On your initial approach towards the awesomeness that is Big Sky and Moonlight Basin, the first thing you’ll notice is the sheer size of the combined resorts. They’re almost comically large. The signs leading to the Moonlight Basin lodge check-in go on forever, as though you’ll never actually arrive.
And it’s no surprise. When combined, the neighboring resorts feature the most skiable areas in the United States – 5,512 acres of downhill terrain, 4,350 feet of vertical, 27 lifts and 220 trails to be exact. There’s a reason they call it the “Biggest Skiing in America”.
Where wild panoramas, world-class skiing, rejuvenating spa experiences, and plenty of elbow room await.
Sure there’s world class skiing here, but there’s a whole lot more too. If you’re not interested in hitting the slopes or are just looking for a diversion from a full day of skiing, Moonlight Basin also offers a number of other activities such as snowshoeing, dogsledding, sleigh-riding and of course, relaxing at the spa. What’s more: Yellowstone National Park is only 18 miles from the resort. Needless to say, there’s plenty to do.
But with just 36 hours in Big Sky (the town, not the resort) area, here’s how to best spend it:
Day 1
Start your brief tour of the area in the small town of West Yellowstone. It’s only an hour from chic Big Sky, but the two towns couldn’t be more different. The latter is like the adventure gateway to the west end of Yellowstone National Park. When winter sweeps in (every month of the year except July), every other truck is towing a mass of snowmobiles.
Save for the odd, but obligatory peppering of tourist necessities (yes, they have a Subway sandwich shop and, quite unexpectedly, an IMAX movie theater), West Yellowstone is an interesting town. It’s gritty, gruff and far enough removed from just about everything. In short: it’s authentic Montana.
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