Summer Hiking at Moonlight Basin (Big Sky Resort)

Moonlight Basin and Big Sky Resort

Moonlight Basin opened as an independent ski area in December 2003, on the north face of Lone Mountain. In October 2013 it merged with Big Sky Resort (Wikipedia). The moonlightbasin.com website now presents Moonlight Basin as an 8,000-acre landscape combining scenery, homes and mountain activities, with member resources. It is owned by Lone Mountain Land Company.

Its summer page describes private trails for hiking and mountain biking, the biking trails being directly connected to the Big Sky Resort network. The page does not say who may use those trails, so ask Moonlight Basin before planning a walk there.

The Lodge Loop, the trail that touches Moonlight

In its list of summer trails, Big Sky Resort describes the Lodge Loop as a moderate loop (blue, intermediate marker) through forests and neighbourhoods. It connects the Lake Lodge, Moonlight Lodge and Otter Way.

• Length: 3 mi round trip (4.8 km)
• Climb: 425 ft (130 m)
• Multi-use: the page lists the Lodge Loop among trails best suited to people who know the area, and asks you to watch for mountain bike traffic.

Lift-served hikes

Big Sky Resort's summer scenic lift pass covers the Explorer Gondola, Ramcharger 8 and the Lone Peak Tram, which goes up to Kircliff, a glass observation deck at 11,166 ft (3,403 m). The lifts can be ridden in either direction. The pass page mentions 35 miles of trails.

On the hiking page, two trails start from the Explorer Gondola: the Cirque Loop (0.5 mi round trip, or 0.8 km, 100 ft of climb), described as a wheelchair-accessible route through the Bowl, and the Summit Climb to the top of Lone Mountain (1.3 mi point to point, 2,100 ft of climb from the Explorer Gondola), for expert hikers only. The page does not place these trails in relation to Moonlight Basin.

Rules and safety

• Dogs: in summer, well-trained dogs are allowed on hiking and cross-country bike trails if they stay under direct control, but not on downhill mountain bike trails. Leashed, well-trained dogs may ride the Explorer Gondola and the Lone Peak Tram (owners assume the risks), but not Kircliff. Owners must pick up after their dogs.
• Bikes: bikes cannot go on the lifts with a scenic pass or scenic lift ticket.
• Bears: the hiking page advises carrying bear spray.
• Summit Climb: attempt it only with the right equipment and knowledge, according to the page.

Season

According to the summer scenic pass page, on-mountain summer offerings run June 13 to September 13, 2026. As of October 28, 2026, the resort's summer page says it is closed for the summer and asks visitors to check back in the spring for summer 2027 activities.