There are a number of excellent Idaho ski resorts to pick from, whether you want to take the kids skiing or you just want to get away from it all. We’ve compiled a couple of the top examples here.
Idaho’s Best Skiing: Brundage Mountain
Brundage Mountain is Idaho’s renowned ski destination in central Idaho. It is also regarded as a top ski destination in the United States. It offers a great deal of variety in terms of both terrain and snowfall, in addition to some really nice facilities.
The Payette National Forest is the setting for Brundage Mountain. The peak of this mountain stands at an impressive 7,640 feet and is found not far from the city of McCall. It is widely considered to be one of the finest ski areas in Idaho due to its plentiful supply of fresh snow and treeless glades. Snowcat skiing is also quite well-liked there.
The resort provides lessons for both skiing and snowboarding, as well as a designated area for novices. A day care center is also available for working parents. Mountain biking and disc golf, both accessible via chairlift, are also available to guests. Brundage Mountain is home to a variety of restaurants. A cafeteria may be found at the main lodge, while another can be found on the mountain. Ski and snowboard gear can be rented nearby.
There is between 300 and 350 inches of snowfall every year in the resort, which is situated at a height of 7,640 feet above sea level. Snow may be found on around a third of the trails at the ski resort. A total of 68 trails with varying degrees of difficulty can be found at the resort.
USA Today has recognized Brundage Mountain as a “Top Ten” ski area in the United States. It’s a three-time nominee for this honor.
The town of McCall is only 8 miles away. The resort has superb snow, a wide range of courses, and lessons for novices on skis and snowboards. It also features a cafeteria, a snowboard rental shop, and a ski school for beginners.
Schweitzer Mountain
More than 2,700 skiable acres may be found on Schweitzer Mountain in northern Idaho. The peak is situated between the Selkirk Mountains and features two enormous troughs. As an added bonus, there is a wide range of slopes to suit skiers of all abilities.
There are 10 lifts, and the mountain receives an average of 300 inches of snow per season. Being one of the top ski resorts in Idaho, it also provides a wide range of exciting mountain pursuits.
There is a wide variety of restaurants to choose from. There are backcountry bowls and inbound glades for the daring. There is also a tubing slope and a place to go night skiing.
Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, hiking, mountain biking, and even heli-skiing are just a few of the many sports available at the Schweitzer Mountain Resort. In addition to a free movie theater, this mountain resort features a full service restaurant.
From Spokane, Boise, and Seattle, a trip to Schweitzer Mountain may be made in just a few hours. Skiers can take advantage of cheap lift tickets and a tranquil setting at this resort.
You’ll find Idaho’s only high-speed lift for six riders at Schweitzer Mountain Resort. The resort’s tree skiing is also well regarded. The snow and weather on Schweitzer Mountain may be viewed in amazing detail via a live webcam.
Skiers want to avoid the crowds at other Idaho mountains can head to Schweitzer Mountain. There is no pretension or grandeur at this modest resort. Its proximity to Canada makes it an appealing stopover for transcontinental journeys.
There has been a recent uptick in ski tourism in Idaho. There has been a lot of growth and development at the ski resorts, and many of them now have extra services available. Additional snowfall on the mountain is extending the season for winter sports enthusiasts.
Silver Peak
Silver Mountain is an Inland Pacific Northwest ski resort with about 292 inches of snow every year. It’s a great place for skiers of all skill levels because it has two mountains to choose from. Trails wind across the area’s more than 150 acres of glades. You may take the kids on a memorable vacation to Silver Mountain.
Riders in the intermediate skill range will enjoy Silver Mountain. Additionally, Silver Mountain features a terrain park equipped with rails and groomed runs. The resort caters more toward novice and intermediate skiers than it does to advanced skiers or super euro-carvers.
Northern Idaho is home to Silver Mountain, namely the Silver Valley area. Travel time to Couer d’Alene, the next city, is about 40 minutes. Each year, the resort is graced with 300 inches of snow, making it a premier spot for a wide variety of wintry pursuits. The resort is open all year round, with winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing and tubing, and summer sports like mountain biking.
The longest gondola in the world may be found at Silver Mountain. The gondola starts in Kellogg and terminates at Silver Mountain’s day lodge. Even though the gondola ride is 3.1 miles long, the resort almost never has to close because of a wait in the lift lines.
Powder Alliance is a network of ski areas that includes Silver Mountain Resort, allowing you to use your pass there as well as at other member destinations. Silver Rapids Water Park, Idaho’s largest indoor water park, sells tickets here as well. They include two Tiki bars and a lazy river. Additionally, the Idaho Panhandle National Forest is a great place to go snowmobiling.
South of Interstate 90 in Shoshone County sits Silver Mountain Resort. Its highest point is 6,300 feet above sea level. A total of three square miles (1,600 acres) are available for skiing.
Bogus Basin Resort
There is a lot to do and see in Bogus Basin, which is only 16 miles north of Boise, Idaho. However, the area is much more than a ski lodge. The area is also fantastic for mountain biking and other outdoor pursuits.
Skiing is permitted on 2,600 acres of Bogus Basin’s land. Additionally, they’ve made an attempt to upgrade their snowmaking machinery. They have even replaced the elevators. Twenty miles of trails are groomed and a further four miles are lit up for night use at the Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area. There is a tubing slope at Bogus Basin.
If you’re looking for a great place to ski in Idaho, go no further than Bogus Basin. Open throughout winter, this ski resort relies solely on donations to operate. It features 86 different runs and a respectable 1,800 feet of vertical drop. That’s not all: it’s also the biggest ski area in all of Southern Idaho.
Bogus has been a favorite with mountain bikers and alpine touring skiers for years. In addition to 11 different restaurants, there is also a tubing hill, disc golf, a yurt. Ride the only mountain coaster in the state of Idaho.
A free 10-mile loop trail, Around the Mountain may be found near Bogus Basin. In addition to being a fantastic route for when you’re on the slopes, it’s also a lot of fun when you’re not.
The Glade Runner Mountain Coaster is a two-person cart that travels down a winding track of about four thousand feet through an Alpine woodland for an additional cost. There are 88 designated downhill ski trails at Bogus Basin.
There are 37 kilometers of Nordic skiing and snowshoeing paths in the Bogus Basin. There are 11 restaurants to choose from, such as a Smokehouse and a yurt decorated in Hawaiian style. You can either stay in a yurt or the Pioneer Condominiums if you need a place to rest your head.
Grand Targhee Skiing
Skiers can visit Grand Targhee, a resort that spans two mountains and is located in Alta, Wyoming, on the boundary between Wyoming and Idaho. The resort has terrain suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. The trail network is diverse and extensive, not to mention easy to navigate and plenty of fun.
Targhee is not only a ski resort; there is lots to do than ski. In addition to downhill and cross-country skiing, the resort also features tubing. They also have nature walks with a guide. There is also a day spa, ski school, and general store.
Targhee is a great place to go skiing if you’re on a budget. There are only three lodges with a total of a few hundred beds. Several families have owned the resort over the years, and it is now run by George and Rose Gillett. More housing is being built as part of plans to enlarge the base area.
Deep snowfall is a trademark of the region. This area receives a lot of snow each year, and it’s one of very few that does not also receive heavy snowfall in Alaska.
While it is true that Grand Targhee has some of the most challenging and steep terrain, it is generally regarded as a less harsh ski resort. There are now two terrain parks at the resort as of January 2016.
Mary’s Nipple is a short stroll from the Fred’s Mountain lift and provides easy access to the backcountry for those seeking an off-piste experience. Cat skiing is available, making this a great destination for first-timers on the slopes.
Towards the western side of the Tetons sits the Grand Targhee Resort. There are three lifts at the resort, one of which is a fixed-grip chairlift. Two express quad chairlifts are also available. There are many intermediate runs and glades on the mountain, among other types of terrain.
