Despite being a sometimes neglected ski destination, Idaho is home to several amazing ski resorts that are well worth visiting. Idaho offers some of the top ski resorts in the US thanks to its varied geography and high-altitude mountains. Every skier can find something to enjoy, from demanding slopes to family-friendly locations. Consider Idaho if you’re organizing a ski trip this winter and searching for new territory to explore.
The best ski resorts in Idaho will be discussed in this post, along with what to expect when you visit each one and what makes it special.
#1. Sun Valley Resort
The most popular resort in Idaho is Sun Valley, which is famous as the birthplace of the chairlift. Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain are the resort’s two principal mountains. Each season, Sun Valley receives just over 18 feet of snow on average. The ski resort boasts more than 3,400 feet of vertical drop, 121 named slopes, and a total of 600 snowmaking guns. The 12 terrain parks offer something for both boarders and freestylers to enjoy.
Recently, Sun Valley undertook a significant new development that resulted in the addition of 380 acres of new terrain known as the Sunrise Zone. The previous Cold Springs chair has been retired and transferred to another California resort, where it will spend the remainder of its useful life. The new Broadway chair, a high-speed detachable quad chair, will make it simple to get from the base to the mountain’s most desirable spots.
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#2. Ski Tamarack Resort
About a 1.5-hour drive from Boise, in the Payette River Mountains, is where you’ll find Tamarack Resort. There are seven lifts here that serve 50 runs. This resort protects you from the predominant westerly winds by the hill’s easterly orientation. Long cruisers and other novice and intermediate runs can be reached from the Tamarack Express lift. People who are looking for more adventure or tree skiing should go to the Wildwood Express lift and enter “The Grove.”
Six new lifts, including a gondola, are part of Tamarack’s ambitious expansion ambitions. The mountain is also recommending a brand-new all-season facility where the proposed gondola would discharge passengers, in addition to the enormous increase in lift capacity. The resort will become a significant player in the Idaho ski scene as a result of these upgrades. Watch this space to find out when shovels are placed in the ground.
Tamarack offers three terrain parks with cutting-edge attractions for all ability levels, in addition to skiing. Accommodations with ski-in and ski-out access are offered at the base area or in a nearby town.
#3. Bogus Basin
Bogus Basin is a well-liked and convenient ski resort for everyone in Idaho’s capital because it is a mountain recreation area close to Boise, Idaho. With 10 lifts and more than 80 designated routes, the 1,800-foot (550 m) elevation resort has 2,600 acres (1,052 hectares) of skiable land. Additionally, it offers a tubing hill and more than 37 km of Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and fat-tire biking routes. The ski mountain offers a breathtaking perspective of Boise, and the nighttime view is especially stunning. Take Bogus Basin Road to 1754 Bogus Basin Rd. to get there.
Consider booking a room in a hotel in the heart of Boise for more affordable lodging. For those who stay at their affiliated downtown hotels, Bogus Basin provides discounted ski lift tickets and activity passes. This resorts is one of the must-visit ski resorts in Idaho.
#4. Schweitzer Mountain Resort
With more than 2,900 acres of skiable terrain, Schweitzer is Idaho’s largest ski resort. It is known for its superb tree skiing and boasts 92 named routes in addition to large open bowls. Stella, the only six-passenger chairlift in Idaho, is one of the resort’s ten lifts. There are also three terrain parks. Every Friday and Saturday night, night skiing is offered, and night riding is permitted at the Stomping Grounds terrain park.
Selkirk Powder Guides offers CAT skiing and heli-skiing, and the resort has a number of dining options. Accommodations are accessible slope-side in the base village area or in the charming town of Sandpoint, which is about 30 minutes away. Air access is simple from neighboring Spokane, Washington.
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#5. Ski Lookout Pass
The ski area has three different mountain ranges, each with its own chairlift that connects them at the 5,650-foot top. Because of the layout’s ease of navigation, you can focus more on your skiing technique and less on where you’re going. The slopes at Lookout Pass are typically calm, and the larger Idaho resorts frequently receive more attention than Lookout Pass does.
Additionally, the ski school on-site offers professional instruction. The terrain parks in this area have features specifically designed for beginner freestylers, such as an all-natural quarter pipe at Rolling Thunder and entry-level features at Huckleberry Jam. Only a 20-minute drive away, in the town of Wallace, are affordable hotels, inns, and motels.
#6. Brundage Mountain
A ski resort for adventurers and explorers, Brundage Mountain is strategically placed to catch storms that move in from the north and south. With two terrain parks featuring rails, boxes, jibes, and rollers, the resort is well known for its tree skiing, lift-serviced backcountry bowls, and tree skiing. Six lifts are on the mountain, one of which is a high-speed quad; the other five are a mix of vintage triples and a conveyer for novices.
The vertical drop is slightly under 2,000 feet; but, if you’re looking for more vertical, consider signing up for CAT skiing, which will give you access to 18,000 acres of unexplored snow.
#7. Ski Silver Mountain
You must travel a 3-mile gondola up 3,400 feet before you can access Silver Mountain’s slopes, so you’ll have plenty of time to review the trail map and organize your skiing day. The ski resort’s average annual snowfall is 340 inches, making it ideal for intermediate and advanced skiers. The North Face Glades offers skilled skiers a very difficult tree run, but there is enough easier terrain where you can cut new trails amongst the imposing ponderosa pines.
At the Morning Star Lodge, a selection of suites, studios, and condos are offered close to the gondola. Additionally, guests who stay here receive free access to the sizable Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark, which features a lazy river, a FlowRider surf machine, and water slides.
#8. Soldier Mountain
This is also one of the well-liked ski resorts to visit in Idaho. Near Kellogg, there is a little ski hill by the name ”Soldier Mountain”. It has two chairlifts and a surface lift. It provides services to the neighborhood and has a vintage appearance. Soldier Mountain is a reasonably priced ski resort with minimal lift and instruction fees, and the terrain is geared for beginning and intermediate skiers.
The High Trail Express chair sits next to the terrain park, which has the usual selection of humps, bumps, jumps, and rails. For those who like to venture above and beyond the lift-served terrain, snowcat skiing is offered, which will take them to the region close to Smoky Dome’s peak at a height of 10,095 feet.
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What Resort in Idaho Gets the Most Snow?
Independently owned, Brundage Mountain is a traditional Idaho ski resort with spectacular terrain and a welcoming atmosphere. It is situated high in the mountains of central Idaho. With more than 320 base area inches of snow falling on average each year, Brundage Mountain is without a doubt popular as having the best snow in Idaho.
What Is Ski Season in Idaho?
The ski season in Idaho normally starts in mid-to-late November and lasts until mid- to early May. The state’s whole surface is covered by the 18 resorts. In Idaho, you can go on cat or heli-skiing excursions at places like Brundage Mountain, Grand Targhee, Schweitzer Mountain, Soldier Mountain, and Sun Valley.
What Month Is Snow Best for Skiing?
The best months to go skiing are December through April, which is the major ski season in most resorts. Each month offers different skiing opportunities.