Summer Fun In Big Sky, Montana

Things To Do In Big Sky, MT During The Summer

Go Hiking In Big Sky

Beehive Basin Trail– Make sure not to miss the Beehive Basin Trail while you are here. This popular 6.6 mile total, out and back hike was named one of the world’s best hikes several years ago and for good reason.

In the summer, you’ll enjoy plenty of wildflowers, views of Lone Peak along the way, and a picnic-perfect view alongside a small clear lake at the summit.

It’s not an easy hike, and the trail can be difficult due to its elevation change. The trailhead starts at an elevation of 7900′ and summits at about 9,300′. It’s roughly 3.5 miles to the top which is doable if you take your time.

Note: Bring your bear spray. You can buy bear spray inside the Bozeman Airport or in Big Sky Town Center at East Slope Outfitters. Cost is about $50, and note that you can’t bring it back home with you on the plane, even in your checked luggage.

Directions to Beehive Basin Trailhead- From Big Sky Mountain Village, proceed up the mountain on Lone Mountain Rd. Turn right (before the entrance to Moonlight Basin) on Beehive Basin Road.

Follow this road as it winds around the mountain until you hit the “Beehive Basin Trailhead” parking area on the left.  

Tip: If that parking area is full, continue left out of that parking lot for another parking area just a few yards up the road on the right.

Ousel Falls Trail– This is Big Sky’s best short (and easy) hike. It’s a 1.6 mile roundtrip hike to the pounding cascades of Ousel Falls. It’s a scenic, shaded trail along the way and mostly flat.

The trailhead is located two miles from the Town Center on Ousel Falls Road, about 20 minutes from the Big Sky Resort. The parking area is on the left, and the trailhead is at the backside of the parking lot. This is a popular trail and for good reason.

Note: You can also reach the trailhead by walking 2 miles from Town Center on a pedestrian/bike trail.

After your hike, eat at one of the restaurants in Town Center. We recommend Ousel and Spur Pizza Company (yummy pizza and pasta).

Big Sky Community Trails– Throughout Big Sky, you’ll find a vast network of trails. Our girls enjoyed the Little Willow Way Trail near Big Sky Community Park. It’s a nice easy stroll along the West Fork of the Gallatin River with views of Lone Peak. Roundtrip mileage is 1.6 miles.

We like this trail, because the West Fork is easily accessible and offers many spots to fish or play on the banks. (Moose are often sighted in this area.) It’s also adjacent to the park with a fun climbing wall.

Note: You can also extend your hike by following the moderate Black Diamond Trail at the end of Willow Way for a longer additional 1.6 mile roundtrip hike.

Kircher Park– Visit another one of Big Sky’s community trails at Kircher Park where the little kids will enjoy the recently built Tree Fort. The fort includes a climbing wall and is the centerpiece of the newly updated park. It’s a super short, easy trail from Town Center. Note that there is no parking at the head of Kircher Trail, so it’s best to park in either Meadow Village or Town Center and access it via Lone Peak Trail.

Huckleberry Trail– Located at Mountain Village at Big Sky Resort, this trail is pretty easy and has some really nice views. I was pleasantly surprised and got some great photographs. If staying in Mountain Village, you can walk to the trailhead near the chairlifts. If you ski here in the winter, it’s pretty fun to see the runs without snow.

Lava Lake Trail – For a longer hike, check out the ever popular Lava Lake Trail located north of Big Sky on Highway 191. This 4.9 mile out and back hike is popular but worthy. It’s a steady climb with an elevation gain of 1643 feet, but you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view and a cold lake to cool off. It’s located 25 minutes from Big Sky Town Center.

Have Fun At Big Sky Resort

During the summer, Big Sky Resort offers a a variety of fun activities for the family. You’ll have your choice of bungee trampolines, mountain biking, a zip line, disc golf, and more. Most of these activities can be arranged at the resort’s “Basecamp” in Mountain Village.

The Nature Zipline is super fun for the whole family. After a short walk up the Moose Tracks Trail, you’ll zipline on four different lines ranging from 350’ to 500’ in length and 30-60 feet in the air. Plan on about 2 hours for this activity. My oldest daughter loved it!

Go Mountain Biking

Big Sky has over 50 miles of mountain bike trails to explore. The 4 mile Mountain to Meadow Trail is one of the most popular, but it’s not for the novice biker. During the summer, Big Sky Resort’s Bike Park operates its chairlifts to transport bikers up the mountain to access a variety of mountain bike trails. Big Sky Resort rents mountain bikes as well.

Scenic Chairlifts and the Big Sky Tram

If you want something a little more tame than biking down the mountain, you can take Big Sky’s Scenic Lift Ride for a bird’s eye view of the surrounding mountains. You can take the lifts up and get off and explore a bit before coming back down. You can also take the lifts to access the resort’s disc golf course.

The new Big Sky Tram will also be an option this summer to glide up to the peak of Lone Mountain for amazing 360-degree views. Walk out to the “Titanic Deck” to experience Montana’s highest scenic overlook.

Paddleboard at Lake Levinsky

Located at the entrance of Big Sky Resort Mountain Village, the small and serene Lake Levinsky greets all visitors as they enter the resort.

During the summer, you can rent pedal boats, SUPs, kayaks and canoes from 10am-6pm at the resort’s 10 acre lake.

Lake Levinsky has a nice sandy beach, adirondack chairs to lounge, and a portable restroom on site.

Go Whitewater Rafting or Take A Scenic Float Trip

If you’re looking for a bit more adventure, Montana Whitewater offers both mellow and adrenaline pumping guided trips down the nearby Gallatin River.

Go Horseback Riding

Jake’s Horses offer 1 hour to all day rides. 1 hour is $50. Minimum age is 7.

Visit Crail Ranch

Take a free self-guided tour of nearby Crail Ranch, established as a homestead by Augustus Franklin Crail in 1902. This is an enjoyable, quick stop, and the self-guided tour is really informative.

It was fun to see the unique, original log structures and imagine a time pre-resort! 20-30 minutes will be sufficient. You can drive or walk to Crail Ranch from the Big Sky Community Park.

Tip: Weekend guided tours are also offered which allow you to visit inside the log cabins.

Directions: If driving from the playground area, continue on Little Coyote Road past the Big Sky Community Park and turn left on Spotted Elk Rd. The ranch and its parking area is on the left.

Tip: The ranch is nestled between condos and homes, and it’s easy to miss!

Catch A Show

The Big Sky Town Center is located on Ousel Falls Road, a 10-15 minute drive down the mountain from Big Sky Resort. It offers a selection of shops, restaurants, and a theater, the WayPoint, where you can catch a show or a movie. Check their website to see what they have going on.

I’ve been wanting to check out the newly arrived Montage Hotel’s Beartooth Pub & Rec where you can go bowling (for a fee) or play pool, darts, shuffle board, etc while snacking on overpriced pretzels and pizza. I think the kids would love it as an option for a rainy day activity! It’s a 10 minute drive from Town Center.

Go To A Festival In Big Sky Town Center

Located at Big Sky’s Town Center Park, Music in the Mountains is a free outdoor concert series featuring the best up and coming touring musicians in the country as well as established, well-known artists. These family-friendly concerts are held every Thursday from June-September starting at 6 p.m.

The Big Sky Farmers Market is held every Wednesday from 5-8pm at Fire Pit Park at the Town Center from June-September. Over 90+ vendors will be at this outdoor venue to sell their fresh produce, baked goods, art, jewelry, clothing, photography, coffee, crafts, beer, antler art, and one of a kind items.

This is a good opportunity to souvenir shop and mingle with the locals. Bring a blanket and enjoy live music, children’s activities, food trucks and beverages.

Big Sky Town Center also hosts the annual Big Sky PBR in July where you can see some of the best bull riders in the world, and the Wildlands Music Festival brings in a fantastic lineup every August.

Take A Day Trip To Yellowstone National Park

The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is roughly one hour south of Big Sky. However, driving time within in the park can be very slow with traffic. Keep in mind that Yellowstone National Park is huge!

For a day trip from Big Sky, I would select just one area to explore in Yellowstone. For a quick day trip, you could easily drive to the Norris Basin area (recommended) and/or Old Faithful (because it’s on your bucket list).

When we have friends or family visiting us in Bozeman, we often take them on a day trip to see Old Faithful, stopping at Grand Prismatic, and then head back to Bozeman. So it’s a very doable excursion to these points, especially from Big Sky which is closer to Yellowstone National Park than Bozeman.

For a really long day trip, you could drive the 140 mile scenic Grand Loop of Yellowstone entering the park at West Yellowstone. This would involve lots of car time but some people do it!

Yellowstone National Park is truly amazing and is certainly worthy of a multi-day excursion. See Our Family Vacation To Yellowstone for details.

See A Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear and Wolf Discovery Center– Located a scenic hour’s drive south in West Yellowstone, the Grizzliy Bear and Wolf Discovery Center could be a good activity for a rainy day.

This not-for-profit, wildlife park and educational facility offers visitors a chance to uniquely experience the world of grizzly bears and gray wolves.

All the animals at the Center are unable to survive in the wild and serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. Open 8:30-4pm every day.

Enjoy A Local Restaurant In Big Sky, MT

If you are staying at Big Sky Resort, the closest restaurants are located in the resort’s Mountain Village. Montana Jack is located right in the center of Mountain Village and is a good spot for burgers and beers on tap.

We also recommend the “grab and go” sandwiches from Hungry Moose Market in the first level of the Exchange (next to Montana Jack).

For the most part, we’ve found the restaurants are generally better down the mountain in and around Town Center.

The Big Sky Town Center is located on Ousel Falls Road, a 10-15 minute drive down the mountain from Big Sky Resort. It offers a selection of shops and restaurants.

If you want to venture down the mountain for food, these options are tasty and worth it.

You can also ride the free Skyline Bus Shuttle which picks up in Mountain Village. See timetables for each stop here.

Restaurants In and Around Big Sky Town Center

• Ousel and Spur Pizza Company -Yummy pizza and pasta
• Blue Moon Bakery – Pizza, deli, pastries
• Beehive Basin Brewery – A new microbrewery located right next to Roxy’s Market. Unfortunately, they don’t serve food but you’re welcome to bring your own. You could grab deli sandwiches from neighboring Roxy Market or buy a growler to go.
• Olive B’s Big Sky Bistro– A well-reviewed casual bistro where the food lives up to the hype.
• Riverhouse BBQ– The perfect summer outing for BBQ! Located on the banks of the Gallatin River and well-loved by locals. Opens at 3pm.
• Pinky G’s Pizzeria– Voted best pizza in Jackson Hole, Pinky’s G’s has now opened a new location in Big Sky to serve up their New York style slices. This is a fast and affordable food option. Keep in mind that seating is somewhat limited here with just a few tables.
• Horn & Cantle– Located at Lone Mountain Ranch, Horn & Cantle may be the highest quality food found in Big Sky. Enjoy their cozy dining room or sit at the bar for a wonderful meal. Reservations recommended.
• Bunker Deck & Grill– Located in Meadow Village at Big Sky Golf Course, Bunker Deck offers the best outdoor patio dining in Big Sky. Wraps and burgers complement the view.

For more dining options, see our “Best Places To Eat In Big Sky.“

Grocery Stores in Big Sky

If you’d like to pick up some staples or have a kitchen with your vacation rental, stop at Roxy’s Market located at the base of the mountain in Town Center, about 15 minutes from Big Sky Resort’s Mountain Village.

This is a somewhat expensive option but convenient. It’s a nice, new store carrying many organic foods. You can order online 48 hours prior to pickup for a fee. 20 Huntley Drive, Big Sky MT.

You can also shop at the small Hungry Moose Market in Town Center or at their small location in Big Sky Resort’s Mountain Village. Note that it is small but should have everything you need (their produce and meat selection is actually really good as is their wine/beer choices).

The prices are fairly reasonable for being so convenient and close. They also serve tasty deli sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and good takeaway picnic food!

Getting To Big Sky, MT

To get to Big Sky, you’ll fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and drive about 1 hour. Part of the trip is on a two-lane mountainous road through the scenic Gallatin Canyon winding along the beautiful Gallatin River.

It’s not an easy drive at night, and it’s a beautiful one, so try to drive it during daylight hours. If we have a late arrival or early departure, we stay in Bozeman (which by the way is also a great place to stay and visit).