This Beloved U.S. Ski Resort Now Has the World's Longest 8-passenger Chairlift — and It Gets 400 Inches of Snow a Year

Less than 100 years ago, if you wanted to ski, you had to hike for it. It wasn't until Union Pacific — yes, the railroad company — developed Sun Valley in Idaho, the first ski resort in the U.S., and a chairlift along with it. And while there have been plenty of advancements since then, Big Sky in Montana is topping them all.

In December, Big Sky Resort debuted the Madison 8 chairlift, replacing the former Six Shooter lift on the resort's Moonlight Basin side. Big Sky is now North America's only ski destination with three bubble D-line lifts and two eight-place lifts. But that's not the only accolade for this lift. With an incline length of 8,631 feet, it's also the world's longest eight-passenger chairlift.

"Since Big Sky 2025 was announced nine years ago, we've had an ambition to create North America's most technologically advanced lift network," Troy Nedved, the resort's president and COO, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. "Madison 8, our twelfth new lift installed since 2016, certainly makes this a reality."

Related: Night Skiing Is the Best Type of Skiing — and It's Even Better at Montana's Big Sky Resort

Of course, the lifts aren't the only reason to love Big Sky. It's also a place where skiers and riders can explore 5,850 acres of skiable terrain (also one of the largest in the United States), across 320 named runs, from gentle green groomers to expert-only chutes. The mountain's trails break down to 21 percent beginner, 14 percent intermediate, 15 percent advanced-intermediate, 31 percent advanced, 11 percent expert, and eight percent reserved for "extreme" skiers and riders. There are also five terrain parks on site for those who want to throw a few tricks and impress their friends.

Best of all, from each and every one of those runs, guests get breathtaking views of the rugged Montana wilderness. And the mountain is only going to get better and more advanced from here. As the Big Sky 2025 plan further explains, the Explorer Gondola is expected to come online over the winter 2025/2026 season, replacing the Explorer chairlift, while the new gondola mid-station will also help expand the Big Sky Mountain Sports School with new magic carpets and easy terrain for beginners.

And soon, when you're ready for a break, you can head into the new food and beverage hub at the connection point between the gondola and tram. It will be home to several dining outlets, including fine dining, new bars, and comfort food options, all with floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out to panoramic views of Lone Peak. And that's all a future we can look forward to. 

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