Big Sky, Montana, and Deer Valley, Utah, are putting new experiences at the centre of the United States winter tourism season, with high-altitude sightseeing, expanded ski terrain, family-friendly mountain activities and resort access shaping the way travellers can experience the snow. From Lone Peak views in Montana to new ski runs around Park City, the destinations are adding more ways to spend time in the mountains without making skiing the only reason to visit.
For winter travellers, the appeal begins with access. Big Sky now connects Mountain Village with Lone Peak through its Explorer Gondola and Lone Peak Tram, while Deer Valley has expanded its ski network and introduced new lifts and terrain for the 2025-26 season.
Big Sky opens the mountain to more travellers
At Big Sky Resort, the winter experience reaches 11,166 feet at Lone Peak. The Kircliff alpine observatory provides a glass-enclosed viewpoint with 360-degree views across the surrounding mountain landscape, while the Explorer Gondola provides access for skiers and walking visitors.
That makes the mountain relevant to more than experienced skiers. Visitors can travel upwards simply to see the landscape, while skiers can continue towards the Lone Peak Tram and the resort’s higher terrain.
The Explorer Gondola also includes heated seats and floor-to-ceiling windows, adding a sightseeing element to the journey. The system connects Mountain Village with the Bowl and then links with the Lone Peak Tram, creating a base-to-summit route through the resort.
Winter activities extend beyond skiing
Big Sky has developed a broad winter activity programme for travellers who want time away from the ski runs. Snowshoe tours take visitors through the meadows and forests surrounding Lone Mountain, while the resort also offers Nordic skiing, dog sledding, snowmobile excursions and winter experiences connected with Yellowstone.
Families can also explore the Enchanted Forest, a winter trail illuminated with more than 10,000 lights. The experience follows a gentle snowy route and includes access to heated gondola seating, making it suitable for visitors looking for a slower evening activity.
Dining has become another part of the mountain itinerary. Big Sky’s winter programme includes dinner experiences reached by sleigh or snowcat, while Iglu, a snow-and-ice structure at the base of the Lone Peak Tram, provides another seasonal stop for visitors.
Deer Valley expands its ski territory
In Park City, Deer Valley Resort has entered a major expansion phase. For the 2025-26 season, the resort added seven chairlifts and nearly 80 new ski runs, taking its skiable terrain beyond 4,300 acres. The expansion includes the East Village Express, a 10-passenger gondola connecting Deer Valley East Village with Park Peak.
The new terrain includes runs designed for different ability levels, including the 4.8-mile Green Monster. The resort has also named 100 new ski runs connected with the expansion and Park City’s mining history.
For travellers planning a longer ski holiday, the additional terrain creates more routes to explore across the resort. The new lift network also provides access to areas that were previously outside Deer Valley’s established skiing footprint.
Limited daily access remains part of the experience
Despite the expansion, Deer Valley continues to limit daily lift-ticket sales. The resort describes its ski experience as ski-only, with a focus on controlled daily skier numbers alongside the expanded terrain.
The resort has also introduced the Corduroy Lunch Club, giving visitors access to freshly groomed runs around midday. Each day, approximately three to six runs can be opened for the experience, creating another way for skiers to use the newer terrain.
For families, Deer Valley also has established ski-school services, dining facilities, day lodges and rental services. The East Village development adds skier services, dining and other visitor facilities close to the expanded terrain.
Planning a US winter mountain escape
Big Sky and Deer Valley offer different approaches to winter travel. Big Sky combines high-altitude sightseeing with skiing, snowshoeing, dining and access towards Yellowstone, while Deer Valley centres its expanded mountain network around skiing, lift access, accommodation, dining and family services.
For visitors planning a winter itinerary, both destinations allow the mountain itself to become the main part of the journey. Travellers can build days around skiing and snowboarding, but they can also include scenic rides, winter walks, food experiences, family activities and time in nearby communities.
The result is a broader winter tourism calendar in Montana and Utah, where mountain holidays increasingly include experiences both on and away from the slopes. From the summit views of Lone Peak to Deer Valley’s expanded network above Park City, the 2025-26 season gives travellers more ways to explore the American winter landscape.
