cider, popcorn, warm cookies, and a crackling bonfire.
3. Mountain Biking & Fat Biking
Big Sky mountain biking is almost as renowned as its skiing. In fact, it’s a world-famous mountain biking destination…in the summer. But have you ever tried to ride a regular bike on snow and ice? We wouldn’t recommend it.
Fortunately, that’s where fat biking comes in.
In case you’re unfamiliar, fat bikes are like regular mountain bikes on steroids. They have oversized wheels with lower air pressure so they get excellent traction in any terrain, much like an ATV. This means mountain biking is one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana in any season.
Whether you’re visiting Big Sky in the summer or winter, the area has hundreds of miles of biking trails. Big Sky resort alone has over 40 miles of trails, including 20+ miles that are accessible only by lift.
Rent mountain bikes or fat bikes at Big Sky Resort or from locally-owned Gallatin Alpine Sports.
4. Fly Fishing
Fun fact: Only a handful of U.S. states have officially-designated Blue-Ribbon trout streams. Montana is one of them.
A Blue Ribbon designation means the fish and water are exceptionally high quality. Big Sky actually has several Blue-Ribbon trout streams at its doorstep: the Madison River, Gallatin River (where A River Runs Through It was filmed), and Yellowstone River.
While fly fishing is commonly associated with summertime, it’s actually also a local favorite among things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter. Western Montana is true untamed wilderness, so regardless of the season, we highly recommend hiring a professional fly fishing guide.
Big Sky weather can also be unpredictable, so dress appropriately and maybe even consider investing in waders and neoprene socks.
5. Take a Day Trip to Yellowstone
America’s oldest national park draws millions of visitors from May through September each year, and for good reason. It’s vast, incredibly diverse, and completely awe-inspiring.
And the West Entrance is just 50 miles from Big Sky.
In our opinion, Yellowstone National Park is even more magical in other seasons (yes, including winter!).
Colder temperatures bring the park’s majestic wildlife to lower (i.e., warmer) elevations, so your chances of spotting bison, wolves, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep are exponentially higher between fall and spring.
Winter specifically means the throngs of tourists are nonexistent. You may even find that you’re all alone at popular attractions like Old Faithful!
There is one caveat to visiting Yellowstone in the winter: most of the park roads are closed.
The only exception is the road running from the North Entrance in Gardiner, near Mammoth Hot Springs, to the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City. Even that frequently closes due to winter storms, so we don’t recommend driving by yourself.
Instead, check out one of the ‘coolest’ things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter: a Yellowstone snow coach or snowmobile tour.
Several authorized providers offer slightly different variations, and many even depart directly from Big Sky. For example, there’s this snowshoeing and wildlife-watching adventure with lunch, a walking safari, and one that allows you to soak in Yellowstone’s natural hot springs.
Looking for more ways to experience Yellowstone National Park?
6. Big Sky Montana Shopping
I was admittedly skeptical when our hotel concierge said one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana, especially in winter, is go shopping. With so many outdoor recreation opportunities, that was the furthest thing from my mind.
However, shopping in Big Sky pleasantly surprised me. As you might expect, there are plenty of gear shops, but there are also some seriously fabulous boutiques and art galleries. Honestly, even the grocery stores in town are really nice (especially if you like craft beer, wine, or wild game!)!
Truly independent, locally-owned shops are increasingly hard to find, but that’s not the case with shopping in Big Sky. Everything is so well-curated and high-quality, I ended up spending far more (time and money!) than I expected.
Check out Rhinestone Cowgirl, Steamboat Dry Goods, and The Trove West — and do your best not to buy all the things.
7. Drink Local at Big Sky Breweries
Maybe it’s the clean mountain spring water or perhaps it’s the locally-grown barley, but whatever “it” is, small-batch craft beer is extra-phenomenal in Big Sky Montana. This tiny mountain town has one seriously delicious, independent brewery, Beehive Basin.
Beehive offers a mix of light and dark beers, and drinking them is one of the best, most refreshing things to do in Big Sky Montana after a tough hike or a day on the slopes. My personal favorite is a blend of the Working Guys Cream Ale and “The Big” Baltic Porter.
Patrons can even bring in their own snacks!
8. Big Sky Restaurants
Much like beer, Big Sky takes its food scene pretty seriously. There are several excellent Big Sky restaurants, all set against the stunning backdrop of the mountains and serving up unique local specialties.
We actually had some of the most memorable meals of our lives in just one long weekend at Big Sky restaurants!
Although it’s technically down the mountain in Gallatin Gateway, Riverhouse BBQ sits directly on the banks of the Gallatin River and has unbeatable views of the Spanish Peaks. Get the $7 chicken dinner and a local brew, then grab a seat on the back porch and enjoy live music.
Heck, even if you don’t eat, this is one of the coolest things to do in Big Sky Montana!
Horn & Cantle at Lone Mountain Ranch often has a two-hour wait on weekends, but it’s well worth it. Seriously.
The smoked elk meatballs, bacon-wrapped bison meatloaf, and pickle-brined fried chicken are to die for, but the goat cheese ice cream with huckleberry compote is life-changing. I can still taste it now…
If you’re looking for Big Sky things to do in winter, make reservations at Montana Dinner Yurt ASAP — and take me with you!
It’s in a top-secret backcountry spot somewhere near Big Sky Resort and you can’t even drive there. Instead, you ride in a snowcat! This is one of the only things to do in Big Sky Montana that’s still on my bucket list (reservations are difficult to snag!).
Where to Stay in Big Sky
Once you figure out all the best things to do in Big Sky Montana, you’ll want to know where to stay in Big Sky. Luckily, visitors have several options and they’re all fantastic.
The primary areas are Town Center at the base of the mountains (where most of the shopping and Beehive Basin Brewery are) and Big Sky Mountain Village at the top.
Both have plenty of restaurants, shops, and fun things to do in Big Sky within easy walking distance.
We always stay at one of the Big Sky Resort properties (technically four separate hotels and some condo-style accommodations). Our personal favorite is probably the Big Sky Resort Village Center in Mountain Village, at the base of Big Sky Resort.
Even within the resort, there are also a number of vacation rentals, and everything has different amenities, vibes, and price points.
Rooms at Village Center have an incredible view, and they’re super close to the lifts and several summer hiking and biking trails. The drive down to Town Center is also just 10 minutes, and it’s about an hour from the West Yellowstone entrance.
Daily breakfast and scenic lift tickets are included with rooms here, too, so Village Center has the added benefit of extra value.
Staying in Big Sky Town Center
If you prefer to stay at the base of the mountain, we highly recommend The Wilson Hotel / Residence Inn by Marriott Big Sky.
The hotel more or less anchors Town Center, so you can’t miss it. It has a bar, a seasonal pool, a good restaurant, free parking, and the location is perfect.
Because The Wilson is a Marriott property, be sure to look into how you can save money with the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.
Big Sky Montana Dude Ranches
If it’s more your style, there are also several upscale guest ranches located off the highway on the way up to the ski resort.
As nice as Big Sky Resort is, I absolutely fell in love with Lone Mountain Ranch after eating at Horn & Cantle and seeing it up close.
It’s a totally different experience, as the ranch is secluded and all-inclusive. Guests eat all meals there and participate in onsite activities like horseback riding and guided hikes. Staying here is officially on my bucket list!
Looking for some other accommodation options? Check out our guide to glamping in Montana!
Have you been to this magical mountain town? Which things to do in Big Sky Montana would you add to this list?
WANT MORE MONTANA CONTENT?
- Best Hiking Trails in Big Sky
- How to Hike Ousel Falls
- Whitewater Rafting in Yellowstone
- Glamping at Yellowstone Tipis
- Running Eagle Falls in Glacier National Park
- Sun Point Nature Trail in Glacier
- Guide to the America the Beautiful Pass, AKA the National Parks Annual Pass
Be sure to pin this post to help with your trip planning later on. It also helps other travelers discover the guide!
