Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wild Trout Outfitters
(U.S. 191, 800/423-4742,
www.wildtroutoutftters.com
)
can offer
professionally guided trips.
East Slope Outdoors
(47855 Gallatin Rd., just south of the Big
Sky intersection on the right, 406/995-4369 or 888/359-3974,
www.eastslopeoutdoors.com
)
offers equipment, rental gear, and guided fly-fishing trips.
If the tranquility of fishing appeals less than the mayhem of white-water, rafting on the
Gallatin River is a good option.
Montana Whitewater
(63960 Gallatin Rd., mile marker
64, 800/799-4465,
www.montanawhitewater.com
,
half-day $54 adults, $44 children under
13, full-day $90 adults, $74 children under 13) offers a range of trips to suit any adrenaline
level, including half-day scenic floats, full-day white-water trips, and paddle-and-saddle
overnighters. Plus, from the Gallatin Canyon base camp—which is like a small outdoors-
loving city—you can mix and match adventures including rafting, ziplining, fly-fishing,
and horseback riding. Their on-site café,
Blazin' Paddles,
is an uber-convenient food truck.
Geyser Whitewater
(46651 Gallatin Rd., next to Buck's T-4 on U.S. 191, 800/914-9031,
www.raftmontana.com
,
half-day $58 adults, $48 children under 13) is another superb local
outfitter that specializes in Gallatin River trips. They also offer kayak trips, horseback rid-
ing, bike rentals, rock climbing, and ziplining adventures.
Hiking and Mountain Biking
In the summer, the mountain at Big Sky unfolds into a network of mountain bike and hiking
trails. The
Big Sky Scenic Lift
(406/995-5769, $16 adults, $13 children 11-17 and seni-
ors, free for children 10 and under, 2-hour guided tour $79) gives riders and hikers a lift up
(and down, if they choose) and a chance to tackle some thrilling terrain for every skill level.
Bikes and helmets are available for rent at
Big Sky Sports
(Mountain Mall, 406/995-5840,
The hiking opportunities are endless around Big Sky, with three mountain ranges, the
Gallatin National Forest, the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area, and Yellowstone National Park
all nearby. Some local favorites include
Ousel Falls,
an easy up-and-down 1.8-mile stroll
to a beautiful waterfall. (Find the parking lot and trailhead on Ousel Falls Rd., 2 miles bey-
ond the intersection of Ousel Falls Rd. and Spur Rd.) Picnic benches along the way make
the path a good one for small children. For more ambitious hikers,
Beehive Basin
offers
some excellent options. (Find the parking lot and trailhead by following the Beehive Basin
turnoff—1.3 miles beyond Big Sky Mountain Village and 30 yards before the entrance gate
to Moonlight Basin—for 2.8 miles.) The trail is sky high at 9,200 feet and offers unrivaled
360-degree views. As with all of Montana, the weather can change quickly—snow can fall
in July—and hikers need to be fully prepared for whatever Mother Nature sends their way.
Farther north in the Gallatin Canyon is
Lava Lake,
a somewhat steep hike that leads you