Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky is located close to the Yellowstone National Park along the western edge of Gallatin County and eastern edge of Madison County, on U.S. Highway 191. It is approximately midway between West Yellowstone and Bozeman, being around {{convert|45|mi}} by road from each. It sits within the Madison Range, with elevations in the CDP ranging from {{convert|5900|ft}} in Gallatin Canyon along U.S. 191 to over {{convert|11000|ft}} at the summit of Lone Mountain.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

The "Meadow" area of Big Sky lies in the eastern part of the CDP in an alpine valley formed during the Cretaceous period, at a base elevation of {{convert|6200|ft}}. Initially called the "Gallatin Canyon Basin", the Meadow is braided with small rivers that channel mountain snow run-off. Fishing is permitted on all of these feeders of the Gallatin River. Two ponds are found on the Middle Fork of the Gallatin that bisects the Meadow, and fishing there is permitted for those 16 and younger. Since 1993, an innovative sewer system has protected the water in the area from sewage discharge. Several agencies, such as the Gallatin River Task Force, monitor the health of the rivers.

The "Mountain" area of Big Sky is west of the "Meadow" area at a base elevation of about {{convert|7400|ft}}. The community had two large ski resorts in the "Mountain" area: Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin. In October 2013, these resorts merged: both are now managed by Big Sky Resort, and both are alpine ski and golf resorts. The combined terrain of the two resorts allows them to market themselves as the "Biggest Skiing in America", with over {{convert|5800|acre}} of terrain. The Spanish Peaks Mountain Club is a ski and golf resort that has three chairlifts and 13 ski runs connecting it to Big Sky Resort at the base of Big Sky's Southern Comfort lift. Spanish Peaks is also now owned by Big Sky Resort, in collaboration with the Yellowstone Club. Another resort, Lone Mountain Ranch, is a Nordic ski and summer resort that professionally grooms over 75 kilometers of cross-country ski trails. Yellowstone Club, a private resort, is located to the south and adjacent to Big Sky Resort.

The "Canyon" area of Big Sky lies in the Gallatin Canyon in the northeast part of the CDP, along the Gallatin River, a favorite for whitewater rafters and kayakers. The river, named after Albert Gallatin{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=Govt. Print. Off. |author=Gannett, Henry |year=1905 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n132 133] }} who was the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury during the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is a Blue Ribbon trout stream that attracts fly-fishers from around the world.{{cite web |title=The Gallatin River |url=http://www.greater-yellowstone.com/Big-Sky-MT/Gallatin-River.html |publisher=Greater Yellowstone Resource Guide |access-date=July 26, 2017 }} Several dude ranches (320 Guest Ranch, Elkhorn Ranch, Cinnamon Lodge and 9 Quarter Circle) operate in the Gallatin Canyon.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|311.4|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|310.8|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.6|sqkm|order=flip|1}}, or 0.18%, are water. Most of the CDP drains to the east into the Gallatin River, while the westernmost portions drain west via Cedar Creek and Jack Creek to the Madison River. The Gallatin and the Madison both drain north to form the Missouri River.

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Big Sky has a borderline humid continental (Dfb) / alpine subarctic climate (Dfc).{{Cite web |url=http://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/montana/big_sky |title=Climate - Big Sky, Montana |date=2016 }} for most of the area, but the lower elevations may be closer to a dry continental climate.

{{Weather box

|location = Big Sky, Montana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1967–2021

|single line = Yes

|collapsed = yes

|Jan record high F = 55

|Feb record high F = 57

|Mar record high F = 65

|Apr record high F = 77

|May record high F = 84

|Jun record high F = 91

|Jul record high F = 95

|Aug record high F = 93

|Sep record high F = 91

|Oct record high F = 84

|Nov record high F = 67

|Dec record high F = 53

|Jan avg record high F = 44.9

|Feb avg record high F = 47.0

|Mar avg record high F = 57.2

|Apr avg record high F = 64.5

|May avg record high F = 73.8

|Jun avg record high F = 80.8

|Jul avg record high F = 87.3

|Aug avg record high F = 86.7

|Sep avg record high F = 82.5

|Oct avg record high F = 71.6

|Nov avg record high F = 55.4

|Dec avg record high F = 43.0

|year avg record high F = 88.2

|Jan high F = 29.8

|Feb high F = 34.2

|Mar high F = 42.0

|Apr high F = 48.0

|May high F = 58.1

|Jun high F = 66.8

|Jul high F = 77.6

|Aug high F = 76.8

|Sep high F = 68.1

|Oct high F = 52.9

|Nov high F = 36.9

|Dec high F = 27.5

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 19.2

|Feb mean F = 21.5

|Mar mean F = 29.3

|Apr mean F = 35.2

|May mean F = 44.1

|Jun mean F = 51.4

|Jul mean F = 59.5

|Aug mean F = 58.0

|Sep mean F = 50.8

|Oct mean F = 38.8

|Nov mean F = 26.2

|Dec mean F = 18.0

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 8.5

|Feb low F = 8.8

|Mar low F = 16.6

|Apr low F = 22.5

|May low F = 30.0

|Jun low F = 36.0

|Jul low F = 41.3

|Aug low F = 39.2

|Sep low F = 33.4

|Oct low F = 24.7

|Nov low F = 15.6

|Dec low F = 8.5

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -16.6

|Feb avg record low F = -15.8

|Mar avg record low F = -5.2

|Apr avg record low F = 6.3

|May avg record low F = 17.8

|Jun avg record low F = 25.8

|Jul avg record low F = 32.9

|Aug avg record low F = 29.9

|Sep avg record low F = 22.0

|Oct avg record low F = 7.9

|Nov avg record low F = -7.0

|Dec avg record low F = -15.1

|year avg record low F = -24.6

|Jan record low F = -39

|Feb record low F = -42

|Mar record low F = -20

|Apr record low F = -15

|May record low F = 8

|Jun record low F = 19

|Jul record low F = 22

|Aug record low F = 20

|Sep record low F = 5

|Oct record low F = -12

|Nov record low F = -26

|Dec record low F = -41

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.83

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.51

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.88

|Apr precipitation inch = 2.42

|May precipitation inch = 2.83

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.22

|Jul precipitation inch = 1.25

|Aug precipitation inch = 1.56

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.70

|Oct precipitation inch = 1.77

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.60

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.74

|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 12.6

|Feb precipitation days = 11.5

|Mar precipitation days = 11.5

|Apr precipitation days = 11.5

|May precipitation days = 13.4

|Jun precipitation days = 14.4

|Jul precipitation days = 10.2

|Aug precipitation days = 11.2

|Sep precipitation days = 9.6

|Oct precipitation days = 9.6

|Nov precipitation days = 11.1

|Dec precipitation days = 13.7

|Jan snow inch = 33.3

|Feb snow inch = 23.4

|Mar snow inch = 23.7

|Apr snow inch = 9.4

|May snow inch = 7.1

|Jun snow inch = 1.4

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.7

|Oct snow inch = 8.1

|Nov snow inch = 20.4

|Dec snow inch = 35.2

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 11.5

|Feb snow days = 10.0

|Mar snow days = 9.4

|Apr snow days = 4.7

|May snow days = 2.6

|Jun snow days = 0.3

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.4

|Oct snow days = 3.8

|Nov snow days = 9.6

|Dec snow days = 12.4

|Jan snow depth inch = 32.1

|Feb snow depth inch = 37.4

|Mar snow depth inch = 34.8

|Apr snow depth inch = 19.7

|May snow depth inch = 1.8

|Jun snow depth inch = 0.2

|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0

|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0

|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0

|Oct snow depth inch = 1.3

|Nov snow depth inch = 5.9

|Dec snow depth inch = 20.4

|year snow depth inch = 36.9

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00240775&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Big Sky 2WNW, MT |access-date=January 28, 2023}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service (snow/snow days 1981–2010)

{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=tfx |publisher=National Weather Service |title=NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Great Falls |access-date=January 28, 2023}}

}}

{{US Census population

| 2000 = 1221

| 2010 = 2308

| 2020 = 3591

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/decennial-publications.html |title=Decennial Census Official Publications |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=May 14, 2024 }}

}}

At the 2010 census, there were 2,308 people living in the CDP. The population density was 10.1 per square mile.

File:Lone Peak seen from Big Sky Resort, 2018.jpg, 2018]]

{{unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}

Hiking trails thread throughout the landscape and into neighboring national forests. Camping sites are available throughout the Spanish Peaks and the Gallatin National Forest. Elk, deer, black bears, grizzlies, upland birds, waterfowl, and wolves call this area home. Hunting is prohibited in Big Sky proper, but it is permitted throughout the National Forests that surround the area. Recreational snowmobiling is also not permitted within the Meadow or Mountain terrain, but is permitted in the Gallatin Canyon and in areas to the south of Big Sky.

The Crail Ranch Buildings, built by Montana pioneer Frank Crail and his family, offer a glimpse of life in Big Sky more than 100 years ago. The authentic cabins are preserved as part of the Crail Ranch Homestead Museum. The museum displays artifacts, photographs and documents, along with extensive information about the pioneer Crail and Creek families.

The Gallatin County portion of the CDP is in Big Sky School K-12.{{Cite web |title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gallatin County, MT |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30031_gallatin/DC20SD_C30031.pdf |access-date=October 4, 2024 |pages=1-2 (PDF pp. 2-3/3) |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30031_gallatin/DC20SD_C30031_SD2MS.txt Text list] The Madison County portion is in Ennis K-12 Schools school district.{{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30057_madison/DC20SD_C30057.pdf |title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Madison County, MT |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 4, 2024}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30057_madison/DC20SD_C30057_SD2MS.txt Text list]

In addition to the Big Sky School District #72 and the Ennis district, Big Sky has a preK-12 non-profit private school, Big Sky Discovery Academy. The Gallatin County side has three public schools: Ophir Elementary School, Ophir Middle School and Lone Peak High School. The district educates approximately 425 students.

Big Sky has two local newspapers, Explore Big Sky, and Lone Peak Lookout, in addition to the regional publication, Bozeman Chronicle.{{Cite news |url=http://www.explorebigsky.com/publications |title=Mountain Outlaw Magazine |date=2015 }}

The local radio station is KBZM. Other regional radio stations can be received from Bozeman.

Three television stations are available: KTVM (6) NBC, KBZK (7) CBS, and KUSM (9) PBS.

ExploreBigSky.com is a regional daily news website.{{Cite web |url=http://www.explorebigsky.com/ |title=Explore Big Sky }}

• Jessica Biel, actress, and her husband, pop star Justin Timberlake
• Troy Downing, politician, technology entrepreneur
• Robert Peter Gale, cancer researcher
• Chet Huntley, pioneering newscaster, retired to Big Sky
• Bode Miller, former Olympian ski racer
• Warren Miller, film director, lived in Big Sky during the winter
• Matt Morris, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Marty Pavelich, NHL player, year-round resident
• Jamie Pierre, professional skier, snowboarder

{{portal|Montana}}

• Soldiers Chapel

{{Reflist|22em}}

{{commons category|Big Sky, Montana}}

• [https://www.visitbigsky.com/ Visit Big Sky]
• [http://www.bigskywinter.com Biggest Skiing in America]
• [http://www.bigskychamber.com Big Sky Chamber of Commerce]
• [https://bsco.org/ Big Sky Community Organization]
• [https://bsco.org/crail-ranch-homestead/ Crail Ranch Homestead Museum]

{{Gallatin County, Montana}}

{{Madison County, Montana}}

{{Montana Regions and Towns with Breweries}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Census-designated places in Gallatin County, Montana

Category:Census-designated places in Madison County, Montana