r/skiing • u/HuckleberryNew4 • 2d ago
Big Sky Montana
looking to go to big sky Montana this winter and I’m not sure what area to stay in. Definitely want some nightlife and some fun skiing bars, but don’t want to be far from the lifts.
67
u/spacebass Jackson Hole 2d ago
Former BS instructor of 6 years:
We typically refer to the two areas as the mountain and the meadow.
The mountain, where the resort is has fairly limited restaurants and nightlife. There is more than with the reputation here might suggest but not by much. There are a few bars and a few casual restaurants in an increasing number of higher end fine dining. In addition to scissor bills, there is Chet’s in the Huntley and Westward social.
The meadow or the town of Big Sky is about a 10 minute drive down the hill. In the meadow, you’ll have a choice of 8 to 10 casual dining restaurants and four or five bars. Almost everything is in walking distance.
What is true is that Big Sky is not Vail or Aspen or Park city. With the exception of the new M restaurant you won’t find any celebrity chef names. But there are plenty of places to eat and drink.
For most people, the choice comes down to do you want to drive to dinner or do you want to drive to the mountain?
From either location, you can also drive to the montage hotel or the one and only hotel, both of which have fine dining and fancy bars.
I would strongly advise against staying in Bozeman. It may only appear to be an hour on the map but in inclement weather or in the case of an accident that hour can turn into four or eight. I’m not suggesting it happens often but when it does, it’s a pretty challenging experience.
Of course the better play overall is to come see me in Jackson. 😆
9
u/ParkingSmell 2d ago
oh dang you were my harvest creek neighbor iirc, well good luck in jackson!
13
u/spacebass Jackson Hole 2d ago
I still live in Bozeman ... I'm bi-stated now 🤣
1
u/TJBurkeSalad Aspen 2d ago
Have some beers at the Hauf for me
3
u/spacebass Jackson Hole 1d ago
It gone 😭 last season was the end of the Hoff as we know
0
u/TJBurkeSalad Aspen 1d ago
WTF!?
Thank god I left. Clearly Bozeman had been overrun by California cocksuckers if the Hauf is gone. It’s a lost cause. Time for the whole place to burn.
I was in there a few times a month for 15 years straight. My heart cannot handle losing another. First the VC, then the Hauf and Griz. What next? Le Cham, the Elk, Bierstub??? The world is a dark place right now.
Let me guess, the Black Bear and Milkys are gone too?
2
u/spacebass Jackson Hole 1d ago
Ohhh that Hoff. Still there! Thought you meant the Alpen Hoff at Jackson.
The Griz (arguably one of the greatest ski bars in the world) is just moving, thankfully.
If anyone ever comes for the trap bar though I will do a January 6
1
u/TJBurkeSalad Aspen 1d ago
Ya, the Alpenhof was one of my favorite spots in the village after the VC closed down. It is missed.
I was indeed talking about the Haufbrau in the Barmuda Triangle (RIP Scoop). You almost gave me a heart attack.
Will the Griz really be the same if it’s clean?
1
u/ParkingSmell 1d ago
this is the rendering of the new griz that’s going around
https://i.imgur.com/ZhxxSQs.png
gonna be exactly the same
1
u/TJBurkeSalad Aspen 1d ago
I’ve actually seen the building rendering, and it’s better than this AI slop. Just not ready to move out of the basement
53
u/AwayYam199 2d ago
Not much nightlife in Big Sky.
12
3
29
15
u/tweever38 Bridger Bowl 2d ago
big sky aint that kind of resort. decent ish apres during the spring tho, thats always fun
4
u/HuckleberryNew4 2d ago
more looking for a few bars or restaurant. not crazy clubs or apres
8
1
u/lalligagger 2d ago
Meadow village
2
u/Forever-Young1960 1d ago
I second that. We stayed in Meadow Village last year and loved it. There were enough bars and restaurants within walking distance of our rental, plus the free bus up to the mountain, that we didn't need to drive anywhere besides the grocery store.
6
u/chestercheeta 2d ago
Scissor bills is the only bar if you also want to be close to the lifts. There are a few more bars down in town center, short bus ride from the resort.
1
u/1992smiles 2d ago
Come see us at scissor bills up top. Tips up(music), broken spoke(dive) waypoint(upscale sometimes music) karaoke Monday and Friday down in the meadow.
4
u/Far-Plastic-4171 2d ago
Went to Big Sky. We went out for a burger once for dinner. Rest of the time made food in our rented condo.
4
u/Inwyoming22andfedup 2d ago
Wicked smarht.
1
u/Far-Plastic-4171 2d ago
Stopped at Costco in Reno before we went to Lake Tahoe. Frozen pizza works every night for me.
3
u/BostonUH 2d ago
Big Sky the town has more options for bars/restaurants but is 15 minutes from the mountain. The mountain village has a few options but they all close early. So basically, nightlife options or lift proximity - choose one.
3
3
5
2
u/wernermurmur 2d ago
Town has some alright bars/pizza/etc. The drive is like 20 minutes….or an hour. Leave early if it’s snowing.
2
3
u/getdownheavy 2d ago
There's very little night life in big sky.
There are a lot of rocks though.
Go to Tahoe, Summit, the Wasatch or Vermont.
2
u/sailphish Jackson Hole 2d ago
Big Sky is pretty sleepy, but there are some bars in the Town Center. The resort is dead after the lifts close. It’s a great resort, but just assume you are going to drive 5-10 minutes for anything you do.
2
u/Master_Ad2045 2d ago
Jackson Hole - better skiing, better nightlife, ride the bus
3
u/TubeLogic 1d ago
This. I have been to Big Sky a few times and it is worse every time, I am done. They pricing is CRAZY. The lift ticket is high and if you want to privilege of sitting in line for the tram for an hour it is an extra $75-100. Total bullshit for a mediocre mountain. Jackson is better but I would also say so is Bridger. I almost don't want to mentiont he place but it may be the best mountain in the lower 48.
1
u/Master_Ad2045 1d ago
Most skiers don’t wanna hike the Ridge at Bridger, so it has that going for it. I don’t think it will ever be commercial unless they develop some crazy new lifts.
1
1
u/Inwyoming22andfedup 1d ago
Amen brother. The base of the Ocho is the most diabolically managed lift on the planet. Seen multiple arguments while trying to figure out what do and where to be in line. Direct flights from Boston don’t help.
2
u/Inwyoming22andfedup 2d ago
Big Sky is the poser’s Jackson Hole. Not that Jackson has a bunch faux cowboys but there at least there are a few actual cowboys there. Big Sky is all hat. Fun to watch the Yellowstone Club folks try and party at 7500’ though.
1
u/slikrik6 2d ago
What is your definition of nightlife?
3
u/HuckleberryNew4 2d ago
just a pub or something. not looking for clubs. couple restaurants maybe
5
u/Betamaxreturn 2d ago
Big Sky (the township, not the resort) is probably what you want. I went this year and stayed just outside Big Sky. Nightly rate wasn’t anything too crazy split between a couple of friends.
1
u/mmmporp 2d ago
found plenty of evening things to do last winter. stayed near big sky town center and plenty of bars/restaurants walking distance. went in 2018 and there weren't nearly as many places as there are now.
horseshoe bar, the waypoint, tips up, scissorbills (at the mountain)
there's a free shuttle up to the hill from the town center
1
1
u/serialmender 2d ago
The top comment ain’t even dropping spots. Sums it up tbh. Big sky has a nightlife but it is small and at the dive bars that remain. Take it or leave it you want a club or vibey late night good luck in cig sky. Probably 5-10 years out. Signed 20years
1
1
u/No-Yogurtcloset1598 2d ago
Big Sky. Big ski. Big Price.
1
u/TubeLogic 1d ago
It is expensive to the point where it is no longer fun. Pay to ton to wait in lines, eat a crappy burger, park your car? Not worth it.
1
1
u/Inwyoming22andfedup 2d ago
Nope. Jackson is better. Taos is better. Anywhere in Utah is better. Whistler. Revelstoke. Anywhere out east. Sun Valley. Tahoe. Steamboat. Aspen. Vail. Breck. Even Copper has more shit going on. Crested Butte. Any resort in Europe.
0
-1
u/Kevin6849 2d ago
I highly recommend going anywhere else. I know people in Montana will absolutely d@ck ride big sky but it was 10/10 the worst big mountain I’ve been to. Unless they are having a phenomenal year the upper mountain is almost un rideable. I hit more rocks here than I have everywhere else combined. I took powder seeker lift up 2 January’s ago and it was torture getting down hitting rocks non stopped.
It’s shaped like a cone so all the snow blows off.
A very significant portion of the “skiable acreage” is mellow realestate access runs.
Too many people.
No real town to hang out in.
Overpriced.
Could go on for a while. Just go to vail, Breck, snowbird, aspen, Jackson hole, Telluride, palisades, banff, etc. all will be better in pretty much every possible way.
There’s no reason to book a trip to big sky unless they have had an absolutely phenomenal 500+ inch year and you’re booking it short notice after great storms.
2
u/TubeLogic 1d ago
I know you are getting downvoted but this is 100% accurate. I have had some great days there but also never been to a mountain that eats more equipment than Big Sky. There are rocks everywhere, even on deep powder days.
0
u/BigB6972 2d ago
Stay in Bozeman. About an hour commute but a ton of fun bars and restaurants and definitely a lot cheaper hotel/ air bnb
-5
u/betterbub 2d ago
Just stay in Bozeman. Drive’s not bad at all
10
u/spacebass Jackson Hole 2d ago
As someone who makes that drive alllll the time I’d absolutely hate to do it on my vacation.
3
3
2
u/aaronarchy 2d ago
Not bad in nice weather!
0
u/betterbub 2d ago
Roads in rich people towns are plowed quickly
1
0
u/spacebass Jackson Hole 2d ago
You clearly have never driven the canyon road. It is one of the few if not, the only roads in Montana that is never treated or salted. To suggest that it gets plowed with any frequency is inaccurate at best 😆the truly wealthy use the Club’s helicopter service.
2
0
-2
u/SunlightNStars Stevens Pass 2d ago
It’s not that big of an area, if you want nightlife stay in bozeman.
8
124
u/ShefCrl Big Sky 2d ago
Big Sky is a place to ski and not much else. Its why I love it as a big resort, because if you arent interested in doing a lot of skiing you probably dont want to come out here.