Montana Cable Car Gives Access to Snow in Summer

With extreme heat return to parts of the US, Montana’s Big Sky resort is advising mountain lovers that the gateway to the cool air of the high alpine begins with their Lone Peak Tram. The new tram, opened in December 2023, is in its inaugural summer of operations and provides access to the summit of Lone Mountain via the Lone Peak Expedition.  

Starting from the Mountain Village base area, the Lone Peak Expedition begins with a short ride up the Swift Current 6 chairlift, whisking guests from the base area up to 9,100 feet. At the top of the lift, guests load into a custom Lone Peak Expedition vehicle for a short ride to the base of the Lone Peak Tram.

Guests load the tram, where floor-to-ceiling windows await. Two glass windows on the floor reveal a bird’s eye view of the tram’s 2,142-foot vertical ascent to the summit of Lone Mountain.

“The new tram provides a fresh perspective of the mountains, and the views start from right inside the tram cabin,” said Christine Baker, the resort’s vice president of Mountain Sports. “On a clear day, you can see the Tetons from inside the tram.”

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Stepping off the tram, guests are greeted by 360-degree views at Montana’s highest scenic overlook. Views extend to Grand Teton and Yellowstone, including several mountain ranges in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

“Lone Peak Expedition guides bring local knowledge to the experience, pointing out surrounding mountain ranges, local flora, and keeping an eye out for mountain goats,” Baker said.

Guests will spend approximately 30 minutes on the summit drinking in the endless mountain views before heading down the same way they arrived.

Tours to the 11,166-foot summit are available Friday through Sunday until September 8. The Lone Peak Expedition is guided, though it requires no hiking, and lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes