If you haven’t entered any dates, the rate shown is provided directly by the hotel and represents the cheapest double room (including tax) available in the next 60 days.
Prices have been converted from the hotel’s local currency (USD493.13), via openexchangerates.org, using today’s exchange rate.
Sure, Montage Big Sky reins and reels you into Yellowstone’s cowboy country, but there’s nothing rootin’ or tootin’ about this refined Rocky Mountain retreat. The rooms, suites, and residences are a masterclass in modern mountain luxe, sleekly styled in an alpine palette of stone greys and forest greens which ever-so-cleverly bring the Montana wilderness indoors. Families can fill their boots on the foodie and outdoorsy front(ier), with six dining spaces to fuel hiking, biking, and horse-riding – plus ski-in ski-out access to Big Sky Resort and a Spanish Peaks-facing spa. This is the ultimate Big Sky base to hang your hat (and rest your ski boots) after unbridled days of Western adventure.
Smith Extra
Get this when you book through us:
An altitude adjustment kit, including a mountain-air breathing set and immunity-boosting liquids
Noon, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 4pm.
Prices
Double rooms from £482.07 ($602), including tax at 22.08 per cent.
More details
Rates exclude breakfast, but mountaineers can fuel up on the generous buffet options at Cortina (for an average of $60 each).
Also
All public areas are wheelchair-accessible, and several rooms have been specially designed for guests with disabilities.
At the hotel
Tubing hill, ice-rink, private 18-hole championship golf course, access to four miles of private riverways, bikes to borrow, ski-in ski-out access, activewear and wellness boutique, alpine performance studio, rental concierge for snowshoes, ski boots, fishing gear, and equestrian equipment, charged laundry and dry-cleaning service, and free WiFi. In rooms: fireplace, smart TV, sound-system, minibar, wet bar, tea-making kit, coffee machine, marble bathrooms with twin sinks, and Gloss Moderne bath products.
Our favourite rooms
Almost every room comes with a mountain-facing terrace, but the Spanish Peak Suite takes the ruggedly handsome outlook to new heights from its panoramic balcony.
Poolside
The family-friendly outdoor pool is heated, so that mountain-side swims can be enjoyed all year, and round-the-clock. Within the alpine-inspired spa, there’s an adults-only indoor saltwater pool (open 10am to 6pm) for more serene dips – with plenty of space (3,000 square-feet of pool decking to be exact) to lounge in blissful seclusion.
Spa
R‘n’R from all your outdoorsy activities is taken to peak levels of perfection in the Spa Montage, an expansive sanctuary inspired by its mountainous backdrop. After a day on the slopes or in the saddle, soothe adventure-weary muscles in one of the 12 treatment rooms, the his-and-hers relaxation lounges, heated plunge-pools, or steam rooms. The wellness menu is as varied as this alpine-chic space is vast – there’s anything and everything from California Wildflower Rituals, Soothing River Rocks massages, and Swiss-brand Valmont facials, to Moon Ceremony Sound Baths and High Altitude Acclimation. Hair and nail services are available in Salon Montage, and there’s a state-of-the-art fitness studio which hosts group classes, daily yoga sessions, and mountain-mobility pilates.
Packing tips
The on-site activity center stocks almost every type of sports equipment under the sun, so there’s really no need to bring your own gear. The additional room you’ll save in your suitcase will soon be filled with Western-style pieces from the carefully curated Montage boutique – who can resist a custom-made cowboy hat?
Also
You’ll mostly have your gaze fixed on the snow-capped Spanish Peaks, but it’s worth taking a moment to admire the hotel’s cowboy-celebrating art collection – which exclusively features works by Montana-based artists.
Pet‐friendly
Dogs (weighing under 45 pounds) can stay for an additional charge of $100 (this covers two pets for the total stay). ‘Wag bags’ include a dog bed, Big Sky bandana, drying towel for muddy paws, and a map of dog-friendly alpine trails. See more pet-friendly hotels in Montana.
Children
Mini mountaineers can go wild here, and can earn badges for their exploration efforts by signing up to the interactive Montage Merits program. Families can spread out in the spacious suites and residences, with plenty of interconnecting options.
Best for
All ages can tap into their adventurous spirit here, with endless entertainment options for the whole family.
Recommended rooms
Families and multigenerational groups can take their pick from the equipped-for-everything residences. The larger categories have a kitchen, spacious living and dining areas, and an impressive bathroom-to-bedroom ratio.
Crèche
Paintbox, the hotel’s signature kids’ club, runs an action-packed program (for guests aged between five and 12) of arts and crafts, wildlife workshops (including animal-print tracking), and outdoor activities. Little ones can be kept on-the-go for half-day (9am to 12.30pm, or 12.30pm to 4pm for $150), or full-day sessions (9am to 4pm for $225), which both include lunch. If you’re staying over on Fridays and Saturdays, there’s a kids’ night out social (6pm to 10pm for $150) with dinner provided.
Activities
Rentals and activity advice for all ages and abilities are available through Compass Sports – whether it’s whizzing down the hotel’s tubing hill (warming up with hot cocoa between runs), finding their feet on the slopes (there’s a designated beginner’s ski area just below the hotel), settling into the saddle on a mountain trail ride, or twirling around the ice-rink, this is a boredom-busting break like no other. In the evenings, gather round the fire pit to roast s’mores beneath the stars, led by the hotel’s resident ‘marshmallowgist’.
Swimming pool
Little Smiths can splash around in the heated outdoor pool to their heart’s content (teens might prefer to chill out in the hot tubs) while grown-ups kick-back on the mountain-facing loungers, or escape to the over-18s indoor spa pool.
Meals
Kids are well catered for across all the dining outlets, with dedicated children’s breakfast and room-service menus for 24-hour mini-meals and snacks. Dial down to order ‘young adventurer’s hot dogs’, cookie plates, and mini Big Sky burgers – you’ll soon be asking if they come in grown-up sized portions.
Babysitting
Half-day and full-day activities at Paintbox must be booked through the concierge at least 24 hours in advance.
No need to pack
You’ll need to bring any essentials for babies and toddlers.
Sustainability efforts
Keen to keep Montana’s wilderness on the naturally wild side, the plastic-free hotel has developed a series of green operating principles, which include waste and water-quality management programs, eco-friendly housekeeping initiatives, and energy-efficient systems. On arrival, kids are given a stuffed animal from Eco Nation, and the hotel's Hearts of Montage program finds local initiatives dedicated to volunteering time, expertise and financial assistance to organizations that help empower people and causes in need. And the hotel works with the Gallatin River Task Force to clean up the waterway.
Anywhere you can see the Spanish Peaks (we like the cozy outdoor fire pit).
Dress Code
Stylish après-ski wear with a strong cowboy-chic streak.
Hotel restaurant
Well, you certainly won’t be going hungry at Montage Big Sky – even after you’ve worked up an appetite ranching the day away. There are six dining and drinking destinations to eat your way around, with something to satisfy every member of the family. We’d recommend starting with Wildflower Market, a bakery-style boutique brimming with artisan produce, freshly-baked pastries, and homemade ice-cream. Grab one of the treat-stuffed picnic baskets to take on your outdoor adventures, and ask about the handy meal-kits if you’re staying in one of the residences. Rustic-yet-refined dishes are served around an open-hearth wood-fire oven in Italian-inspired Cortina, with an extensive wine list to wash down all the handmade pasta. Then there’s the dressed-down Beartooth Pub & Rec, a family-friendly space to unwind over wood-fired pizzas, craft beers, and ice-cream sundaes – with an adjacent bowling alley and games room.
Hotel bar
Just steps from the slopes, the ski beach at La Grande Après at Backcast (open daily from noon until 6pm) is abuzz with fresh-off-the-mountain snow-lovers popping bottles of La Grande Dame and thawing out around the fire pit. Or you can après the Alpenglow way by swapping ski stories with the Yellowstone and Spanish Peaks Mountain Club in-crowd, over bubbles and polished nibbles like truffle fries, bison tartare, and copious amounts of caviar – there’s even a raclette cart service. Warmed by the crackling fireplaces and Big Sky sunsets which seep through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Alpenglow is a sophisticated spot for pre-dinner drinks and an evening nightcap. Low-key gatherings gravitate towards the Rivalry Room, a swanky sports bar which has been kitted out with golf simulators and massive screens where fans can catch all their favorite games (cheered on by the tequila-centric menu).
Last orders
Breakfast is from 7am to 11am, then you’ll be covered by all-day dining options.
Room service
The 24-hour in-room dining menu ensures guests only feel hungry for adventure – and indulged at every waking moment with flavor-packed plates like wolf-pack wings (tossed in your choice of sauce and dressing), Yellowstone chili, and smash burgers.
Montage Big Sky is in the foothills of Montana’s rugged Spanish Peaks mountain range, and just 45-minutes from Yellowstone National Park.
Planes
Bozeman Yellowstone International is the closest airport, which is served by domestic flights between major US cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver, and is an hour’s drive from the hotel. Private transfers can be arranged for $245 (round-trip).
Automobiles
Thanks to the hotel’s partnership with Cadillac, you’ll have a fleet of luxury vehicles at your fingertips to explore the Spanish Peaks and Big Sky area, free of charge. There’s indoor parking on property, plus a valet service ($50 a night).
Worth getting out of bed for
Exploring the boundless natural beauty of Big Sky Country feels effortless with Compass Sports, the hotel’s expert-run outdoor concierge who can organise guide-led horseback riding, mountain-biking, fly-fishing, archery, trail hiking, ice-skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and more. Montage Big Sky guests enjoy access to the legendary Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, where the swing-happy can get into the golfing groove on the 18-hole championship golf course, designed by American pro-golfer Tom Weiskopf. UTV tours (courtesy of the hotel’s partner, Summit Motor Sports) put intrepid travelers behind the wheel of all-terrain vehicles, for an off-road, backcountry mountain driving experience through Montana’s wilderness. Private guided safaris of Yellowstone National Park depart directly from the hotel, and include visits to the famous Old Faithful geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring, Artist Point, and Mud Volcano – keep your eyes peeled for bison, bighorn sheep, and moose along the way. When winter rolls around, you’ll be staying in serious ski territory, which is the sport most guests are here to live and breathe – along with that crisp Lone Mountain air, of course. Snuggled into the base of Big Sky Resort, the hotel’s easy-access chairlift allows less experienced skiers to bypass the main base and glide onto beginner-friendly terrain (relaxed cruisers should head for green-lined Moonlight Basin). Whatever your level of experience, it’s worth checking out the hotel’s alpine performance studio, which offers custom boot fittings, stance-alignment assessments, and biomechanics analyses (on-mountain and indoor video sessions) – plus ski lockers, lift-ticket purchasing, and a boot-warming service.
Local restaurants
In the unlikely event that you exhaust the hotel’s six on-site restaurants, Big Sky Resort’s main town is just a 20-minute drive away (there’s an hourly hotel shuttle), where a world of modern Western eateries awaits. For slopeside dining, Everett’s 8800 is a rustic, log cabin-style restaurant which crests the top of Andesite Mountain – settle into the heated seats of Ramcharger 8 and ride all the way up for elk tartare, charcuterie boards, and a separate caviar menu. For beer and burgers with a view (we’re talking Montana Wagyu and microbrews), make a piste-side pit-stop at Shedhorn Grill, a ski-in ski-out lunch yurt beneath the Shehorn Lift.
Local cafés
Born in the Bozeman mountains, Treeline Coffee Roasters specialises in seasonal, small-batch, artisan brews to give the everyday adventurer their caffeine kick.
Local bars
The après scene has both lively and more leisurely spots where the powder party can see out its day on the slopes. The upbeat crowd sink craft cocktails to live DJ beats at Westward Social, and the laidback gang tend to sip draft beer at Umbrella Bar, watching the sunset over Lone Mountain from the 360-degree deck.
Every hotel featured is visited personally by members of our team, given the Smith seal of approval, and then anonymously reviewed. As soon as our reviewers have returned from this all-out adventure hotel near Yellowstone National Park and unpacked their cowboy hats and ski boots, a full account of their wilderness-immersed break will be with you. In the meantime, to whet your wanderlust, here's a quick peek inside Montage Big Sky in Montana…
Just exploring Montage Big Sky is an activity in itself, and one we’d gladly do all-day long before even setting one cowboy-boot-clad foot outdoors. Oversized windows, soaring timber-framed ceilings, and roaring fireplaces in almost every elevated-yet-earthy space create an enveloping alpine-ranch atmosphere which could have been dreamt up by Yellowstone’s Dutton family (speaking of, the hotel organises private tours of the national park via its western entrance). Many of the rooms and suites have rugged outlooks across the towering, snow-blanketed Spanish Peaks, along with plenty of creature comforts to soothe away the day’s adventures (skiers will particularly appreciate the deep-soaking tubs and warming wood-burners). Ultimately, the clue is in the name: this 139-key upscale stay is big, but never feels crowded or too ‘resort-y’ – if you catch our (snow) drift. Especially when you’re surrounded by almost 6,000 skiable acres, with all the champagne-powder delights of Big Sky Resort and Lone Mountain to point your skis, board, skates, or even horse towards.
