Mountain Review: Big Sky, Montana

CORRECTION: We accidentally included Mammoth in our Rockies rankings at the end of the video! As @scottbrizzolara8607 correctly pointed out, Mammoth is on the West Coast, and should not have been listed.

I just got back from Big Sky. We did not get any new snow over the week we were there but we still had a great time. Parking was not an issue at all. The shuttles were very efficient. My favorite area was off the Challenger lift which is a very slow double but it takes you to some very fun terrain. In your video the lift lines look long but the longest we ever waited was 10 minutes. When you’re moving eight people at a time the line moves very fast. If you’re skiing the Challenger lift there will be no line. We were not able to ski from the summit because of poor conditions and weather. Things warmed up and the snow hardened. We needed to stay in the northern facing slopes for softer snow. Lots of bump skiing and trees. You are correct the place is dead at night but then again so am I. We would stop every day at the umbrella bar and have a couple of drinks. We stayed in the town of Big Sky. Driving in from Bozeman every day would be a bad idea. It’s a single lane road and if it snows it would truly suck. Lots of traffic coming in everyday. Workers I assume. I snowed on our way out and the drive was slow. I would definitely return.

The Jackson bias is perplexing. No idea how you can score Big Sky a 9 for challenge with the tram and Jackson a 10.

Going there in a few days, great that I now know what to expect

I come from the future of big sky.The tram is now demolished but there is a knew tram. Its the same name but it goes way higher and it holds 75 people per tram.

Anything great, corporations will ruin with greed

So true. This mountain is terribly disappointing. Vail, Snomass and Colorado is where it’s at!

Hits: Staff, lifts, airport proximity, parking shuttle.
Misses: excessive grooming, conservative trail rating, minimal single black and tree terrain, no shelters or food above base, $$$$$ accomodations. Mtn for pampered novices or extreme experts, and members "3 Commas Club."
Preferred Bridger Bowl, despite older lifts.

i love this place ive been over 10 times now

FYI: six shooter is now called Madison 8

Alright, Big sky or mammoth??

Just booked for March 8th of 2025. Hope it’s worth the trip at that time of year 🤞

Having worked Big Sky for a few years following high school back starting in 2016, getting to ride Big Sky without having to pay Big Sky prices was one of the best perks ever.. Hearing how the tram works now i sure regret never having been a tram operator. im very jealous of my buddies flynn, jacob, taylor and chad who got to ride that terrain without having to wait in line every single day. even working for the resort being there 7 days a week all season tram lines were always just too much for me. in my two seasons i think i made my way up top twice, maybe three times.. i spent a bit of time operating tram the summer i worked there. but obviously thats just for scenic tours

Free the tram!

It's a well known fact that skiing at Big Sky gives you micropenis syndrome. You should all avoid it, and stick to the proven resorts in California and Colorado.

Big corporately owned resorts just get more nauseating every season. Worse and worse. The sport of skiing and enjoyment isn't the focus. The focus is how to remove people from the maximum amount of money.

Go to showdown ski resort im an instructor there and it's an amazing mountain

I lived in Bozeman and Big sky in the early 2000’s… there were plenty of days where it was just myself and 3-4 other skiers lapping the tram and big couloir all day. My season pass cost me about $700 and had full mountain access… pass went up to $900 when Moonlight opened and joined up so you could access that side of the mountain as well.
I never had an issue with crowds or lift lines in the ten years I call Big Sky my home mountain… the last time I rode (yes I’m a snowboarder) Big Sky was around 2010 though :/…
I got old and moved back to flat Minnesota.

can you do a review of white fish Montana?

High scores in all the right areas. If you can afford a ski in ski out house here, this is the best mountain in the world.

Worked at big sky for 3 years. Great place, people and mountain. Hate the .1%’s ruining the vibe tho. Total elitist Attitude with the richy rich

Have been coming for 5 years now and still solve it so much

Nice review. I'll point out that the places you praise for holding powder are the same ones you critices for being hard to reach. That's precisely why they hold powder and I'm hoping Big Sky never changes this.

I will say that Big Sky Commitment for their Ropeway Infrastructure is So Far Ahead of Any Other Ski Resort in North America. Having 3 Brand New Bubble Chairlifts, Powder Seeker 6, Swift Current 6, Ramcharger 8 along with the Huge Addition ➕ To The Brand New Addition Of (2) 75 Person Glass Bottom Tram Cabins For Lone Peak and the Following Year Will Be The Addition of The 2 Stage Gondola 🚡 System. Also D Line.

Wow, just the first half of this tells you how valuable it can be for a family to be at a reasonably sized ski area where everyone can meet. "Wayfinding" ... that is the Architectual term for the profession of putting up signs that allow users to "find their way" should be ashamed.

this is a great review. very well done. Going to Big Sky has always been a dream of mine. One day I will get there.

my quads are burning just watching the powder skiing

I worked at Big Sky in 1992. It was an experience I will never forget. It wasn't glitzy. There wasn't a lot to do at night, but the snowboarding was amazing. People went there for the conditions and the lack of crowds. I went back with my family in 2022 for the first time since 92. It has definitely changed. I know that's obvious. I'm not talking about the tram and overall growth, it just didn't feel like the same place. The cost of everything and the crowds was a bit much. The up-charge for the tram is annoying. Something else that wasn't mentioned in this review is there was also an option to pay $45 extra to get on Ramchager 1 hour earlier. Talk about nickle and diming! Also, when went, there had not been any snow in a while. It was worse than east coast skiing and I am not exaggerating. Exposed rock everywhere. They cannot control the snow though and we got very lucky with snow that started the day we arrived. Overall, my family had a blast. Things change and that' life. For what they charge, I think the problems mentioned in this review could be addressed to justify the cost.

220-240$ for a lift ticket, please who are they kidding. Unreal.

I lived in Bozeman for two years and had a seasons pass to BS. Great mountain. If they lack one thing, it is better grooming. Knock down some those unruly bump runs so it doesn't get too out of control. Not all, mind you. The powder will blow your mind.

Big Sky is epic!

Love your reviews - thank you and keep em coming!

A curious but relatively insignificant point here though - how does a resort with almost 6,000 acres earn a 9 and not a 10 for size? It’s top 3 or 4 in North America, depending on exactly what’s counted. Outside of Whistler it’s really #2, considering Park City is really 2 resorts and a big chunk of Powder Mountains acreage isn’t lift serviced.

Been skiing here since 1995 some changes are ok but too many now 22/23 the more they keep changing & building the more they have to keep changing. Many came here for what it was it now has become too modernized, now they have the big ugly blding at top of Swift Current ,destroying the natural view.
Some people think they are making things better , I think not

awesome, love these videos.. Jackson Hole next please!

This is the best resort I’ve skied out of 15+ big destination resorts in the Rockies, Sierra Nevada and Alberta, Canada. Huge resort, long and wide trails, good chair lift system, and good snowfall most years. Mammoth Mountain is my 2nd place (so far).

Great review!

Will you ever be reviewing Whitefish?

When are you doing Whistler Blackcomb?

Skiing is just getting too expensive to enjoy. The industry is gravitating to the bigger mountains with the higher prices. While the lesser mountains are closing. Sad. So I will not be skiing overpriced mountains like this one. Sorry.

My impression as a senior lifetime skier is Big Sky has what I'm looking for with reliable fresh snow, low crowds and a friendly welcoming vibe, a comprehensive lift network if you do your homework ahead, as I have. I'm near the end of my youth in later years, I want to meet the challenge if a doable expert terrain on top of my Europe, Utah history. I'm psyched!

My son Calvin Ricklick works here on the south side. He loves it! I like that his boss looks after him while I’m not there.

Thanks for this video review. I’m going to Big Sky February 7-9 and it will be my first time out there, so I’m very excited! I see that they got lots of snow this season, so looks like a good year to go! ⛷️

Can't believe you have Snowbasin ranked over Big Sky. Other then that your rankings make sense.

Great job reviewing Big Sky! I totally agree with everything you said about it. Been skiing there since the late 80s. Back when there was just a plain chairlift to the top of Lone Peak. Boy things have changed over the years. Looking forward to seeing more of your channel. Subscribed

Montana has the fluffiest powder ever! I’m from Utah but since snowboarding here it’s not the same when we get powder days here.

Was gonna check out Big Sky this season, but having to purchase the tram ticket on top of my full ikon pass is a huge turn-off and nixes the resort for me. I'll stay home in the Wasatch.

Go back once they build the new lone peak tram!