Idaho is better known for potatoes than powder stashes, but Sun Valley,
Brundage, Tamarack, Bogus Basin, Soldier Mountain, Schweitzer and Silver
Mountain, all offer big mountain skiing, with less crowds. Ski vacations in Idaho
can include cat skiing, and out of bounds skiing, if the ski trails and bowl
skiing isn’t enough to satisfy your ski week.
Idaho ski resorts are up and
coming, that’s a tip to go now before it’s discovered. Of course, celebrity
skiers have already discovered the slopes of Sun Valley.
Brundage Mountain Resort offers 1,500 acres of
inbounds skiing, plus 19,000 acres of snow cat skiing. Brundage is known as
having the "best snow in Idaho." Brundage is friendly, its location in
the
Payette National Forest offers stunning views and scenery of mountains and lakes.
Tamarack is the first major new ski resort development in over 20 years, with a
whopping 2,800 vertical and 3 hi-speed quads (plus a few beginner lifts), and gorgeous views of Lake Cascade
below. Tamarack has 2,100 acres of enticing terrain on the trail map, and
expansive snowy bowls can be reached with a simple traverse.
Sun Valley is America’s original ski resort, in 1936 the first chairlift debuted
on Dollar Mountain, and this beautiful part of Idaho in the Sawtooth National
Forest has been famous, and attracting the famous, ever since. Legendary for its
long steep ski runs, Sun Valley’s 3,400’ vertical and 2,054 acres is accessed by
19 lifts on Bald and Dollar Mountains. It’s not just about skiing at Sun Valley;
the lodges are reputed for their regal but rustic feel. The ice skating rink at
the regal Sun Valley Lodge is the centerpiece,
this is the place to stay at Sun Valley for
luxury lodging Idaho style.
Soldier Mountain, located in central Idaho between Boise and Sun Valley, is
known for its powder skiing, and lack of people, on 1,150 acres. Soldier debuted
in 1948 and sports a
7,177’ Peak accessing fabulous backcountry terrain. Guided snowcat
tours will even allow you to access the 10,000’ Smoky Dome. Soldier ski area offers
excellent grooming and great prices for wide-open spaced skiing. Bruce Willis
bought the ski area, with Valley Entertainment, in 1996. No sign of Demi
Moore in the base lodge or Ashton Kutcher loading the chairlifts during our
visit.
Bogus Basin is 16-mile drive from Boise up a curving winding mountain road (a
true black diamond in its own right) well-worth it for the 1,800 vertical of skiing
on 67 trails. Bogus has many faces and skiing ranging from green and blue
groomed runs to snowy chutes and open bowls on the backside of 7,590’ Shafer
Butte. Bogus Basin has the most night skiing terrain in the Northwest, staying
open til 10pm.
