Read skier and snowboarder-submitted reviews on Big Sky that rank the ski resort and mountain town on a scale of one to five stars for attributes such as terrain, nightlife and family friendliness. See how Big Sky stacks up in the reviews, on and off the slopes, from skiing and family activities to the après scene. Read up on pros, cons and other comments in reviews left by fellow skiers and riders. Don't forget to submit your own Big Sky review! Scroll to the bottom of this page to let other travelers know about your skiing and resort experience.
Reviews for Big Sky
Total (3.9)
A ski resort's overall star rating displayed here is not calculated based on a simple average but takes several factors, including the age of a review, into account.
I have been coming to big sky since its inception in 1973 when only the Huntley Lodge and Mountain Lodge were here. Even then the skiing was amazing. It expanded lifts every year and became out family's vacation week of choice leading to us buying a timeshare condo week in mid March when the temperatures were best for snow and comfortable skiing especially at the higher elevation lifts. We moved out east in the early 80's and had season tickets to the local slopes and traveled to the Vermont top rated resorts but the lines were intoleratable long (around 1 hour) and the snow was fine icy texture compared to the premium snow in Big Sky. Then we tried Lake Tahoe Palisades but were again disappointed. My son got a job at vail for a season and it was good overall but lacked the snow quality and atomosphere of Big Sky. So it was clearly apparent from actually skiing these areas that Big Sky was above all the rest. I had the chance to go to Whistler and liked the town like atmosphere but the skiing was again not equal to Big Sky. The other factors such as cost of travel are also a toss up for the big US resorts but really only consider the northern Rockies resorts worth spending money to go to. Big Sky is about 50 miles south of the conveniet Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Ski rentals and tune up shops are plentiful and cheap compared to the Utah and Colorado expensive resorts. These overall qualities of the Big Sky terrain, consistent predicable snow weather and cool night time activities for singes or the whole family have unfortunately (from my selfish perspective) attracted faster expansion of additional ski resorts and the rich and famous preferred North America ski destination driving prices up for skiing. So package deals are necessary for us regular folk but still -- Big Sky is -- Simply The Best.
A Stempel
Big Sky pampers members of the 3-Commas-Club with luxurious lifts serving mostly over-groomed mild blue runs, or extreme terrain at the peak - and very little in between. After 3 days, we took a day at Bridger which we preferred despite the slower lifts.
Will not return to Big Sky.
Chrissie Spanton
We had an amazing time at Big Sky Resort from Dec 22-Jan 20, 2025. The skiing was incredible—plenty of variety for all skill levels, and the mountain is absolutely beautiful. We spent most of our time on the slopes and had several lessons with different instructors (Sean S, Griffin, Pedro, Seth, Shawn R, Luke, Andrew, Sierra, Mike, Marco, Dave and Tara). Every single one was fantastic—knowledgeable, patient, and really made our experience better. The instructors truly work hard, and we felt they should be paid more for the value they provide.
The resort itself was well-kept, and the vibe was very laid-back and friendly, but there were a few things we felt could be improved. A couple of the lifts were down for maintenance more often than we expected, which was a bit frustrating during peak times. It would also be great if there was a smoothie bar or something along those lines for a healthy snack after skiing—it felt like a missing piece for a resort of this caliber.
Overall, Big Sky is an amazing place for skiing, but with a bit more attention to lift reliability and the addition of a few extra amenities, it could be even better. Highly recommend the resort for its overall experience, especially if you're an avid skier!
Matt
I love this mountain. It is great for people looking for an awesome ski experience. The runs are long and the lift lines are short, especially once you get away from the base area. The terrain is vast. I never get bored here. I have skied all over Colorado, Utah, Idaho, California, Vermont and Canada. Big Sky is my favorite place to ski.
The amenities on the mountain are good but a bit limited. The amenities have gotten better every year. If you are looking for a ritzy and pampered resort experience, Big Sky may not be the right place for you. If you are looking for a great ski mountain with a laid-back feeling in a beautiful location, Big Sky is perfect.
Brody Smith
They have great skiing and high tech lifts that are very comfortable, and I just love their terrain.
MARK HANSON
Love Big Sky especially later in winter. Terrain is massive. Folks are nice
Jack S
All in all, Big Sky is one of my favorite resorts and I have skied much of Colorado and even some Canadian resorts. Big Sky is huge, and even on a busy day the lift lines are not bad, especially when you get higher on the mountain. The terrain is great, but the problem is in order to get to the peak you need to pay to get on the loan peak tram.
Brandon Cernohous
Big sky is great. The Infastructure is the process of being updated. The old two person lifts won’t be missed.
Love The Trees
Spent 4 days at Big Sky and overall loved it. I’m an advanced/expert skier and can’t comment on beginner terrain. But from what I could tell there seems to be a lot of it.
I have the ikon pass so lift prices aren’t a concern. But staying within even a 15 minute drive is VERY expensive. The other option is Bozeman which is fairly cheap but it’s an hour away. So spend $500 minimum a night and be close or spend $100 a night and drive an hour. Those are kind of the two options.
But what matters most is skiing and this is where Big Sky is great. I gave it just 4/5 because the lift system is kind of wonky and confusing. It’s hard to get from one area to the other and back.
Tom Sederquist
Big Sky has incredible terrain, but equally as important it has a lift system that allows skiers to quickly access this terrain without standing in line or traversing all over the mountain. In addition, despite being a lot bigger than it was when I first visited in 1996, Big Sky has kept the personal touch and customer focus that I remember from my earlier visits. I had an issue this year with my Mountain Collective reservation that was resolved within minutes of my email to the ticket managers. They were so kind and cared enough to call me back to make sure I was taken care of! Way above and beyond! I have also had very positive interactions with Big Sky Ski Patrol and instructors. The people working at Big Sky are stoked to be there and happy to help elevate your experience in any way they can. When I ski at Big Sky, I feel like I'm a valued member of an exclusive club. I've skied all over the country Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, the east and in my opinion Big Sky is easily the best skiing in America. It remains my "home" mountain and I look forward to returning at least once every year!
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