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The setting of ABC’s Big Sky Season 1 and 2 are generally remote highways in Montana and the city of Helena, however, that’s not where it’s filmed. The first season of the TV series wasn’t shot anywhere near Montana, and the second season won’t be either. So, here’s how they pull off those gorgeous mountain shots in Big Sky and where they actually filmed the series.

Big Sky star Jade Pettyjohn acting as Grace while filming on location
‘Big Sky’: Jade Pettyjohn as Grace | Darko Sikman/ Getty Images

Where was ‘Big Sky’ Season 1 filmed?

For Big Sky Season 1, the cast and crew flew to Vancouver and various locations in British Columbia. However, the aerial shots of the town and that beautiful Montana skyline did come from the rocky mountain state. 

According to Atlas of Wonders, the Dewell and Hoyt Private Investigations office is a baby clothing store in Fort Langley in British Columbia, Canada. The production used numerous spots in the town for the set, including Cassie Dewell’s (Kylie Bunbury) house and Merilee Legarski’s (Brooke Smith) quilt store.

The showrunner also filmed several scenes of Big Sky Season 1 in Downtown Vancouver. The medical clinic was an empty store in the city. Meanwhile, the cast and crew mostly filmed the outdoor scenes in Squamish Valley. The road where Ronald Pergman (Brian Geraghty) intercepts Danielle (Natalie Alyn Lind) and Grace Sullivan (Jade Pettyjohn) isn’t anywhere near Yellowstone Park in real life. Off-screen, the forest is a rainforest near Squamish Valley. 

Ronald’s house, where he kills his mother, Helen Pergman (Valerie Mahaffey), is in the real-life town of Surrey. Plus, the truck stop is 96 miles east of Vancouver, in Fraser Valley. So, only the aerial shots featured real-life Montana. However, the filming location moves so far for Big Sky Season 2 that it might look like a completely different show.

Where was ‘Big Sky’ Season 2 filmed?

The cast and crew move to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, for Big Sky Season 2. However, according to Deadline, the storyline won’t change. The series began filming for the second season in August 2021 and will continue there through April 2022.

“For years, I’ve had friends rave to me about their experience filming in New Mexico,” executive producer Elwood Reid told the outlet about the change. “I’m excited to bring the second season of Big Sky to the Land of Enchantment. The excellent crews, the facilities, and natural beauty of New Mexico has so far exceeded expectations. We are looking forward to a great year!”

How might the setting of ‘Big Sky’ change with the new location?

Many viewers might be wondering how Big Sky continues with their storyline if they filmed at a different location? However, the answer is relatively simple. Many of the locations used in Big Sky Season 1 won’t be used again. For instance, Ronald blew up his family home, so the storyline won’t head back there. The storyline with Danielle and Grace also wrapped up, so there’s no need to revisit the remote locations they were held.

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Many of the same characters return to investigate a new crime in Helena. According to the Deadline article, Cassie and Jenny Hoyt (Katheryn Winnick) reconvene on a new case investigating a car crash outside Helena, Montana, when Big Sky Season 2 returns. Ronald and his girlfriend, Scarlet (Anja Savcic), continue on the run, so they, too head to a new location. 

The fluidity with which the story pivots in Big Sky allowed the producers to quickly move the filming location for season 2, without most viewers noticing at all. 

Big Sky Season 2 premieres on Sept. 30 (on a new night along with the filming location change) at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.

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