West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center

Welcome to the Big Sky Drive! This scenic drive packs the very best of Montana into a single breathtaking route. We’ll see lofty peaks and pristine rivers, rocky canyons and wide plains, all while hearing about the fascinating history of this landscape. Note: This 80-mile-long tour covers the essentials of Big Sky Drive in 2-3 hours.

30 minutes

Madison River

The Madison travels over 150 miles from Yellowstone National Park all the way to the Missouri River near Three Forks. Its story begins long, long ago, during the Ice Age!

30 minutes

U.S. Route 191

We’re cruising along U.S. Highway 191. If we were to keep driving to its end, we’d land right near the U.S.-Canada border. If we turned around and drove the other way, it would take us all the way to the red deserts of Arizona! In other words, it’s a mighty long road!

2 hours

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This 10,000-foot mountain in the Gallatin Range gets its name from Chief Crowfoot, a celebrated leader of the Blackfoot tribe. Legend has it that a hungry grizzly bear once wandered into Chief Crowfoot’s camp, searching for prey. The warriors were away, and only Crowfoot stood between the bear and his people. But he picked up a spear and faced down the beast without fear. A fierce battle ensued… and Crowfoot won!

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We’re driving almost exactly on the state line between Montana and Wyoming. The mountains to our right belong to the Gallatin Range, much of which stretches down into Wyoming.

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Up ahead, we’ll soon see the mighty Gallatin River alongside the road. We’ll get to know the Gallatin very well today: Our route will follow the river almost all the way to our final destination!

Gallatin National Forest (Pass By)

See that cluster of mountains directly in front of us? In the middle stands King Butte, and to the right is Big Horn Peak. Each of these mountains rises to almost 10,000 feet!

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The peak rising on our left is Cinnamon Mountain. This sweet-sounding peak actually holds an important place in the history of Montana wildfires.

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In a few miles, we’ll pass the turn-off for the famous Big Sky Ski Resort, which helped put these mountains on the map. But how did this resort get here in the first place? It started with Montana native Chet Huntley.

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In a few miles, we’ll pass the turn-off for the famous Big Sky Ski Resort, which helped put these mountains on the map. But how did this resort get here in the first place? It started with Montana native Chet Huntley.

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The leftmost mountain in front of us is Mount Chipperfield. Directly to the right of it stands Wilson Peak, towering at 10,600 feet. Can you guess the namesake of Wilson Peak? I’ll give you a hint: He ratified the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote.

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In a moment, we’ll pass the road which leads to Big Sky Meadow Village and the Big Sky Ski Resort. When we do, make sure you look to the left to catch a glimpse of Lone Mountain.

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The mountains on our left belong to a sub-range of the Madisons known as the Spanish Peaks.

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This moderately challenging, 5-mile hike climbs almost 2,000 feet in elevation and can take over three hours to complete, but it rewards hikers with a seriously magnificent sight: Lave Lake! Contrary to the name, this pristine snow-fed lake is very, very chilly. Forested slopes climb around the lake on all sides, and you’ll be able to catch great views right into the center of the Spanish Peaks.

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The Big Sky region has seen no shortage of conflicts. But a much quieter battle rages around us right now. As we’ve been driving, you’ve probably seen sections of the valley covered in grayish-green scrub. Some of this vegetation is sagebrush, an important shrub in the area.

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U.S. Route 191 runs through the bottom of the Canyon, following the natural path of the Gallatin River. This has been an essential passageway for millennia. Animals often follow the river and the relatively flat land that surrounds it, hoping to avoid the craggy terrain higher in the mountains. Indigenous tribes like the Shoshone and the Bannock flocked down the Gallatin River Canyon, pulling fish and aquatic plants from its waters.

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See that tall, rocky outcropping to our right? That’s the 7,000-foot mountain known by the dramatic name Storm Castle.

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As we drive, make sure to keep an eye out for another classic Montana character: the mule deer.

Gallatin Gateway (Pass By)

During the 1800s, all sorts of ranchers, cattlemen, and homesteaders who spread down the length of the Gallatin River stopped in Gallatin Gateway as they made their way to and from Bozeman.

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The town gets its name from John Bozeman, who came here in the late 1800s. What makes him so important? Well, he masterminded the Bozeman Trail!