Montage Big Sky is a lavish all-year destination that checks all the boxes.

Yellowstone may be done, but one quote continues to echo. 

“And let’s be honest, people don’t want to fly, then drive another hour to ski. It’s why Big Sky never took off,” ranch owner Roark Morris tells Dutton family heiress Beth Dutton. “It’s the largest mountain in America. The best snow in this hemisphere and the slopes are empty because of the drive.”

America’s fascination with Weatherford-resident Taylor Sheridan’s western drama Yellowstone has boosted Montana’s tourism economy to the tune of nearly 6 billion in spending. But the show got one thing wrong – Big Sky is a must-visit destination despite the drive. 

Big Sky is Montana’s worst kept secret. The lavish town is quickly growing into one of North America’s highest-profile ski cities that is equally as impressive year round. Getting there is part of the experience, with a scenic drive from Bozeman setting the stage for adventure.

Before You Go

Packing wisely is essential when visiting the treasure state. Expect winter temperatures in the 20s with dips as low as 0 at night. Fluctuations swing as high as 50 degrees from morning to night spring through fall. 

From Bozeman to Big Sky

The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport welcomes visitors with its breathtaking view of Bridger Mountain Range. The single-terminal airport is crafted with stone, natural woods and seven cozy glowing fireplaces. 

The hour drive from Bozeman airport takes you through a much-needed dead zone before arriving at the quickly growing city of Big Sky. Pre-booking transportation like Snow Country Limo is highly recommended. Settle into the drive as sky-high pine, fir and spruce trees tower over the winding Mountain Highway 191. 

Stay at the Montage Big Sky 

Opened in December 2021, Montage Big Sky is a 500,000-plus square-foot mountain retreat designed with a luxury modern twist tucked into the Spanish Peaks enclave. 

The Montage Big Sky offers 100 guest rooms and suites and 86 privately-owned residences with sizes ranging from 505-foot resort-view king rooms to six-bedroom stand-alone mountain homes. Views take center stage in Big Sky. Soak in the vast mountain range on a balcony armchair. The sights are truly a wonder. 

Walking into the resort, a cabin-inspired lobby with crackling fireplaces greets you. The Spanish Peaks are perfectly framed by floor to ceiling windows. Amongst the resort’s homely furnishings is a state-of-the-art art collection with the likes of David Yarrow’s piercing “Bearish” and Anouk Masson Krantz “Afternoon Plan” and “The Game.”  Works from western art gallery, Courtney Collins Fine Art Gallery, are on display and available for acquisition. 

A meal for every occasion 

While Big Sky has no shortage of eats, the Montage has a meal for every occasion. Take showpiece Alpenglow, named after Big Sky County’s unparalleled sunsets. The full-service bar beckons for pre-dinner cocktails or a nightcap. 

Chef de cuisine Timothy Heitman is behind Cortina, the resort’s signature Italian restaurant. Heitman, who helms from Chicago’s three-Michelin-starred Olivia, showcases Montana’s agriculture and game. Try the tagliata di bisonte. Pair the $82 bison N.Y. strip with a side of seasonal mushrooms. The Cortina experience isn’t complete without an order of bolognese bianco. 

For casual dining, Beartooth Pub and Rec is the perfect escape with a refined menu full of comforting eats, handcrafted beers and entertainment. There’s plenty of TVs, a bowling alley, arcade and darts. Enjoy apres hours at Backcast, outdoor dining with a soothing Japanese menu that includes a vegetable and pork-belly-filled tonkotsu ramen.

Mornings at Wildflower Market are filled with specialty coffees and pastries that are a work of art. Journaling with a steaming Americano overlooking the sunrise is medicine for the soul. 

Off the resort, The Riverhouse BBQ comes highly recommended. The locally-loved barbeque hotspot is the joint venture of two bartending best friends turned pitmasters bringing dry-rubbed slow-cooked Texas Hill County barbeque to Montana. 

Year-Round Adventure

Montana is known for its picturesque thrill-seeking winters. Powder white snow covers 5,850 skiable acres annually with ski-in and ski-out access from the Montage. That includes the most triple black diamond ski routes in North America including the 1,400 foot expert-only Big Couloir.

“We’ve got big mountain skiing above the tree line that you’d have to take a helicopter to anywhere else in North America,” said Montage mountain adventure guide Jon Lamb Aug. 31 on an Ousel Falls Park Trail guided hike. “We’ve got twice the acreage of Jackson Hole.” 

Lamb, a skier of nearly 45 years, still remembers his first time on 50-degree-pitch Big Couloir.

“You just feel like you’re at the top of the world, 4000 vertical feet to get to the bottom of the lift,” he detailed. Lamb, a petrified wood enthusiast, helped us locate a piece of nature’s souvenir in the glistening streams. 

(EDITOR’S NOTE: We recently learned that guide Jon Lamb died in what appears to be a tragic ski accident earlier this month. Our sincere condolences to the family.)

Montage Big Sky’s direct accessibility to Big Sky Resorts affords guests access to the newly-renovated Big Sky Lifts. The sky lift system features the world’s longest 8-person chairlift, the Madison 8.   For the ski adverse, scenic lift rides are available. 

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Montage experiences span mountain bike tours, a 1.6 mile paved hike at Ousel Falls, fly fishing, UTV mountain adventure, white water rafting, golf, snowshoeing and more. 

Yellowstone National Park is a must. Access the national park through the west entrance. It’s a 45-minute drive from the resort. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or not, Yellowstone National Park is a natural wonder for all.  

Yellowstone Park roads wind visitors through a bucket list spectacle that includes thermal vents, mud pots, the Great Prismatic and Old Faithful. The park boasts more than half of the world’s geysers. Beehive Geyser is unpredictable and impressive enough to make a Yellowstone tour guide pop a u-turn. 

Undeveloped land is a rarity in the ever-growing metropolis of Texas. Coming from the concrete-filled landscapes of Dallas, the otherworldly experience of being a car-length away from a herd of burly bison is astounding. The 3,472-square-mile park homes 67 free-roaming mammals, 300 or so bird species, 16 fish species, five amphibians and six reptiles. 

Rest and Relaxation

After a day of adventure, rejuvenate at the 11,000-square-foot Spa Montage. The $480 90-minute CBD mountain ritual full-body massage melts away stress with the help of hemp oil. The vibrant, rich sounds of singing bowls provide ultimate relaxation during an energizing sound healing massage. 

The spa’s wellness menu includes Valmont Skincare facials, body treatments, couple’s treatments and more. Escape into serenity at the 3,000-square-foot co-ed indoor pool. Sip a glass of Dom Pérignon at the Montage’s outdoor heated pool, which features rentable cabanas and pool service.

Daily by the pool, the Montage serves their staple complimentary smores. It’s the best treat after a soak in the poolside hot tub. 

Summer Loving

Looking ahead, Big Sky Farmers Market and Music in the Mountain are weekly community events to experience. Book a complimentary Cadillac chauffeur to reach town center. Wine, food and spirits festival Savor will return for its third year June 26-29 at neighboring Big Sky Resort. The Big Sky Artisan Festival is July 19 at Len Hill Park.

Rodeo season kicks off June. Family-friendly Valley View Rodeo runs every Thursday from June through July. West Yellowstone Rodeo is held five to six days a week June 13 to August 16 at West Yellowstone. The biggest rodeo of the season is the acclaimed Big Sky Professional Bull Riders Rodeo July 17-19. The can’t-miss PBR Challenger Series event is a 10-time event of the year winner. The sell-out event will prelude with a first-time-ever horse auction by the prestigious Premier Horse Sales. 

For on-site off-the-beaten path leisure, trek Founder’s Loop. The community trail is situated right outside of the Montage’s entrance. 

A piece of Big Sky County for the road

Take home a pair of Nikki Edmundson’s Canty Boots for a one-of-a-kind souvenir from Montage’s boutique, Pique. The maximalist redesigned cowgirls boots are the ultimate statement piece. Think denim-on-denim Louis Vuitton wrapped ankle boots and dazzling rhinestone-encrusted pink metallic boots. The stylish outlet features shippable customizable hats by Montana Hat Company and other Montana-sourced artisan goods. 

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Cover photo courtesy Montage Big Sky

Desiree Gutierrez is a Dallas-based award-winning lifestyle journalist who has written for D Magazine, PaperCity Magazine, Dallas Observer and more. Her writing spans arts and culture, food, travel, beauty, and wellness. You can find her in an airport lounge jetting off to her next destination or enjoying a nightcap at a swanky restaurant bar. Follow her Instagram to see where she’s headed next.