Yellowstone Holiday is conveniently located near the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Offering shore side lodging at Hebgen Lake, this premiere destination offers more than just vacation cabins near Yellowstone National Park. West Yellowstone is also a gateway to Big Sky, Montana. Located a mere 48 miles from West Yellowstone, Big Sky is home to 2,200 people.
Big Sky features an elevation of 6,200 feet, with Lone Peak standing at 11,166 feet. Primarily a wintertime ski resort, Big Sky boasts an abundance of summer activities, which are perfect for Montana daytrips. Popular Big Sky activities and attractions include:
- Quake Lake – Built atop the Madison landslide, the Madison Canyon Earthquake Area Visitors’ Center features a seismograph, informative videos and photos from the infamously fateful day. Interpretive trails highlight memorial boulder and the slide area.
- Madison – The 50-mile stretch from Quake Lake to Ennis is Montana’s most trout-dense stretch of waters. Attracting anglers from across the U.S., this area is also popular for peaceful floating excursions during the warm summertime months.
- Ennis National Fitch Hatchery – Visitors can see where rainbow trout are bred.
- Gravelly Range Road – This scenic drive is a popular wildlife sighting area for pronghorn antelope, elk and moose.
- Buffalo Jump State Park – Once used by the Native Americans to stampede bison herds, today’s visitors can see teepee rings, bone shards, interpretive displays and trails.
- Headwaters Heritage Museum – Featuring archaeological displays and historic photos, this interesting trip down memory lane also includes the largest brown trout ever caught by an angler, which weighs in at a jaw-dropping 29.5 pounds!
- Lewis and Clark Caverns – Montana’s first state park, Lewis and Clark Caverns features the largest known limestone caverns. Lined with columns, stalactites and stalagmites, the self-guided trail offers stairs to descend into the heart of this limestone vein.
- Norris Hot Springs – Known as the “water of the gods,” locals and visitors alike enjoy this natural spring, which helps soak away achy muscles and joints.
- Big Sky Gondola – Featuring spectacular overhead views, this gondola spans 16 miles and offers an elevation gain of 2,100 feet, which results in visitors standing on the threshold of 10,000 feet. Advanced and beginner hiking and biking trails abound in this nature-filled area.
- Events – Big Sky hosts a number of events, including fundraisers, business breakfasts, community events, concerts, documentary films, festivals, health and fitness classes, live music, movies, summer concert series and winter concert series. Popular festival includes the Documentary Film Festival, Big Grass Festival, Bluegrass Festival, Classic Music Festival and Big Sky Songwriter’s Festival, to name a few.