Big Sky, Montana is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in America, and more unparalleled outdoor recreation than a mere mortal could ever do. Spend your days mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding getting a taste of quaint Montana culture or find time to relax and enjoy your surroundings. The lodging, amenities, exceptional dining, and Montana charm make Big Sky the perfect base for exploring the nearby wilds of the greater Yellowstone Region. Come make the sprawling backyard feel like your own.
Ride the Zipline at Big Sky Resort
Sail through the skies from up to 60 feet in the air on the Zipline at Big Sky Resort. This two-hour tour takes you on three ziplines over trees to the bottom of Huntley Hollow, over Moose Tracks forest and through a gully with the forest so close that you can almost touch it. Fly at up to 25 miles per hour on each of the lines that range from 350 to 500 feet in length between 30 and 60 feet in the air. If you want to fly with a friend, try the Twin Zip, a 45-minute version of the zipline tour.
Visit Yellowstone National Park
You could spend a week or more discovering the natural beauty within America’s first national park, Yellowstone. The 3,472-square-mile park sprawls over Wyoming, Montana and Idaho and features close to 60 percent of the world’s geysers and 150 that erupt within one square mile. Old Faithful is the most popular of the geysers, but not the highest. Four others erupt on regular intervals — Castle, Grand, Daisy and Riverside. Another captivating attraction is the 20-mile Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its three waterfalls, one higher than Niagara Falls. The 132-square-mile Yellowstone Lake is the largest lake at high elevation in North America and spans 20 miles in length and 14 miles in width with 141 miles of shoreline. Big Sky is located just 48 miles north of Yellowstone National Park’s west entrance.
Whitewater Raft the Gallatin River
Ride some of the most challenging rapids in the region on the Gallatin River, just east of Big Sky. The water in this south to north flowing river is forced through a narrow canyon creates these rapids made famous in the film A River Runs Through It. June offers the most technical rapids, and the water levels drop through the summer. Pass by scenic stretches, wildlife and breathtaking rock formations on trips that can last half a day, full day or even overnight. Depending on your experience, ride the rapids on your own, or choose among whitewater companies with guides who can ensure your safety and point out scenery along the way.
Hike or Mountain Bike
Become one with nature by hiking or mountain biking the abundant trails in and around Big Sky. At Big Sky resort, located just west of Big Sky, take a scenic lift ride to the top of the mountain and hike back down on self-guided nature trails dotted with streams and wildflowers with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains. On bike, four rides get star billing. The 11.6-mile trail from Portal Creek to Porcupine Creek takes you up 2,050 feet. The 15.4-mile Buck Ridge trail gives you full views of Lone Mountain and the Spanish Peaks through meadows and over rolling terrain. You can also take a downhill ride down Slide Creek with it views of the Sphinx, Lone Mountain and the Spanish Peaks.
Horseback Riding
Give yourself a perspective reachable by horseback, be it a high meadow, alpine lake, or trail that carries you to an unforgettable vantage point. Whether it’s for sport, fishing, family time or just to take in the fresh air and sights, let the outfitters take you on an unforgettable guided trail journey through lake and land. In the evening, be sure to dine at a ranch for an authentic experience under the big open sky.