BOZEMAN AND THE GATEWAY TO YELLOWSTONE - Montana and Wyoming - page 402

to a crystalline icy-cold mountain lake. (From Big Sky, the trailhead is 13.5 miles north
on U.S. 191, just north of the Gallatin River Bridge, but since left turns cannot be made
from there, you will need to turn around at the first turnout and approach the gravel turnoff
from the north.) The 6-mile there-and-back trail is almost entirely shaded and is an excel-
lent choice on a sweltering day.
Golf
For those who choose to hoof it around the links instead of a mountain trail, the 18-hole
Arnold Palmer-designed Big Sky Golf Course (Meadow Village, 406/995-5780,
www.bigskyresort.com , $74 for 18 holes, $57 after 2pm) is open to nonguests and is well
worth playing. There is abundant wildlife often sharing the par-72 course. A driving range,
bar and grill, and full pro shop are available.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Big Sky was built as a resort, and it caters to visitors and vacationers. There is a wide range
of accommodations, from ski-in/ski-out mountainside lodging to rustic roadside motels, in-
viting guest ranches, luxe resorts, and condo or cabin rentals, that can address your specific
needs—staying put or traveling around, skiing or golfing, walking or driving to dinner.
For the best bang for your buck, try the Corral Motel (U.S. 191, 5 miles south of Big
Sky, 406/995-4249 or 888/995-4249, www.corralbar.com , from $70), which also has a ter-
rific restaurant and bar open year-round. The guest rooms are basic but clean and comfort-
able, with honeyed pine paneling that evokes the best of Western hospitality.
Closer to Big Sky is Buck's T-4 Lodge (46625 Gallatin Rd., 1 mile south of Big Sky,
406/995-4111 or 800/822-4484, www.buckst4.com , $159-189), a very comfortable hotel
with newly remodeled rooms, a great bar, and one of the best restaurants in the region. The
roadside location leaves something to be desired in ambience and views, but it is conveni-
ent.
On top of the mountain is the Summit at Big Sky (Mountain Village Center, 800/
548-4486, www.bigskyresort.com , studio rooms starting at $237), a deluxe slopeside facil-
ity with the convenience of a hotel and the amenities of a condo. It offers both residences
and temporary lodging, all in a comfortable and sophisticated atmosphere. There are indoor
and outdoor pools, hot tubs, a sauna and fitness facility, and fireplaces in most accommod-
ations. Lodging packages can include lift tickets. Both Big Sky Resort (800/548-4486) and
Moonlight Basin Resort (800/845-4428) can arrange a variety of lodging from slopeside
rooms and condos to ski-in/ski-out cabins and homes for rent.