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Big Couloir

Double black (extreme) Big Sky, MT

Steepest pitch46°
Vertical1,202 ft
Length2,327 ft
Average pitch32°
FacesNE
Top10,997 ft

Big Couloir drops 1,202 vertical feet over 2,327 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 46° about 140 feet below the top. That's steeper than 93% of the 2,251 double black runs we've measured in North America, and the 14th steepest of 290 named runs at Big Sky. It faces northeast.

How well Big Couloir holds snow

Snow preservationGood

Facing northeast at an average 32°, Big Couloir gets about 70% of the winter sun that flat ground at Big Sky does, December through March. That's shadier than 71% of the runs we've measured, and the 81st shadiest named run at Big Sky. Its top sits at 11,000 feet.

Shaded snow stays colder and drier, so it holds powder longer after a storm and is slower to crust over or turn to slush in spring. Shading from ridges and trees isn't counted yet.

Big Couloir profile

under 25°25–35°35–45°45°+ Hover to follow the line on the map.

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like Big Couloir elsewhere

Nearby at Big Sky

Measured by ZRankings from 1-meter USGS lidar. Steepest pitch is the steepest stretch of about 50 vertical feet along the skiable line. Run lines come from OpenStreetMap and can sit a little off the skied path.