{"id":884,"date":"2022-02-27T10:59:16","date_gmt":"2022-02-27T17:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/?p=884"},"modified":"2022-02-27T21:04:58","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T04:04:58","slug":"8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Things to do in Big Sky Montana (Besides Ski)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Big Sky Montana was on my radar for years. So when a friend&#8217;s 30th birthday <a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/most-romantic-wineries-in-napa-valley\/\"><strong>trip to Napa Valley<\/strong><\/a> was canceled last summer, I knew exactly where to go instead. With unbelievably gorgeous scenery, proximity to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/national-parks-annual-pass-guide\/\">multiple national parks<\/a><\/strong>, and an endless number of outdoor (<em>read: naturally socially-distanced<\/em>) things to do in Big Sky Montana, it was the perfect destination.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;ve heard of Big Sky, it was likely in the context of skiing, as <a href=\"https:\/\/bigskyresort.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Big Sky Resort<\/strong><\/a> touts the &#8220;Biggest Skiing in America.&#8221; Indeed, 5,850 skiable acres with 4,350 feet of vertical is big. It&#8217;s massive. Still, there are many, <em>many<\/em> other things to do in Big Sky Montana besides ski, whether it&#8217;s the dead of winter or the middle of summer.<\/p>\n<p><em><small>This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission \u2014 at no cost to you \u2014 if you click or make a purchase through any of them. For more information, read my\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/disclaimer\/\">disclosure statement<\/a>. I appreciate you!<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Jump ahead to:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/#The_Best_Things_to_Do_in_Big_Sky_Montana\" title=\"The Best Things to Do in Big Sky Montana\">The Best Things to Do in Big Sky Montana<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/#1_Big_Sky_Montana_Hiking_Trails\" title=\"1. Big Sky Montana Hiking Trails\">1. Big Sky Montana Hiking Trails<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/#2_Horseback_Riding_in_Big_Sky\" title=\"2. Horseback Riding in Big Sky\">2. Horseback Riding in Big Sky<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/#3_Mountain_Biking_Fat_Biking\" title=\"3. Mountain Biking &amp; Fat Biking\">3. Mountain Biking &amp; Fat Biking<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/#4_Fly_Fishing\" title=\"4. Fly Fishing\">4. Fly Fishing<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/#5_Take_a_Day_Trip_to_Yellowstone\" title=\"5. Take a Day Trip to Yellowstone\">5. Take a Day Trip to Yellowstone<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/#6_Big_Sky_Montana_Shopping\" title=\"6. Big Sky Montana Shopping\">6. Big Sky Montana Shopping<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/#7_Drink_Local_at_Big_Sky_Breweries\" title=\"7. Drink Local at Big Sky Breweries\">7. Drink Local at Big Sky Breweries<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/#8_Big_Sky_Restaurants\" title=\"8. Big Sky Restaurants\">8. Big Sky Restaurants<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/#Where_to_Stay_in_Big_Sky\" title=\"Where to Stay in Big Sky\">Where to Stay in Big Sky<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Best_Things_to_Do_in_Big_Sky_Montana\"><\/span>The Best Things to Do in Big Sky Montana<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We visited Big Sky in the summer (side note, I genuinely didn&#8217;t want to leave and <em>still<\/em> haven&#8217;t stopped raving about it \u2014 over a year later), as part of a mini Montana <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/cross-country-road-trip-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">road trip<\/a><\/strong> that also included Yellowstone National Park and <a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/floating-the-snake-river-grand-teton-np\/\"><strong>Jackson Hole, Wyoming<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple people told us that if we love it in the summer, we absolutely <em>have<\/em> to come back and check out all the Big Sky things to do in winter.\u00a0No matter when you go, you&#8217;ll find plenty of awesome activities in Big Sky Montana.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Big_Sky_Montana_Hiking_Trails\"><\/span>1. Big Sky Montana Hiking Trails<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-884 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-portrait'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana-beehive-basin-trail\/\"><img width=\"500\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Montana-Beehive-Basin-Trail-500x750.jpg\" class=\"attachment-portrait size-portrait\" alt=\"A dirt hiking trail and meadow in Beehive Basin, one of the best things to do in big Sky Montana\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Montana-Beehive-Basin-Trail-500x750.jpg 500w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Montana-Beehive-Basin-Trail-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Montana-Beehive-Basin-Trail-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Montana-Beehive-Basin-Trail-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Montana-Beehive-Basin-Trail.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/ouselfalls\/\"><img width=\"500\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/OuselFalls-500x750.jpg\" class=\"attachment-portrait size-portrait\" alt=\"Ousel Falls, one of the best Big Sky hiking trails\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/best-things-to-do-in-big-sky-winter-lone-peak\/\"><img width=\"500\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Best-Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Winter-Lone-Peak-500x750.jpg\" class=\"attachment-portrait size-portrait\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>One of the (many) great things about Big Sky Montana is that you don&#8217;t have to leave town for amazing hikes. Since you&#8217;re tucked so high and so deep into the Madison Mountain Range, the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/best-big-sky-hiking-trails\/\">best Big Sky hiking trails<\/a><\/strong> are <em>rightthere<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Uplands Trail, Beehive Basin, and Ousel Falls Trail are some of the more popular Big Sky hiking trails. There are dozens to choose from, but you can hike these three year-round and they&#8217;re easily accessible from town.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m a sucker for waterfall hikes, so Ousel Falls Trail was an obvious choice. The well-beaten path runs parallel to the Gallatin River and features a footbridge in some spots. This <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/5-clever-family-hiking-tips\/\">family-friendly hiking trail<\/a><\/strong> is just 1.6 miles roundtrip, but the high alpine Montana elevation still gives you an excellent workout.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick note<\/strong>: while hiking lower-elevation trails (like Ousel Falls) is easily one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter, it&#8217;s crucial to dress appropriately. Wear <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B078KNDN2Z\/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=chasingtrail-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078KNDN2Z&amp;linkId=7cde9f15203d374dc91e23e1b98cbfcc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wool socks<\/a><\/strong> and proper <a href=\"https:\/\/rstyle.me\/+3tIVkJiK9aW_EPph_i1QfQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>winter hiking boots<\/strong><\/a>. It&#8217;s also a good idea to keep a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B07NPJ4K12\/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=chasingtrail-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07NPJ4K12&amp;linkId=f3c8a7cbaede463259b443aaf6acbdc6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>pair of crampons<\/strong><\/a> in your pack, because ice sometimes forms even on clear, sunny days.<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, snowshoeing is another one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter and spring. Check out <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grizzlyoutfitters.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grizzly Outfitters<\/a><\/strong> at Big Sky Resort for rentals.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>My picks for the best winter hiking boots for women<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"shopthepost-widget\" data-widget-id=\"4710903\">\r\n                <script type=\"text\/javascript\" language=\"javascript\">\r\n                    !function(d,s,id){\r\n                        var e, p = \/^http:\/.test(d.location) ? 'http' : 'https';\r\n                        if(!d.getElementById(id)) {\r\n                            e     = d.createElement(s);\r\n                            e.id  = id;\r\n                            e.src = p + ':\/\/widgets.rewardstyle.com\/js\/shopthepost.js';\r\n                            d.body.appendChild(e);\r\n                        }\r\n                        if(typeof window.__stp === 'object') if(d.readyState === 'complete') {\r\n                            window.__stp.init();\r\n                        }\r\n                    }(document, 'script', 'shopthepost-script');\r\n                <\/script>\r\n                <div class=\"rs-adblock\">\r\n                    <img src=\"\/\/assets.rewardstyle.com\/images\/search\/350.gif\" style=\"width:15px;height:15px;\" onerror=\"this.parentNode.innerHTML='Turn off your ad blocker to view content'\" \/>\r\n                    <noscript>Turn on your JavaScript to view content<\/noscript>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>My picks for the best winter hiking boots for men<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"shopthepost-widget\" data-widget-id=\"4710906\">\r\n                <script type=\"text\/javascript\" language=\"javascript\">\r\n                    !function(d,s,id){\r\n                        var e, p = \/^http:\/.test(d.location) ? 'http' : 'https';\r\n                        if(!d.getElementById(id)) {\r\n                            e     = d.createElement(s);\r\n                            e.id  = id;\r\n                            e.src = p + ':\/\/widgets.rewardstyle.com\/js\/shopthepost.js';\r\n                            d.body.appendChild(e);\r\n                        }\r\n                        if(typeof window.__stp === 'object') if(d.readyState === 'complete') {\r\n                            window.__stp.init();\r\n                        }\r\n                    }(document, 'script', 'shopthepost-script');\r\n                <\/script>\r\n                <div class=\"rs-adblock\">\r\n                    <img src=\"\/\/assets.rewardstyle.com\/images\/search\/350.gif\" style=\"width:15px;height:15px;\" onerror=\"this.parentNode.innerHTML='Turn off your ad blocker to view content'\" \/>\r\n                    <noscript>Turn on your JavaScript to view content<\/noscript>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Horseback_Riding_in_Big_Sky\"><\/span>2. Horseback Riding in Big Sky<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img class=\"wp-image-910 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Horseback.jpg\" alt=\"A woman riding a horse in a field near Big Sky Montana\" width=\"592\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Horseback.jpg 592w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Horseback-222x300.jpg 222w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 592px) 100vw, 592px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you want to explore up-close-and-personal, horseback riding is one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana. Whether you prefer a short tour around town or a guided trail ride through rugged Montana backcountry, there are options for horseback riding in Big Sky for every preference and experience level.<\/p>\n<p>Several outfitters offer year-round horseback riding, making it one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana in the winter. <a href=\"https:\/\/lonemountainranch.com\/adventures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Lone Mountain Ranch<\/strong><\/a> has been at it for over a century and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/jakeshorses.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jake&#8217;s Horses<\/a><\/strong> has options ranging from one hour to a full day. You can&#8217;t go wrong with any of them \u2014 horses are kind of their &#8220;thing&#8221; in Montana.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re looking for one of the most <em>memorable<\/em> 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 sleigh rides, complete with hot chocolate or cider, popcorn, warm cookies, and a crackling bonfire.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Mountain_Biking_Fat_Biking\"><\/span>3. Mountain Biking &amp; Fat Biking<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img class=\"wp-image-911 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fat-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Two fat bikes in the snow\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fat-bike.jpg 800w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fat-bike-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fat-bike-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Big Sky mountain biking is <em>almost<\/em> as famous as its skiing. In fact, it&#8217;s a world-renowned mountain biking destination&#8230;in the summer. But have you ever tried to ride a regular bike on snow and ice? I wouldn&#8217;t recommend it.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, that&#8217;s where fat biking comes in. In case you&#8217;re unfamiliar, fat bikes look 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.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you&#8217;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 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gallatinalpinesports.com\/bike-rentals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gallatin Alpine Sports<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Fly_Fishing\"><\/span>4. Fly Fishing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_916\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-916\" class=\"wp-image-916 size-featured\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FlyFishing-600x550.jpg\" alt=\"A man fly fishing in the snow in the Gallatin River, one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter or summer\" width=\"600\" height=\"550\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-916\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@jmurrey?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jack Murrey<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Fun fact: Only a handful of U.S. states have officially-designated Blue Ribbon fisheries. Montana is one of them.<\/p>\n<p>A Blue Ribbon designation means the fish and water are exceptionally high quality. Big Sky actually has several Blue Ribbon fisheries at its doorstep: the Madison, Gallatin (where <em>A River Runs Through It<\/em> was filmed), and Yellowstone Rivers.<\/p>\n<p>While fly fishing is commonly associated with summertime, it&#8217;s actually also a favorite among locals for things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter. Western Montana is true untamed wilderness, so regardless of the season, I <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">highly<\/span> recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/tp.media\/r?marker=313946&amp;trs=52311&amp;p=1922&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FMontana%2FGuided-Fly-Fishing-Trips%2Fd22221-266652P2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>hiring a professional fly fishing guide<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Big Sky weather can also be unpredictable, so dress appropriately and maybe even consider investing in waders and neoprene socks.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Take_a_Day_Trip_to_Yellowstone\"><\/span>5. Take a Day Trip to Yellowstone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-884 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-portrait'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/bisonyellowstone\/\"><img width=\"500\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BisonYellowstone-500x750.jpg\" class=\"attachment-portrait size-portrait\" alt=\"A bison in snow in Yellowstone National Park\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BisonYellowstone-500x750.jpg 500w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BisonYellowstone-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BisonYellowstone-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BisonYellowstone-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BisonYellowstone.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/things-to-do-in-big-sky-winter-mammoth-yellowstone\/\"><img width=\"500\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Winter-Mammoth-Yellowstone-500x750.jpg\" class=\"attachment-portrait size-portrait\" alt=\"Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Winter-Mammoth-Yellowstone-500x750.jpg 500w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Winter-Mammoth-Yellowstone-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Winter-Mammoth-Yellowstone-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Winter-Mammoth-Yellowstone-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Things-to-do-in-Big-Sky-Winter-Mammoth-Yellowstone.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/8-things-to-do-in-big-sky-montana\/best-things-to-do-big-sky-montana-winter-yellowstone\/\"><img width=\"500\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Best-Things-to-Do-Big-Sky-Montana-Winter-Yellowstone-500x750.jpg\" class=\"attachment-portrait size-portrait\" alt=\"A steaming geyser in Yellowstone National Park, one of the best things to do near Big Sky Montana in winter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Best-Things-to-Do-Big-Sky-Montana-Winter-Yellowstone-500x750.jpg 500w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Best-Things-to-Do-Big-Sky-Montana-Winter-Yellowstone-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Best-Things-to-Do-Big-Sky-Montana-Winter-Yellowstone-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Best-Things-to-Do-Big-Sky-Montana-Winter-Yellowstone-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Best-Things-to-Do-Big-Sky-Montana-Winter-Yellowstone.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>America&#8217;s oldest national park draws millions of visitors from May through September each year, and for good reason. It&#8217;s vast, incredibly diverse, and completely awe-inspiring. In my opinion, though, Yellowstone National Park is even more magical in the winter. And it&#8217;s just 50 miles from Big Sky.<\/p>\n<p>Winter temperatures bring the park&#8217;s majestic wildlife to lower (i.e., warmer) elevations, so your chances of spotting bison, wolves, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep are exponentially higher.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, winter means the throngs of tourists are nonexistent. You may even find that you&#8217;re all alone at popular attractions like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring!<\/p>\n<p>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 I wouldn&#8217;t recommend driving by yourself.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, check out one of the &#8220;coolest&#8221; things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter: a Yellowstone snow coach or snowmobile tour. Several authorized providers offer slightly different variations, including a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tp.media\/r?marker=313946&amp;trs=52311&amp;p=1922&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FBig-Sky%2FVIP-LGBTQ-Yellowstone-Day-Tour-Jeep-Safari-From-West-Yellowstone%2Fd50777-232058P53\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">winter safari day trip<\/a><\/strong> and one that allows you to <a href=\"https:\/\/tp.media\/r?marker=313946&amp;trs=52311&amp;p=1922&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FYellowstone-National-Park%2FYellowstone-Megafauna-Hike-Lamar-Valley-Hike%2Fd22411-260618P4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>soak in Yellowstone&#8217;s natural hot springs<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Looking for more ways to experience Yellowstone National Park?<\/em><\/p>\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/c108.travelpayouts.com\/content?promo_id=4039&#038;shmarker=313946&#038;trs=52311&#038;place=yellowstone&#038;tour=&#038;items=3&#038;locale=en-US&#038;powered_by=true\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Big_Sky_Montana_Shopping\"><\/span>6. Big Sky Montana Shopping<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_924\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-924\" class=\"wp-image-924 size-portrait\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/bigskytowncenter-500x750.jpg\" alt=\"Town Center, one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-924\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo courtesy of Big Sky Town Center<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I was admittedly skeptical when our hotel concierge said one of the best things to do in Big Sky Montana in winter is go shopping. With so many outdoor recreation opportunities, that was the furthest thing from my mind.<\/p>\n<p>However, shopping in Big Sky pleasantly surprised me. As you might expect, there are plenty of gear shops, but there are <em>also<\/em> some seriously fabulous boutiques and art galleries.<\/p>\n<p>Truly independent, locally-owned shops are increasingly hard to find, but that&#8217;s not the case with shopping in Big Sky. Everything is so well-curated and high-quality, I ended up spending far more (time <em>and<\/em> money!) than I expected.<\/p>\n<p>Check out Rhinestone Cowgirl, Steamboat Dry Goods, and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.trovestorewest.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Trove West<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 and do your best not to buy all the things.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Drink_Local_at_Big_Sky_Breweries\"><\/span>7. Drink Local at Big Sky Breweries<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_922\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-922\" class=\"wp-image-922 size-portrait\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/beehivebasinbrewery-1606234281817-500x750.jpg\" alt=\"Beehive Basin Brewery, one of several Big Sky breweries\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-922\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo courtesy of Beehive Basin Brewery<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Maybe it&#8217;s the clean mountain spring water or perhaps it&#8217;s the locally-grown barley, but whatever &#8220;it&#8221; is, small-batch craft beer is big business in Big Sky Montana. This tiny mountain town has two independent breweries, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lonepeakbrewery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lone Peak<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.beehivebasinbrewery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Beehive Basin<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Both breweries offer 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 Beehive Basin Working Guys Cream Ale and &#8220;The Big&#8221; Baltic Porter.<\/p>\n<p>Locals will likely send you to Lone Peak Brewery for the best burgers in town, while patrons of Beehive Basin Brewery can bring in their own snacks.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Big_Sky_Restaurants\"><\/span>8. Big Sky Restaurants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_908\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-908\" class=\"wp-image-908 size-portrait\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/LoneMountainRSZ-500x750.jpg\" alt=\"A cabin at Lone Mountain Ranch, one of the best activities in Big Sky Montana\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-908\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lone Mountain Ranch<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Much like its breweries, 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.<\/p>\n<p>We actually had some of the most memorable meals of our lives in just one long weekend at Big Sky restaurants!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/riverhousebbq.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Riverhouse BBQ &amp; Events<\/strong><\/a> 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&#8217;t eat, this is one of the coolest things to do in Big Sky Montana!<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hornandcantle.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Horn &amp; Cantle<\/a><\/strong> at Lone Mountain Ranch often has a two-hour wait on weekends, but it&#8217;s well worth it. Seriously. The smoked elk meatballs, bacon-wrapped bison meatloaf, and pickle-brined fried chicken are to die for, but the <em>goat cheese ice cream<\/em> <em>with huckleberry compote<\/em> is life-changing. I can still taste it now&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re looking for Big Sky things to do in winter, make reservations at <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bigskyyurt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Montana Dinner Yurt<\/a><\/strong> ASAP \u2014 <em>and take me with you<\/em>. It&#8217;s in a top-secret backcountry spot somewhere near Big Sky Resort and you <a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/6-off-the-beaten-path-restaurants\/\"><strong>can&#8217;t even drive there<\/strong><\/a>. Instead, you ride in a snowcat! This is one of the only things to do in Big Sky Montana we missed out on since we went in the summer.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_to_Stay_in_Big_Sky\"><\/span>Where to Stay in Big Sky<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_925\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-925\" class=\"wp-image-925 size-portrait\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BigSkyResortView-500x600.jpg\" alt=\"View of Lone Peak from Big Sky Resort. This view alone is one of the best things to do in Big Sky\" width=\"500\" height=\"600\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-925\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The view from our Big Sky Resort room<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Once you figure out all the best things to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">do<\/span> in Big Sky Montana, you&#8217;ll want to know where to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">stay<\/span> in Big Sky. Luckily, visitors have several options and they&#8217;re all fantastic.<\/p>\n<p>The primary areas are Town Center at the base of the mountains and Mountain Village at the top. Both have plenty of restaurants, shops, and fun things to do in Big Sky within easy walking distance. There are also several upscale guest ranches located off the highway on the way up to the ski resort.<\/p>\n<p>We stayed at the <a href=\"https:\/\/tp.media\/r?marker=313946&amp;trs=52311&amp;p=2076&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fus%2Fvillage-center.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Big Sky Resort Village Center<\/strong><\/a> in Mountain Village and can&#8217;t recommend it highly enough. The resort is actually comprised of four distinct hotels and a number of vacation rentals, all at various price points and offering different amenities.<\/p>\n<p>Our room at Village Center had an <em>incredible<\/em> view right out the window and we loved being so close to several hiking trails. The drive down to Town Center was just 10 minutes and we were about an hour from Yellowstone&#8217;s West Entrance. Daily breakfast and scenic lift tickets were included with our room, and the concierge even surprised us with a bottle of wine.<\/p>\n<p>As nice as Big Sky Resort is, I absolutely fell in love with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tp.media\/r?marker=313946&amp;trs=52311&amp;p=2076&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fus%2Flone-mountain-ranch.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lone Mountain Ranch<\/a><\/strong> after eating at Horn &amp; Cantle and seeing it up close. It&#8217;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!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Looking for some other accommodation options? Check out our guide to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/where-to-go-glamping-in-montana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">glamping in Montana<\/a><\/strong>!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Have you been to this magical mountain town? Which things to do in Big Sky Montana would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments or connect with me on social media. And be sure to pin this post for help with trip planning!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/748301294332573440\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-958 size-portrait\" src=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BigSkyPin-500x750.jpg\" alt=\"8 Best Things to Do In Big Sky Montana\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BigSkyPin-500x750.jpg 500w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BigSkyPin-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BigSkyPin-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BigSkyPin-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/BigSkyPin.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Big Sky Montana was on my radar for years. So when a friend&#8217;s 30th birthday trip to Napa Valley was canceled last summer, I knew exactly where to go instead. With unbelievably gorgeous scenery, proximity to multiple national parks, and an endless number of outdoor (read: naturally socially-distanced) things to do in Big Sky Montana, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[5,4],"tags":[26,27,17,14,18],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=884"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1874,"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884\/revisions\/1874"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chasingtrailblog.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}