10 Ski & Snowboard Areas in Idaho That You Shouldn't Miss

January 24, 2022 Joeann Galban

A mixture of forested mountains, alpine peaks, wildflower meadows, deep river canyons, and high plains deserts, Idaho is a paradise for golf, skiing, fly fishing, and river rafting. Boise, the capital, is the state's largest city and airline hub. North of Boise are golf, lake, and ski resorts from McCall in the south to Sandpoint and Coeur D'Alene in the north. East of Boise are the ski slopes of Ketchum and Sun Valley. East of Sun Valley are Craters of the Moon National Monument, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and the small town of Island Park just across the border from Yellowstone National Park. Boise's Basque Museum and Cultural Center reflects having the largest Basque population in the U.S. Reflecting Idaho's diverse heritage, near the Idaho Historical Museum in Boise's Julia Davis Park is the Idaho Black History Museum's chronicle of the slave York who served the Lewis & Clark Expedition. After a family visit to the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey and an outdoor performance at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, the next stop after Boise is likely to be Payette Lake in McCall or Sun Valley and Ketchum. About 100 miles north of Boise, past Cascade Lake, McCall takes you to the shores of Payette Lake. Go golfing, fishing, hiking, biking, waterskiing, sailing, boating, or whitewater river rafting. Ski or snowshoe Brundage Mountain or Tamarack Resorts, as well as Ponderosa State Park in winter. Ice skate year-round at Manchester Ice & Event Centre. About 450 miles north of Boise, there are resort lakes near skiing and golf at Coeur d'Alene, Hayden Lake, and Sandpoint. Golf, tennis, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, rafting, and hunting are popular in Sun Valley and Ketchum. Sockeye salmon may no longer do much spawning in Redfish Lake, but the boating and mountain scenery in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area make the short trip north to Stanley worthwhile. When the snows come the whole family will head for the slopes of Soldier Mountain, Bald Mountain, Dollar Mountain, or the Sun Valley Resort. A tiny forested town of about 250 people, Island Park has a large reservoir with fishing and boating, as well as Henry's Fork of the Snake River for fly fishing. It's only 15 miles from Yellowstone as well.
Restaurants in Idaho

1. Gateway Parks

165 S Eagle Island Pkwy, Eagle, ID 83616-6224 +1 208-800-2108 [email protected] http://www.gatewayparks.com
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

Gateway Parks

Gateway Parks at Eagle Island State Parks brings the magic of winter to the treasure valley. Gateway Parks offers snow tubing without the expensive trek up to the mountains. We offer tubing, a terrain park for skiing and snowboarding, hot cocoa, snacks and a campfire. Our park is groomed daily by world-class snow park builders to ensure the perfect tubing experience every time. Book online!

2. Bear Basin Nordic Center

North Club Hill Blvd, McCall, ID 83638 +1 208-634-5691 [email protected] http://www.littleskihill.org
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 7 reviews

Bear Basin Nordic Center

Bear Basin Nordic Center Is a non-profit nordic ski area located just west of McCall. We have roughly 30 kilometers of groomed skate and classic trails, along with snow shoe trails. We offer both private and group lessons. All ages welcome!

Reviewed By michelletI4426HO - Boise, United States

A couple of friends and I stumbled upon Bear Basin while in McCall. It was our first day cross country skiing for the season and we were all very rusty. Our instructor, Ian, was an incredible teacher; engaging, helpful and talented...some say his skiing brings tears to their eyes. We were all different skill sets (complete beginner, intermediate, and advanced skier who had done a long distance races before). Ian made sure that all of us left a better skier! Nobody felt bored, left behind, or discouraged. I highly recommend Ian as an instructor and Bear Basin for cross country skiing! We can’t wait to be back again! Tell Ed we sent ya!

3. Brundage Mountain Resort

3890 Goose Lake Rd, McCall, ID 83638 +1 208-634-4151 [email protected] http://www.brundage.com
Excellent
74%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 172 reviews

Brundage Mountain Resort

Located high in the mountains of Central Idaho, Brundage Mountain is best known for its powder-packed glades and luxuriously wide groomed runs. Blessed with over 320 inches of snowfall annually, Brundage has an undisputed reputation for the Best Snow in Idaho™. 1,920 acres of terrain and 1,921 feet of vertical make Brundage Mountain an independently-owned ski resort worth the trip!

Reviewed By 463kelliea - The Woodlands, United States

This was my first time to visit and it was amazing. It helped that there was epic snow but still there were runs for the entire family. My daughter and her friends went to the ski school and there skills improved each day. Everyone was very friendly. The restaurant and bar was great. Even though they needed extra staff to handle the crowds, the service was great.

4. Lookout Pass

Wallace, ID 83846
Excellent
61%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 44 reviews

Lookout Pass

Scenic drive through the mountains between Idaho and Montana.

Reviewed By workhardplayhard27 - Mantorville, United States

I have no experience with the ski side of things, but can definitely recommend their bicycle rental program during the summer months. We rented bikes to ride the Hiawatha Trail from Lookout Pass. We were able to get trail passes, shuttle tickets, and bike rentals all in one place. They were extremely helpful with all aspects...helping us find the trailhead, loading our bikes, and shuttling us back to the trailhead. The folks at Lookout Pass made our bike ride one of the best parts of our recent vacation.

5. Schweitzer Mountain Resort

10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd, Sandpoint, ID 83864-9235 +1 208-263-9555 http://www.schweitzer.com/
Excellent
62%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 357 reviews

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

Mountain and ski area located in northern Idaho.

Reviewed By AniT371

We did 9 days here of snowboarding for a family of 5, second year here after discovering it from our family who lives nearby. Great staff, very friendly and fun. Stayed at the White Pine Lodge. My kids did the runs by themselves all day. Excellent prices if you book online lift tickets. Good cafeteria on site with delicious burgers, fries, drinks. My 10 year old got stuck by herself in an area hard to get out of, and a staff member pulled her by his ski pole to the run area for safety. She also have no crowds except during weekend peak times. I just wish the Musical Chairs chair would go slower upon getting off, I kept falling! The other lifts are fast and almost stop to allow you to get off easily. The area is known for excellent snow, no crowds, and good variety of runs. This place is a hidden gem.

6. Bald Mountain

Sun Valley, ID +1 888-490-5950 http://www.sunvalley.com/lift-tickets
Excellent
73%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 141 reviews

Bald Mountain

Reviewed By mechandler

My home. . . Mt Baldy is host to skiers from all over the world. A wide variety of long runs with great snow that is supported by artificial for early season cover. 3000 vert ft will challenge your lets but there are several beautiful lodges around the mountain for recovery! Great for families if all are strong intermediate and above. Lower lever skiers will be happier on Dollar mtn nearby. Many options for physically challenged skiers served by Higher Ground USA.

7. Sun Valley Resort

1 Sun Valley Road, Sun Valley, ID 83353 (800) 786-8259 [email protected] https://www.sunvalley.com/
Excellent
66%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 288 reviews

Sun Valley Resort

Whether it's an exciting day on the slopes of Bald Mountain, or a relaxing sleigh ride or round of golf, Idaho's famous year-round resort promises a variety of recreation for outdoor enthusiasts.

Reviewed By jimrusssauer - Austin, United States

Sun Valley is our Favorite NA Ski resort and we have skied almost everywhere in Colorado, CA, Utah, NM and Canada. This was our 3rd visit in 5 years. The mountain and the town have a down home feel and folks are incredibly friendly. The mountain can be challenging but SV grooms almost every Blue and Green run every night. SV also has great snow making so even in a year like 2021 where not much snow has fallen, SV still has plenty. We skied all over but our favorite is Seattle Ridge Runs. They say Green on the map, but most are probably blues in any other resort. No houses on the Mountain which are a true Ski experience and also keeps the crowds away. Not easy to get to but worth it when you get there!

8. Pebble Creek

3340 East Green Canyon Road, Inkom, ID 83245 +1 877-524-7669 [email protected] http://pebblecreekskiarea.com/
Excellent
58%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
25%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 12 reviews

Pebble Creek

With a vertical drop of 2,200 feet and 54 trails on over 650 ski-able acres, skiers will find a variety of runs that suit their skill level and style.

9. Pomerelle Mountain Resort

State Highway 77, Albion, ID 83311-0158 +1 208-673-5599 [email protected] http://www.pomerelle-mtn.com/
Excellent
54%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 28 reviews

Pomerelle Mountain Resort

Challenging runs for skiers, exciting terrain for snowboarders and scenic trails for cross-country enthusiasts make this mountain area a popular outdoor resort.

Reviewed By davidwP2995FU - Boise, United States

Incredible, very nice ski area, friendly people. Snowed all day long made for 6"-8" powder on groomed base. Night skiing also.

10. Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area

2405 N Bogus Basin Rd, Boise, ID 83702-0905 +1 208-332-5151 [email protected] http://www.bogusbasin.org/
Excellent
56%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 234 reviews

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area

Reviewed By DeeG626 - Driggs, United States

We went with our three grandchildren and their dad to Bogus. We had a full 5 hours of fun. We all loved the mountain coaster and all the other fun things like the bungee trampoline jump, climbing wall and tube slide. The food was excellent too and reasonable for a resort. I recommend if for a day of fun

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