Big Sky Resort is one of the most popular ski destinations in the United States. For years, it has been a favorite among skiers and snowboarders who are looking for a top-notch experience on the slopes.
However, many people wonder if Big Sky is really the biggest resort out there. In this article, we will take a closer look at Big Sky and compare it to other resorts to determine if it truly deserves its title as the biggest resort.
First off, let’s define what we mean by “biggest resort.” There are a few different ways to measure a resort’s size.
One way is by acreage – how much land does the resort occupy? Another way is by number of runs – how many different trails are there for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy? And finally, we can look at lift capacity – how many people can the lifts move per hour?
In terms of acreage, Big Sky is certainly up there. It spans over 5,800 acres and has an impressive vertical drop of 4,350 feet.
It’s surrounded by beautiful mountains and offers breathtaking views from its slopes. However, when compared to other resorts in North America, it falls short of being the largest.
For example, Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia spans over 8,100 acres and boasts a vertical drop of 5,280 feet. Vail in Colorado also beats out Big Sky with its 5,317 acres of skiable terrain. So while Big Sky is certainly large in size, it’s not quite the biggest resort out there.
When it comes to number of runs, Big Sky holds its own. It has over 300 named runs and 36 lifts that can move up to 36,000 people per hour.
This means that even on busy days, you won’t have to wait too long for a lift up the mountain. And with such a wide variety of runs, there’s something for every skill level at Big Sky.
But once again, there are other resorts that have even more runs. Park City Mountain Resort in Utah has over 300 runs and 41 lifts, while Whistler Blackcomb has a whopping 200+ runs and 37 lifts. So while Big Sky has a respectable number of runs, it’s not the most extensive in this category either.
Finally, let’s look at lift capacity. This is an important factor to consider because if a resort has lots of lifts that can move large numbers of people quickly, you’ll spend less time waiting in line and more time on the mountain.
Big Sky’s 36 lifts can move up to 36,000 people per hour – an impressive feat. However, it still falls short of some other resorts.
For example, Vail can move up to 60,000 people per hour with its 31 lifts. And Whistler Blackcomb can move up to 70,000 people per hour with its 37 lifts. So while Big Sky is certainly efficient when it comes to lift capacity, it’s not the biggest in this regard either.
In conclusion, while Big Sky Resort is a fantastic ski destination that offers breathtaking views and a wide variety of runs for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, it’s not actually the biggest resort out there. However, size isn’t everything when it comes to ski resorts – what matters most is the quality of the experience you have on the mountain. And in that regard, Big Sky certainly delivers.