Things To Do In Big Sky, MT In Winter
Skiing is, without a doubt, the quintessential thing to do in Big Sky, Montana. We keep returning to Big Sky Resort year after year for its incredible variety of terrain and reliably deep annual snowfall.
And although the focus at Big Sky is all about skiing, you might need some ideas of things to do on your “off ” ski days. Or, perhaps you need some suggestions for activities for any non-skiers in your group.
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Visiting Big Sky? See our post Skiing Big Sky- Everything You Need To Know or Where To Stay In Big Sky See more Big Sky tips at the end of this post!
Here are 10 things to do in Big Sky during the winter besides ski.
1. Kircliff Viewing Platform
A brand new experience at Big Sky this season! Take the gondola and tram to the very top of Lone Peak to the 2 story glass viewing platform called Kircliff.
This is a great way for those who don’t ski or who stick to the tamer runs to experience the amazing views from an elevation of 11,166 feet.
It’s $30 dollars for a pedestrian day pass, and savings for a 4 pack $110. Kids 6 and under only $1. 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM daily. Kircliff closes at 3 PM.
2. Snowshoeing
Trade your skis for snowshoes for a day. You can take a 2 hour guided snowshoe tour up Moose Track Trail at the resort.($50-$70).
It’s a decent workout and offers good views of the Spanish Peaks on a clear day. Make reservations at Big Sky Base Camp in Mountain Village.
The Moose Track Trail is used often enough that the surface is packed snow that you can navigate without snowshoes. I often just put on my YakTrax over my boots and hit the trail.
To reach the trailhead, you’ll have to play “Frogger” with the skiers coming down the hill, but once you’re on the trail, it’s really quiet and beautiful. The trailhead is located at the trees to the left of Swift Current lift. You’ll see a trailhead sign.
Lone Mountain Ranch, which is located just 10 minutes down the mountain from Big Sky Resort, also offers guided and unguided snowshoe tours on 30km of trails outside of their Nordic Trail System.
It’s truly a beautiful place. A day pass is $40 and snowshoe rentals are $25.
3. Cross Country Skiing
Big Sky Resort offers Nordic skiing at their Big Sky Golf & Nordic Center in Meadow Village. A trail pass also includes access to Lone Mountain Ranch trails. 2 hour lessons are available as well as rentals.
Lone Mountain Ranch has been voted the #1 Nordic Ski Resort in North America by Cross Country Skier magazine. Their restaurant, Horn & Cantle, is also wonderful.
4. The Enchanted Forest
From mid-December to the end of March, Big Sky’s lighted walk through the “Enchanted Forest” is a fun family activity. Bundle up after the sun goes down and take Ramcharger lift to reach the “forest” where you’ll walk along the lighted winter trail.
Think holiday lights along a wintry trail with a fireplace to gather afterwards. Tickets are $20-40. The path is about 1 km and it takes about 1 hour for the experience.
5. Shop and Dine at Big Sky 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. Big Sky Town Center offers a selection of shops, restaurants, a brewery, and the Waypoint, which offers various events including movies, trivia night, karaoke, “dinner and movie Sundays,” and more.
While here, you can pick up groceries at Roxy Market or Hungry Moose, grab some Big Sky swag at East Slope Outdoors, sip a beer at Beehive Brewery, grab a pizza at Ousel & Spur Pizza Co., or browse the shops including Rocky Mountain Toy Company which is always a hit with our family.
Note: Skyline Bus offers a free shuttle service up and down the mountain from Big Sky Resort to Town Center.
6. Go Ice Skating
An outdoor seasonal ice skating rink can also be found at Big Sky Town Center. You can rent ice skates ($10) at East Slope Outdoors in Town Center and walk over to the skating rink for a fun afternoon. Check the website for current hours for Open Skate.
7. Ousel Falls Trail
The Ousel Falls Trail is located near Big Sky’s Town Center. An easy 1.6 mile roundtrip hike to Ousel Falls in the winter leads you to a frozen wonderland. It is located two miles from the Town Center on Ousel Falls Rd, about 20 minutes from the resort.
The parking area is on the left, and the trailhead is at the backside of the parking lot.
This is a heavily trafficked trail, so you will likely be able to hike it in your boots but will likely need crampons/YakTrax or snowshoes. The trail can get icy in spots.
Also near Big Sky Town Center, the Uplands Trail and Hummocks Trail are two more popular community trails that you can hike with crampons or Yaktrax. They share the same parking area on Aspen Leaf Drive.
8. Snowmobiling
Take a full day tour with a personal guide through Yellowstone with Two Top Snowmobile Tours (an authorized concessionaire of Yellowstone National Park).
If you like the idea of snowmobiling, it sounds quite amazing and gets great reviews.
If you want to stay a bit closer to Big Sky Resort, both Summitt ATR and Canyon Rentals offer snowmobile rentals to ride along 16 miles of nearby groomed trails.
9. Snow Tubing At The Montage
Feel like a kid again sledding down the snowy hill at the super swanky Montage Hotel.
Tickets range from $30-50 depending on when you go, and riders must be 42” or taller to access the main tubing hill. Kiddie tubing is also available for the kiddos (32″-41″ tall). See their website for details.
Afterwards, grab some pizza and play some games at the hotel’s Beartooth Pub and Rec.
10. Yellowstone National Park Day Trip
I’ve saved the best for last. Yellowstone National Park is roughly one hour south of Big Sky. The resort can arrange transportation to the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park to take a snow coach tour to Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
During the winter, Yellowstone is only open to snowcoaches and snowmobiles from this entrance.
We took this trip several years ago, and it’s truly a unique and memorable way to experience the national park. This is a full day trip that you’ll remember forever. The steam from the geysers surrounded by snow is surreal!
Bonus- Weekly Activities At Big Sky
Depending on where you are staying at Big Sky Resort, the hotel may provide a list of all the activities taking place at the resort for the week. Be sure to check it out.
When we stay at the Shoshone Hotel (our first choice of lodging at Big Sky), they have fun movies playing or arts and crafts activities for when the kiddos are too tired or cold to ski.
The avalanche dog demonstrations on Wednesdays are fun too, or yoga classes tailored for after ski stretching are also available. You can take advantage of Big Sky Resort’s shuttle if needed.
Also, be sure to check out the town’s activities and events listed at Visit Big Sky’s web page.
Hope you enjoy your time in Big Sky! We guarantee you’ll want to return! Happy Trails! – Also, see our “Family Ski Trip Packing List” to make your trip planning that much easier! Amy
More Information About Skiing In Montana
BRIDGER BOWL IN BOZEMAN: Skiing In Bozeman
BOZEMAN LODGINGS: Where To Stay In Bozeman
DISCOVERY SKI AREA: Discovery Ski Area- The Best Skiing You Have Never Heard Of
GUIDE TO BIG SKY RESORT: Skiing Big Sky- Everything You Need To Know
WHERE TO STAY BIG SKY: Where To Stay When Skiing At Big Sky
BIG SKY & BEGINNERS: Is Big Sky Good For Beginner Skiers? Yes!
EATING IN BIG SKY: Places To Eat In Big Sky Montana
