Experience a Big Sky summer

May 27, 2019 by
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Top: Music in the Mountains PHOTO BY RICH ADDICKS/ARTS COUNCIL OF BIG SKY

Summertime, and the Big Sky living is easy, making it the perfect time to explore and experience Montana. A visit to Big Sky will provide you and your family with many adventures and memories that you’re sure to remember for a lifetime. 

Divided into three areas, Canyon, Meadow and Mountain, Big Sky offers an abundance of outdoor recreation and events during the summertime months. Check out Buck’s local recommendations for each area, and keep up to date on all the local events with the Visit Big Sky events calendar.

Canyon

Located near the entrance to Big Sky, the Gallatin Canyon is your gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Endless recreation, historic Big Sky establishments like Buck’s T-4, and only a short drive to the West Entrance of Yellowstone, where else would you rather be?

  • Hike– Whether a novice or advanced hiker, Big Sky offers remarkable hiking trails for adventurers of all levels. Some of our favorites include Porcupine Creek, Storm Castle and Lava Lake, amongst many others. Find the perfect trail for you and your fellow adventurers here. Oh, and don’t forget your bear spray!   
  • Whitewater Raft– Geyser Whitewater Expeditions, conveniently located next door to Buck’s T-4, and Montana Whitewater Rafting take you down the majestic Gallatin River. A scenic whitewater float provides a more-gentle trip, while a whitewater trip will take you through rapids like Screaming Left, around House Rock and down the Mad Mile. Make sure to keep an eye out for a wide array of wildlife.
  • Horseback Ride– Enjoy the vast Big Sky scenery atop a fellow steed. Jake’s Horses and Canyon Adventures, both located a trot down the road from Buck’s T-4, offer guided trail rides for any experience level, from beginners to the most experienced riders. Giddy on up for an hour, full day trail ride or any amount between!

Meadow 

The Meadow, including the Meadow Village Center and Town Center, is the heart of Big Sky during the summer months, providing dining, shopping and a vast number of events for locals and visitors, alike, to enjoy. 

  • Farmers Market– Held every Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fire Pit Park in Town Center, the Big Sky Farmers Market hosts a variety of local and regional merchants including farmers, professional artisans, artists, food and beverage vendors and more. Check out this weekly event during the summer months, June to September. 
  • Music in the Mountains– A family-friendly concert series, Music in the Mountains kicks off the 2019 season on Thursday, June 20 at the Center Stage at Town Center Park. Starting at 6 p.m. every Thursday, this free weekly outdoor event features up-and-coming touring musicians as well as well-known artists. Mingle, dance and enjoy live music in the heart of Big Sky. 
  • Golf – Surrounded by Big Sky mountain views, the Arnold Palmer designed 18 hole 72 par golf course at Big Sky Resort provides an alternative option to summertime mountain recreation, a leisurely “approach”. Book an early morning or late afternoon tee time, whichever is your hole in one.

Mountain 

A few miles up Lone Mountain Trail, the Mountain Village Center is your hub for anything and everything going on “up top,” as locals would say. Lone Peak, combined with Big Sky Resort, and the surrounding mountains provide access to many more Montana adventures and activities.   

  • Mountain Biking– The 40+ miles of downhill trails at Big Sky Resort offers the area’s only lift accessible downhill trails. With beginner, intermediate and advanced and expert terrain, every rider can find a trail to fit their ability level. Operations for mountain biking open on June 15 on the Explorer lift, with Swift Current and Thunder Wolf lifts opening on June 22.   
  • Scenic Views – Take in the views! Whether you’re on top of the summit of Lone Peak, made easily accessible by Big Sky Resort’s Scenic Lift Ride, hiking or relaxing, Big Sky is surrounded by never-ending scenery filled with high peaks, alpine lakes and rivers, colorful wildflowers and animated wildlife. Blink and you may miss the bears.   
  • Boat Rentals at Lake Levinsky – Give a new meaning to spending a day at the lake. Lone Peak ascends high above Lake Levinsky, providing a dramatic backdrop unlike most. Hangout on the shore or enjoy your time out on the lake in a pedal boat, canoe, kayak or stand up paddle board. All are available to rent from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily. 

Just down the road

  • Yellowstone National Park– Big Sky is only a short distance to the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Striking canyons, mountainous rivers, lush forests, abundant wildlife, hot springs and spouting geysers, make visiting the world’s first national park an unforgettable experience, especially for summertime visitors. 

Shoulder-Season Guide to Enjoying Big Sky

May 3, 2019 by
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Well the snow is melting, and the town has started to slow down… what a great time to come enjoy Big Sky like a local. 

Things to do Around Town 

With a slower pace it’s a perfect time to explore the places you may have missed. 

  • Brewery tour-Visit the two breweries in town, Lone Peak & Beehive Basin . Head to Lone Peak for a lunch beer and finish off at Beehive for a card game or good old-fashioned cribbage match and stay for three of their tasty beers.
  • Catch a Show-Did you know there is a cinema in town center? At Lone Peak Cinema watch the latest hits in their comfy leather seats with your favorite adult beverage.  
  • Trivia-Come back to the cinema each Friday for TRIVA at its finest. Grab your crew, pick a good team name, & hope that you have spread your knowledge far & wide. 
  • BINGO-Tuesday at the Gallatin Riverhouse Grill, supporting our local American Legion Post 99. The BINGO game starts at 6:15pm but go early and get a bite and beverage. All the proceeds go towards supporting our community and scholarships for our local youth. 
  • Fly Fish- Big Sky, Montana is surrounded by blue ribbon trout fishing, with rivers, alpine lakes and mountain streams, making the area a fly-fishing paradise. Gallatin River Guides(just across the highway from Buck’s will get you all set up)
  • Yellowstone National Park- Check out all the sites before summer hits, located just 45 min from our front door. Watch the animals come out of hibernation and Old Faithful erupt with no one around.
  • Whitewater Raft- Pop next door to Geyser Whitewaterto take on the wild and scenic Gallatin River, which travels through the spectacular Gallatin Canyon and the Big Sky area. Experienced river guides will take you on some exciting and challenging whitewater sections (the spring run-off means raging waters with a whole lot of excitement).

Places to HIKE

  • Porcupine Creek- Just left out of our property enjoy the forest setting in the 2.3 mile loop.
  • Storm Castle- a 4.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. Don’t forget to catch the view from the top and the prized picture from the top. 
  • Ousel Falls- 1.5 miles round trip Ousel Falls is probably the most popular hike in all of Big Sky. This mellow hike follows the South Fork of the West Fork of the Gallatin River to a stunning waterfall. It’s easy access and appropriate for all ages.
  • Lava Lake- 6 miles round trip Lava Lake is a popular hiking trail that is accessed near the 35 MPH bridge on Highway 191 in the Gallatin Canyon. The Lava Lake Trail parallels Cascade Creek and ends at Lava Lake – the only non-glacially carved lake in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness.

For more information on trails in Big Sky, click HERE.

Where to EAT

Our favorite in house restaurant is closed until May 24th, so it’s a great time to get out and explore. Start the day with our complementary hot buffet breakfast and then start your next adventure stopping at all the favorites. Click here for the full list of open restaurants.

Enjoy the PROPERTY

During the shoulder season our property turns into a place of your own. Enjoy the Patio with river rock fireplace, steaming hot tubs, or grab a book and read it in the outdoor wedding garden or on those colder days take it inside to our hotel lobby enjoying the fire. 

If the slower pace and local feel is what you are after, come visit us during the early spring and late fall. 

Comedian Lukas Seely to Perform in Dinner Show March 31, 2015

March 13, 2015 by
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As seen on TNT & Showtime, Billings native Lukas Seely will appear at Big Sky’s Buck’s T-4 Lodge for an evening of comedy and cuisine.

Lukas Seely for EmailComedian Lukas Seely will perform a comedy show and conduct a cooking demonstration at Big Sky’s Buck’s T-4 Lodge on March 31, 2015. Seely, from Los Angeles and a Billings native pairs his unique combination of comedy and compelling life stories with the culinary stylings of Chef/Owner Chuck Schommer and Executive Chef Scott Mechura. Lukas will also conduct a limited availability cooking demonstration featuring “Rodeo Ninja Noodles”; the dish he competed with in TNT and one of the evening’s courses.

(more…)

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