What a perfect location for a summer vacation. Nestled in the Madsen Mountain Range in the southwest corner of Montana and just an hour outside of Yellowstone National Park. Montana has over 100 mountain ranges, many of which are in the southwest and western parts of the state. We were ready to explore the outdoors and outstanding cuisine of the area.
Part 1: Big Sky Town Center- Cuisine, Lodging, and More
This serves as a hub to check everything out, and the Residence Inn Big Sky/The Wilson Hotel is a great base. First and foremost, the hotel room has all of the amenities and bright views of the mountain peaks. Make sure to check out the pool and other amenities.
There are so many options, but one clear thing is that Block 3 Kitchen & Bar is the jewel. Chophouse and meat dishes are their specialty; however, there are plenty of seafood options and some veggie options. Executive Chef Adam Hervieux brings his skills and experience to Big Sky. Adam has the distinction of being invited to cook at the prestigious James Beard House in New York.
The Pettie Prime Filet Mignon is not to be missed, which is just lightly chard and tender. Don't forget to check out the Red Deer Sirloin, which is made of elk from New Zealand's rolling hills. Make sure to top this off with their huckleberry demi-glace.
Pizza is an essential go-to food to fuel outdoor ventures and Pinky G's delivers. Don't be surprised if ordering a "Large Daily Slice" that one piece might be enough. This is indeed large, with a delicious crust and just the right amount of cheese.
Fun, music, burgers, sandwiches, and Tips Up brings this. The Buffalo Chicken is grilled to perfection, and the Buffalo Hot Sauce and a cool beverage are winning tickets. Tips Up is adjacent to the Wednesday Farmers Market which runs from 5 to 8 pm. So, walk around before or after dinner.
More summer fun is included every Thursday night with Music in the Mountains, just a short walk from Tips Up, every Thursday.
There are many other restaurants to choose from, and Tres Toros Tacos and Tequila is an excellent selection. Quesadillas with slow-roasted beef shoulder is an excellent selection, for appetizers, try the chips served with three different salsas. The light spicy Roja, the mild Verde, and Pico de Gallo match great. Here is a directory of other dining options and stores.
Part 2: Outdoor Fun: Whitewater Rafting on The Gallatin River
The Gallatin River starts in the northwest corner of Yellowstone Park at the headwaters of the Gallatin Lake at about 10,000 feet. That can get 400 inches of snow a year. During May and June, the snow melts, and the river meanders 20 miles into the canyon. It gathers the snowmelt and water from other rivers. All this water now creates some fun wild whitewater rafting options. Guided, of course!
Montana Whitewater has many options from class 4, which features the thrilling and legendary Mad Mile and navigating around the gigantic House Rock. Looking for something tamer trip? Class 2/3 ride through is a great way to get some mellow sections of the river. However, Screaming Left will provide lots of waves and water and joyful screaming. There are other rapids, and one is "Beers from Heaven," named after a beer-carrying tractor-trailer truck accident along the highway some 20 years ago. "Witnesses reported seeing cans of Miller Genuine Draft and bottles of Henry Weinhard's beer in the water.
Hike and Bike
The must-hike is Ousel Falls! In June and early July, the South Fork of the West Fork of the Gallatin River roars. The best part is the total round-trip mileage of the hike is under two miles. Hiking through the lush forest and constantly close to the river. The highlight is the mist spraying from the falls. If you're looking for more mileage, the First Mule Trail can be found at the Ousel Falls trailhead.
Time on this trip didn't permit any biking, but that will be a priority next time. A gravel path runs parallel to the Qusel Falls Road and is just south of the road. It is marked in green as Qusel Falls on the map. Another one to check out is the paved Lone Peak Trail.
Yellowstone National Park
One hour from Big Sky Town is the West Yellowstone entrance. One of the best ways to do this is to take Yellowstone Safari guided tours. The full day includes the classics from Old Faithful and other geysers, as well as a gourmet lunch break at Yellowstone Lake.
During this tour, the guide, Kelsey for this day, is an unmatched resource of information and insider information, such as knowing where the bison hang out. Also, it states that over 500 active geysers are in the park, which is about half of the world's geysers. There are many stops for the group to get out enjoy the fresh air, and get some steps in.
Towards the end of the trip, many found the highlight being the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The views of the lower falls of over 300 feet drop into the canyon are memorizing. It is amazing how quickly the day goes; sadly, after eight hours, this epic park tour has ended.
Part 3 Big Sky Resort
The Mountains
The centerpiece of the Big Sky area is Big Sky Resort, just 20-minute drive from Big Sky Town Center. During the winter, it boasts the second-largest ski area in the United States. The best part is the open slopes, which have one acre per skier to enjoy the powder and two mountains to crave the turns.
Come summer, the snow melts, and one can strap on one's hiking boots and take some steps. From Andesite Mountain (8800 feet), you can view Lone Mountain (11,167 feet) and the majestic Spanish Peaks.
There are many summer hiking options to explore. Starting from the top of Ramcharger 8 chairlift, it is only a 0.2-mile hike to the top of Andesite Mountain. Later in the summer, when the snow has melted, aggressive hikers like to hike to the summit of Lone Mountain. From the Swift Current chairlift, it is a total of 6.3 miles round-trip. However, one needs to be comfortable scrambling some of the top parts. Again, there are plenty of less ambitious hikes to do.
If you want to skip hiking and just enjoy the views at 11,167 feet, the Lone Peak Expedition chairlift tram delivers folks to the top of Lone Mountain. From the top are views of various mountain ranges, three states (Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho), and two national parks (Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton National Park).
There are over 40 miles of Mountain bikingtrails to explore with all skill levels. There are three different lifts to take your bike up the mountain. Many mountain bikers like to ride the four miles on the Mountain to Meadow Trail. A great way to do this is to park your car at the Town Center, grab your bike, and take the shuttle to Big Sky Resort. Then, the ride is all downhill.
The Village
After enjoying the outdoors and burning some calories, getting refueled is easy at Vista Hall. There are seven types of restaurants to select from: pizza, tacos, burgers, sweets, sandwiches, and just beverages. The grilled chicken wrap sandwich from 3 Forks Deli was a tasty selection. There are, of course, many other dining options.
One of the more popular signature events is the yearly summer Savor Big Sky. Sip wine, food, brews, and much more. Here are some of the highlighted events: Rose All Day Seminar, Reds + Ribs Lunch, Trailhead Tastings, and Bubbles and Bruch.
There are many options for lodging and one that stands out is the Huntley Lodge. The lodge is named after Chet Huntley. His dream of a ski resort came true in 1973, but sadly, he never made it there as he died of cancer several months later. Chet was a Montana native and was known for the iconic news show, The Huntley-Brinkley Report. Chet and his associate David Brinkley gave the nightly news from 1956 to 1970.
The Big Sky is so delightful in the summer it will deserve another visit soon!
Editorial disclosure: food, beverages, and lodging are generously provided.
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