Resort Overview: For families of intermediate to advanced skiers who love nature and hate crowds, Big Sky is a great resort for you! Just 45 minutes from Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky offers dynamite scenery, challenging terrain, an abundance of nature and lots of dry snow. Families will love the resort's special lift ticket program: kids 10 and under ski free (up to two kids per paying adult, additional kids ski at half price). Snowmobile and snow coach visits to Yellowstone can be arranged.
What's New This Year: The five new runs on 100 acres of terrain make this backyard even bigger. New snowmaking will make the snow even more consistent. The new Lone Moose triple chairlift will allow guests staying in the spacious new 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom units at the Lone Moose Meadows Condominiums to step onto Big Sky's slopes by walking out their doors. The lift also accesses nearly 100 acres of additional terrain on the newly-opened Flat Iron Mountain. The Lone Moose triple will transport skiers up 1,284 vertical feet in just eight minutes, and increases Big Sky's total vertical feet of skiing to 4,350 feet. The Cascade double chairlift will transport homeowners and their guests from Cascade Highlands, located on the north end of the Mountain Village, to Big Sky's slopes. With the opening of the new Lone Moose triple chairlift comes access to five new runs on 100 acres of terrain. The five new trails are on Flat Iron Mountain, located just east of the resort's Andesite Mountain. This terrain offers a little something for everyone: one beginner trail (Little Calf), one intermediate run (South Glades) and three advanced/expert trails (Bobcat, Coyote and Lone Moose). The new intermediate South Glades run is a gentle, gladed tree run that allows skiers and snowboarders to access Big Sky's Southern Comfort triple chairlift. To Thunderwolf provides easy access to the ever-popular Big Horn run and the Thunderwolf high-speed quad. New advanced/expert runs include Bobcat, a steep, north-facing mogul run with a pitch of almost 40 degrees. Big Sky has installed over five miles of new snowmaking pipes. The new pipes will allow the resort to cover 50 more acres of terrain with snowmaking, including Hangman's and Safari trails on Andesite Mountain and bring Big Sky's total snowmaking acres to 400. Workers have also upgraded the snowmaking on Tippy's Tumble, the upper section of Ambush, Elk Park Ridge and the half-pipe.
Resort Statistics:
Base Elevation: 6,970 Summit: 11,150 Vertical Drop: 4,350 Skiable Acres: 3,600 Average Annual Snowfall: 400+ Season: October 16th - April 15th Snowmaking: 400 acres Night Skiing: No Ski-Only Areas: No Snowboarding Offered: Yes Snowboarding Trails: 80 Terrain Parks: 1 Cross Country Skiing Offered: No Lifts: 18 total: 1 tram, 3 high-speed quads, 1 quad gondola, 1 quad chair, 4 triple chairs, 4 double chairs and 4 surface tows. Lift Capacity/Hr: 20,000 Lift Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Half-Day: 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m.) Terrain: 10% Beginner; 47% Intermediate; 43% Advanced/Expert Longest Run: 6 miles Lift Ticket Prices: Single-Day Adult (18 to 69): $54; Juniors (11 to 17): $42; College Students (with valid ID): $42; Seniors: Everyone 70 and over skis for half of the normal adult rate. Kids (10 & under): FREE (Up to two kids per paying adult)
Passes/Discounts Available: Yes Free skiing and snowboarding for children 10 and under-up to two free lift tickets per paying adult. Free lodging and free breakfast buffets for children 10 and under-when sharing a room with their parents at the Huntley Lodge. Free family programs and activities for all ages.
Day Care: HANDPRINTS INC. (DAYCARE SERVICES) Offers children a nurturing and stimulating environment where they can have fun while you have fun. Handprints is a licensed daycare that operates independently of Big Sky Resort and the Ski & Snowboard School. The center is conveniently located in the Snowcrest Lodge. For complete information, call (406) 995-3332. Rates 6 TO 23 MONTHS 2 years & OLDER
Full - Day(8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with lunch) $70/day $60/day
Half - Day(8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with lunch) $50/day $40/day
Half - Day(12:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m., no lunch) $50/day $40/day
Daycare With Skiing OptionMini Camp - 4 years to kindergarten, $90 per day. In addition to our full & half-day programs, children with a reservation at Handprints have the option to attend Mini Camp, offered by Big Sky Resort's Ski & Snowboard School. Upon your request, Handprints will register your child for this program, and take payment for lessons. Our staff will dress and escort your child to the lesson and ski instructors will return your child to daycare. All parents need to do is inform the Ski & Snowboard School of their child's skiing ability and provide appropriate equipment and clothing. Please call the Ski & Snowboard School at (406)995-5743 if you have questions concerning lessons.
Children's Lessons: Small Fry Try This is the perfect introduction for those age 3 to 4 who wish to give skiing a try for the first time. Your kids will have a safe, fun-filled 45-minute lesson on the snow. Lessons begin at 12:15 p.m.
Mini Camp For children age 4 through kindergarten, Mini Camp is an on-snow program offering your child two hours of skiing lessons. Mini Camp lessons are offered at 9:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. and can be combined with Handprints Daycare.
Ski Camp Ski Camp at Big Sky is for kids in first grade through age 14. Our groups go out according to ability and age, with afternoon and morning sessions available. Many kids pick the full-day option to maximize their fun.
Shredders Program Our shredders program is designed for 14- to 17- year-old skiers and boarders focusing on exploring the mountain with cool ski camp guides. Shredders will look forward to kicking up snow in our new Terrain Park, complete with half-pipe, kickers, banked turns and music.
Rate Per Day
Small Fry Try (Daycare not included.) $28/day
Mini Camp (Lessons only. Rentals and daycare not included) Half-Day $36/day Full-day $58/day
Ski Camp Rates (Lessons only. Rentals not included) Length 1-2 days 3 days 4 days 5 days 6 days
Half-day $32/day $91 $116 $136 $154
Full-day $56/day $160 $202 $238 $269
For Mini & Ski Camps: · Lunch: Add $9 per day · Rentals: Add $16 per day
Babysitting: Handprints has a list of babysitters that we will provide to interested parents. All babysitters are independent contractors and negotiate their own rates and hours. The concierge desk at the resort (800-548-4486) also has a list of babysitters.
Family Recreational Activities: Big Sky's Focus on Fun family program arranges free daily activities in the afternoon and early evenings. These supervised events are complimentary, and parents are encouraged but not required to attend. Huntley Lodge & Shoshone Condominium Hotel's Concierge Desk: (406) The Focus on Fun program begins on Big Sky's opening day and runs through the end of the season. The program features different activities-including an ice cream social every Sunday-afternoons beginning at 3:00 p.m. in the Huntley Lodge's Cheyenne Room. Planned activities include: s'mores and sing-a-longs by the fire; Snow Fun, which uses food coloring and spray bottles to paint designs in the snow; Mad Scientists, where children participate in fun experiments like making Flubber; and Book of Records, a competition in which participants try to beat posted records in juggling, hula hooping, bubble gum blowing and hacky sacking.
Kids Rental Items: Handprints rents high chairs, cribs, toys, backpacks, gates and other equipment. (406) 995-3332.
Lodging:
Best Western Buck's T-4 74 hotel rooms, on Highway 191, 10.5 miles from lifts. Free skier shuttle. 294-room slopeside Huntley / Shoshone complex, 98-unit Summit, 130 Mountain condominiums. Big Sky Chalet Rentals 40 Mountain and Meadow condominiums and homes. Free skier shuttle from various locations. Comfort Inn 62 hotel rooms, on Highway 191, 10.25 miles from lifts. Free skier shuttle. Elkins Big Sky Condo Rentals 12 economy condominiums in Meadow & Mountain Village. Golden Eagle Lodge & Management On-line Reservations.17-room budget lodge, 200 Mountain and Meadow condominiums and homes. 6 miles to lifts. Free skier shuttle. Lone Mountain Guest Ranch 30 cabins and nordic center featuring all-inclusive week-long vacations. Triple Creek Realty & Management 50 Mountain and Meadow condominiums and homes. Free skier shuttle from various locations. 320 Guest Ranch 59 cabins on the Gallatin River 24 miles from Big Sky lifts. Free skier shuttle.
Amenities: Big Sky features dogsledding, fly fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh ride dinners, helicopter tours, horseback riding, massage and spa and shops featuring authentic made-in-Montana items.
Transportation Available: The resort is 45 miles south of the airport on Highway 191, a convenient one-hour shuttle ride away. Once at the resort, the SnowExpress provides free local bus shuttle service between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
Awards: SKI Magazine (Oct. '98) awarded the resort gold medals for its terrain, challenge, lifts and scenery.
