Eagle Peak Expansion. Courtesy of Lookout Pass.
New Eagle Peak doubles the fun at Lookout Pass Ski Area
By: Steve Stuebner
On a March visit to Lookout Pass Ski Area, 10-14 inches of fresh *pow* greeted us on a Saturday morning. And my, it was amazing to see how the North Idaho powder hounds turned out in force to shred the fresh snow!
We arrived at 8:30 a.m., and early bird skiers were already on the main lift heading up the hill. We hadn’t even found a place to park! I looked at my partner Wendy, “Whoops, we’re late!”
But our friends from Coeur d’Alene saved us a spot in the lift line. We loaded the quad lift at the base of Lookout and headed directly for the new Eagle Peak area pronto. Fresh *pow* was waiting to be shredded! And that’s always a big deal!
In minutes, we rode the nearly mile-long Eagle Peak quad lift to the 6,160-foot summit of Lookout’s new mountain, which opened for the 2022-23 ski season. Light snowflakes fell from the sky, but we could see clearly enough that all kinds of virgin snow awaited our tracks. Let’s go!
Dave and Carol Lindsay and Randy Bell of Coeur d’Alene led the way down Thunderbird, a black-diamond face under the lift, and we had it all to ourselves. The knee-deep, light creamy snow felt like a dream. Once you get into a rhythm in snow like that, you don’t want to stop!
Image courtesy of Lookout Pass
We crossed over Eagle’s Flight, a big boulevard open slope, and dropped into Ironheart, a black diamond north slope, and shredded virgin powder pillows on a nice fall line to the bottom of the Eagle Peak lift. We got back on the quad chair within minutes, and squirmed with anticipation of another powder run. On days like this, the lifts can’t run fast enough. On the new fixed-grip quad chair, it’s a 13-minute ride so you might as well enjoy it!
Eagle Peak nearly doubled the skiable terrain at Lookout Pass to a new total of 1,023 acres. Eagle Peak itself offers 1,650 vertical feet of continuous drop from the summit, an increase of 500 verts that’s provided by Lookout’s other lifts. The lengthy vertical drop from Eagle Peak is very similar to many of the medium-sized ski areas in Idaho, such as Bogus Basin and Brundage Mountain. There are 14 new named runs on Eagle Peak.
You pause for a moment on the Eagle Peak summit, look below, and it seems like it’s a LONG way to the bottom. It’s a similar feeling you get on Warm Springs at Sun Valley, where the ski slope drops more than 3,000 vertical feet and you feel your quads on fire if you try to zip down nonstop.
I asked my CDA friends about their take on Eagle Peak.
“I really like it there,” Dave Lindsay says. “It’s a long chair, it’s a mile long, so it’s a long way back down. It took us a while to figure it out — it’s a little more complicated than we thought, but we’ve really, really enjoyed it. It has a whole different feel, it’s significantly higher, further back in the mountains, and it adds to the powder skiing at Lookout quite a bit!”
“Going up the chair is beautiful!” adds Randy Bell “Look at all the mountains everywhere!”
Matthew Sawyer, director of marketing for Lookout Pass, puts it this way: “The Eagle Peak expansion has transformed the area. It’s been 10 years in the making, so people have been waiting for it.
“It’s added terrain that we didn’t have before — longer trails, more vertical, because it’s higher. We’ve already had a reputation for quality snow, and abundant snow (400 inches/year), but Eagle Peak gets more than we had before because it’s 500 feet higher. When there’s a big storm, that’s significant.”
Image courtesy of Lookout Pass
Another fun and unique aspect of Lookout Pass is that it’s located on the Idaho-Montana border.
“You can ski in two states, ski through two time zones (Pacific and Mountain), and it’s one of the few places where you can go back to the future, literally,” Sawyer quips.
Overall, Lindsay says, “I love the general vibe at Lookout. I like how the mountain is maintained. I like the people who work here, the lifties are great.”
“It’s a great little mountain,” Bell adds. “There’s no lift lines (mid-week), lots of nice powder stashes, and they usually have the most snow.”
Affordability is another significant consideration at Lookout, Sawyer says. Lift fees cost $55 per day mid-week for adults, $66 on weekends and $73 on holidays. Those prices are below the average price in Idaho, and WAY below what they charge at destination resorts. Season passes cost $399 for adults, also a bargain. Lookout spring season pass sales are currently under way, BTW. A new season pass provides access this spring but also all of next ski season.
Lookout also looks to the future by providing free ski lessons to kids on Saturdays. Over the last 80 years, Lookout has introduced about 75,000 kids to skiing and snowboarding.
On this particular trip, my partner Wendy and I skied Lookout on a partly sunny day on Thursday to experience many of the groomers at Lookout and on Eagle Peak. It snowed like bonkers that night, creating a foot of new light snow to enjoy at Silver Mountain on Friday. And then we went back to ski Lookout on a powder day.
Wendy and I stayed in the condominiums at the base of Silver Mountain, so it was an easy 20-minute commute to Lookout from there. And on the day we skied Silver, we walked from our condo unit to the gondola terminal to ski for the day.
I really like both Silver and Lookout. They both have their own unique personalities, but they’re basically long-time Idaho home-grown ski mountains with a great variety of slopes and tree skiing.
Lookout’s history goes back to the 1930s when they had a small rope tow operating at the base. They have the second-oldest ski lodge in the Pacific Northwest, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The oldest is at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood in Oregon.
The Lookout base lodge complex features a basement area with ski lockers for locals, a self-serve food service area on the second floor (lunch for $10 or less), and a spacious bar on the third floor with food items available and several big screen TVs. Large picture windows allow you to watch skiers and riders come down the mountain while you’re sipping a beverage après ski.
We capped off our powder day at Lookout by hitting some secret tree glades that require some hiking to return to the ski lifts. I’m sworn to secrecy about the location.
Image courtesy of Lookout Pass
The mystery glades were a stellar way to complete the ski day. We started out on a moderate slope, winding slowly through nicely spaced lodgepole pines, and then the fall line got steeper to finish out the run. All virgin *pow* for 1,000 verts of pure bliss! We all landed on a cat track below the slope, grinning ear to ear. Woo-hoo!
Lodging options when visiting Lookout Pass: Lookout has no overnight accommodations, so the best options nearby are in Wallace and Kellogg. I recommend the Silver Mountain condos at the base of Silver Mountain (our studio condo cost $85/night on VRBO.com), the Wallace Inn or the Ryan Hotel in Wallace. The Silver Mountain condos have big hot tubs that are open 24/7, and the Silver Rapids indoor water park (great for kids).
Local favorite eateries include: Sam’s in Kellogg for breakfast, Radio Brewing Co. in Kellogg for lunch, dinner, or drinks, Blackboard Cafe in Wallace for breakfast or dinner, City Limits Brew Pub in Wallace for lunch, dinner, or drinks, and Noah’s Canteen at the base of Silver Mountain for drinks, lunch or dinner.
Steve Stuebner has been skiing Idaho for 35 years. He writes the Idaho Daily Snow for opensnow.com, and he’s a contributor to Ski Idaho.
Photo courtesy of Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area
All 19 Idaho ski areas open during the holidays
BOISE, Idaho (Dec. 19, 2022) — Skiers and snowboarders throughout Idaho have much to celebrate this holiday season, with all 19 Gem State ski areas either already open or opening the day after Christmas.
All three ski areas in North Idaho — Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area near Mullan, Schweitzer near Sandpoint, and Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg — are fully open for the season. In fact, Lookout Pass just opened its new Eagle Peak expansion that nearly doubles its terrain and boosts its vertical to 1,650 ft. Skiers and snowboarders dressed from head to toe as Santa can purchase a lift ticket at Lookout for only $20 on Thursday Dec. 22.
One North Central Idaho ski area — Snowhaven Ski & Tubing Area in Grangeville — has already opened for the season and the remaining two will begin operations during the holidays. Both Bald Mountain near Pierce and Cottonwood Butte Ski Area near Cottonwood are slated to open Dec. 26.
All four ski areas in Southwest Idaho — Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area near Boise, Brundage Mountain Resort near McCall, the Little Ski Hill in McCall, and Tamarack Resort near Donnelly — are open for the season. Bogus Basin is celebrating its 80th birthday tomorrow, Dec. 20. Visit Tamarack dressed as Santa, Mrs. Claus, or an elf on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and ski or snowboard for free while enjoying the VIP zone at mid-mountain, where a live DJ will help celebrate a night well done delivering gifts to all the Santas on the mountain.
Image courtesy of Tamarack Resort
All three Southern Idaho ski areas — Magic Mountain Ski Resort near Hansen, Pomerelle Mountain Resort near Albion, and Soldier Mountain near Fairfield — are open for the season.
Sun Valley Resort in Central Idaho has been open since Thanksgiving, and the region’s other ski areas — Lost Trail Ski Area on the Idaho-Montana border near Conner, Mont., and Rotarun Ski Area in Hailey — opened last week.
The three ski areas in Eastern Idaho — Kelly Canyon Ski Resort in Ririe, Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, Wyo., and Pebble Creek Ski Area near Inkom — are open for the season. Kelly Canyon is offering the first 25 guests who dress from head to toe as Santa free lift tickets on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.
Image courtesy of Kelly Canyon
Most Idaho ski areas are open daily for the holidays through Jan. 2. However, not all ski areas are open Christmas Day and some are closing early Christmas Eve, so make sure to check their websites for more details and operating hours.
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Ski Idaho stocking stuffer ideas
The Idaho Peak Season Passport — which lets 5th graders ski or snowboard three days for free at each of 17 ski areas throughout the state and offers 6th graders two days free at those mountains — is a great, last-minute holiday stocking stuffer.
Complete the online application at skiidaho.us/passports and pay an $18 processing fee to order a passport for your child and Ski Idaho will email you a passport you can print out and place in their stocking. Children must have a parent or guardian present with them to use the passport, and they must show their passport (a printout or on a smartphone) to receive the lift ticket.
Meanwhile, the Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles offers two different ways for skiers and snowboarders to show their support for their hometown ski hills: personalized specialty license plates for vehicles and customizable souvenir plates.
In addition to personalization and vehicle registration fees, Ski Idaho vehicle license plates have a $35 program fee for the first year with a $25 renewal fee each year thereafter. Ski Idaho souvenir plates — which are for novelty purposes only and cannot legally be used as license plates on vehicles — cost $30.
Both types of plates are customizable with a maximum of six characters including spaces, cannot contain punctuation, and must be tasteful in any language.
Visit www.accessidaho.org/itd/driver/plates to order Ski-Idaho-themed personalized vehicle and souvenir plates.
About Ski Idaho
Founded in 1982, the Idaho Ski Areas Association, a.k.a. Ski Idaho, is a nonprofit association funded in part by the Idaho Travel Council via the state’s 2 percent lodging tax paid by travelers and collected by hotel, motel, private campground, and vacation rentals owners. Boasting 29,000 feet of vertical spanning more than 21,000 acres, Idaho is home to America’s first destination ski resort, the birthplace of the chairlift, and often considered the soul of skiing. Its 19 family friendly alpine ski areas offer trails and backcountry for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and skill levels, breathtaking views, hundreds of inches of fresh powder, affordable passes, and short lift lines. Many Ski Idaho destinations open for the summer season, as well, to provide lift-served mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, hiking and trail running, disc golf, horseback riding, and more. Visit skiidaho.us for more details.
WINTER 2020-21 BROUGHT RECORD VISITS TO IDAHO SKI AREAS
BOISE, Idaho (Sept. 13, 2022) -- Rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic, Idaho ski areas experienced record-breaking skier and snowboarder visits during the winter of 2020-21 according to an economic impact report Ski Idaho commissioned from Boulder, Colo.-based research firm RRC Associates.
Idaho ski areas achieved 2.15 million skier and snowboarder visits during the winter of 2020-21, exceeding its previous record of 1.88 million set during the pre-COVID winter of 2018-19 by 14.3 percent and extending what Ski Idaho president and Bogus Basin general manager Brad Wilson says is a long-term growth trend.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought the winter 2019-20 ski season to an early close and visits to Idaho ski destinations dipped to 1.63 million.
"It didn't take long for Idaho ski areas to respond to and rebound from COVID," Ski Idaho president and Bogus Basin general manager Brad Wilson said. "After social distancing for nine months, people were eager to get outside, and many of them discovered how wonderful it is to spend time skiing and snowboarding in Idaho's outdoors."
RRC also found that Idaho ski areas have enjoyed a slightly rising share of western U.S. skier and snowboarder visits, peaking at 6.2 percent in winter 2020-21, the most recent ski season for which data is available. The study also revealed Idaho ski areas account for a growing share of skier and snowboarder visits nationally, rising to 3.6 percent during the winter of 2020-21.
FIFTH HIGHEST IN SKIER DAYS PER CAPITA
Idaho is the fifth highest state in terms of skier days per capita, earning an index of 362, which means Idaho residents enjoy 3.62 times more skier days per capita than average. The only states with higher skier visit indexes are Vermont (655), Colorado (518), Utah (401), and New Hampshire (399).
Approximately 140,000-160,000 Idaho residents -- 7 percent to 8 percent of the state's population -- downhill ski or snowboard in a given season.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SKI INDUSTRY CONSIDERABLE
Skiers and snowboarders spent a total of $309 million in Idaho during the winter of 2020-21 -- $151 million, (49 percent) at Idaho ski areas and $159 million (51 percent) at other businesses. The industry also directly or indirectly generated $309 million in gross domestic product in Idaho, equivalent to 0.33 percent of Idaho's 2021 GDP.
Meanwhile, total economic output during fiscal year 2020-21 reached $584 million, increasing 37 percent from $425 million in FY 2016-17. This included $350 million in direct output (vs. $253 million in FY 2016-17) and $233 million in indirect and induced output (vs. $172 million in FY 2016-17).
Indirect effects are economic effects stemming from business-to-business purchases in the supply chain. Induced effects are economic effects stemming from household spending of labor income after removal of taxes, savings, and commuter income.
Between winter 2016-17 and winter 2020-21, Idaho ski area operators saw demand for lift tickets and season passes and rentals jump 41 percent and 29 percent, respectively. However, COVID-19 stalled the growth of lessons during that same period to 3 percent, while lodging and food-and-beverage operations each grew at a sluggish rate of 12 percent.
Meanwhile, summer operations in 2020 declined 4 percent compared to summer 2016, from $42.6 million to $41.0 million, respectively, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Capital expenditures for fiscal year 2020-21 were up 265 percent compared to FY 2016-17 at $67.9 million vs. $18.6 million, respectively. Investments in new and upgraded lifts climbed by 232 percent and expenditures on summer- and fall-specific facilities and support leapt 267 percent. Real estate was the clear leader, though, skyrocketing nearly 3,000 percent from the $1.6 million invested in FY 2016-17 to $48.9 million in FY 2020-21.
All this economic activity translated into 5,703 year-round equivalent jobs during FY 2020-21 -- 4,266 direct jobs and 1,437 additional indirect and induced jobs. This represents 7 percent growth since FY 2016-17's 5,345 total jobs.
Skiing and snowboarding generated $170 million in labor income -- including $108 million directly and $61 million through multiplier effects. This represents growth of 26 percent compared to FY 2016-17's $135 million in labor income. Labor income includes all forms of employment income, including wages, benefits, and proprietor income.
The report also noted the state's thriving skiing and snowboarding industry helps provide seasonal balance to Idaho's summer-dominated travel industry, contributes significantly to its quality of life, and likely improves employee recruitment and retention at Idaho businesses.
NEARLY HALF OF IDAHO SKIERS FROM OUT OF STATE
Slightly more than half of Idaho ski area visitors in the winter of 2020-21 -- 52.5 percent -- resided in the Gem State and 47.5 percent were from out of state.
The greater Boise Designated Market Area accounted for nearly one-third of all skier visits that season -- 30.1 percent. The Spokane DMA, which includes a great deal of North Idaho, accounted for more than one-sixth of visits at 17.2 percent. The Idaho Falls/Pocatello, Seattle/Tacoma, and Twin Falls, Idaho, DMAs collectively represented another one-fifth of visits at 7.5 percent, 6.4 percent, and 5.8 percent, respectively.
Rounding out the top-10 hometowns of Idaho ski area visitors were Salt Lake City at 3.6 percent, Los Angeles at 2.3 percent, San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose at 2.0 percent, Portland at 1.7 percent, and New York City at 1.5 percent. Missoula, Mont., contributed 1.4 percent of visitors and Denver accounted for 1.1 percent, while Chicago and the Tri-Cities region of Washington State each proffered 0.9 percent. The area encompassing Sacramento, Stockton, and Modesto, Calif., represented 0.7 percent of Idaho's 2020-21 skier visits, and all other U.S. and international markets comprised the remaining 16.1 percent.
MALES, HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN, SLIGHTLY AFFLUENT
Idaho skiers and snowboarders tended to be male, accounting for 58 percent of ski area visits vs. 42 percent for females. One-third were youths (18 percent are 12 or younger and 14 percent are ages 13-17), about one-fifth were between 18-34 (7 percent are 18-24 and 12 percent are 25-34), nearly one-third were between 35-54 (15 percent are 35-44 and 15 percent are 45-54), and another one-fifth were 55 or older (12 percent are 55-64, 6 percent are 65-74, and 1 percent are 75 or older).
Among survey respondents who were age 18 or older, households with children contributed the greatest number of skier and snowboarder visits at 39 percent, and households with children no longer at home ranked number two at 21 percent. Couples with no children accounted for 16 percent of visits and single individuals with no children comprised the remaining 20 percent.
Skiers visiting Idaho have a range of incomes but skew affluent. One-third, 34 percent, enjoyed annual pre-tax household income of $100,000-$199,999. One-fourth, 24 percent, earned $50,000-99,999. People reporting under $50,000 comprised 20 percent and those bringing in $200,000 or more annually accounted for the remaining 22 percent.
MAINLY SEASON PASSHOLDERS WITH SKILLS ON SKIS
The bulk of Idaho ski area visits -- 62 percent -- were made by season passholders. Daily and multi-day passes comprised 33 percent of visits, with off-duty employee visits and comp tickets accounting for 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively.
Nearly three-quarters of visitors -- 72 percent -- used alpine equipment and fully one-fourth -- 25 percent -- rode snowboards. Other equipment like alpine touring and snowbikes accounted for 2 percent and 1 percent of visitors employed telemark gear.
About half -- 48 percent -- considered themselves advanced or expert skiers or snowboarders and nearly as many -- 44 percent -- ranked themselves as having intermediate abilities. Only 6 percent of visitors surveyed were beginners and only 2 percent were first-timers.
Two-thirds -- 66 percent -- had visited their primary ski area within the prior five winters and one-third of winter visitors -- 33 percent -- had visited the destination in the past five summers.
A little more than half of visits -- 56 percent -- were day trips and 44 percent were overnighters. Most overnight visitors -- 61 percent -- stayed in paid lodging and 11 percent stayed in an owned vacation home.
Ski Idaho's Wilson was delighted to learn Gem State ski area visitors tend to express high satisfaction with their experience. On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being extremely dissatisfied and 10 being extremely satisfied), Idaho ski areas earned ratings of 9.5 in overall employee service, 9.2 in overall lesson experience, 9.1 in quality of grooming, 9.0 in overall food and beverage, 8.7 in overall value for price paid, and 8.4 in overall rental experience.
"Whether it's a world-class resort like Sun Valley or a mom-and-pop ski area, the quality of our on-mountain experience coupled with Idaho's genuine friendliness is unparalleled," Wilson said. "Combine that with our short lift lines and affordable lift tickets and you'd be hard pressed to find a better ski and snowboard destination than Idaho."
Click here to download a copy of the research report.
ABOUT SKI IDAHO
Founded in 1982, the Idaho Ski Areas Association, a.k.a. Ski Idaho, is a nonprofit association funded in part by the Idaho Travel Council via the state's 2 percent lodging tax paid by travelers and collected by hotel, motel, and private campground owners. Boasting 29,000 vertical feet of terrain spanning more than 21,000 acres, Idaho is the birthplace of the chairlift, home to America's first destination ski resort, and often considered the soul of skiing. Its 19 family friendly alpine ski areas offer trails and backcountry for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and skill levels, breathtaking views, hundreds of inches of fresh powder, and short lift lines. Many Ski Idaho destinations open for the summer season, as well, to serve up lift-served mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, hiking and trail running, disc golf, and more. Visit skiidaho.us for more details.
Photo by Hillary Maybery for Sun Valley Resort.
Once again the stoke is high in Idaho as 2022-23 ski season nears
BOISE, Idaho (Nov. 2, 2022) — All signs are pointing to another great ski and snowboard season in Idaho this winter.
For the first time in history, SKI Magazine named three Ski Idaho destinations to its list of the top 30 ski resorts in the West: Sun Valley earned no. 1 for the third consecutive year and was joined by Grand Targhee at no. 24 and Schweitzer in its list debut at no. 11. And Sun Valley and Brundage Mountain are in the running for the USA Today “10Best” top 10 best ski resorts in North America, the third such honor for the latter resort.
Up north, Lookout Pass is nearly doubling its terrain this winter with the Eagle Peak Expansion and Silver Mountain has added a legendary out-of-bounds pow stash to its in-bounds footprint. Plus, Schweitzer is opening a new spa and completing construction on the new slopeside hotel, Humbird, which Larry Olmsted at Forbes described as “skiing’s best new secret hotel” after staying there in February when it first opened.
In Southwest Idaho, Tamarack will open its new Seven Devils Taphouse and has boosted its snowmaking capabilities while Brundage Mountain has expanded and upgraded its grooming fleet and the Little Ski Hill has lit another trail. Meanwhile, Bogus Basin established two new trails, added 15 acres to its night-skiing terrain, more than doubled its snowmaking capabilities, and improved uphill capacity.
In Central Idaho, Sun Valley is opening up 79 acres of new gladed terrain this season.
On the east side of the state, Kelly Canyon added state-of-the-art snowmaking and grooming equipment and is partnering with world-renowned snowsports pioneer Planet Snow Design to up its game. And just across the Wyoming border, Grand Targhee will open a new lift that adds 600 acres of terrain.
Amid all these improvements Ski Idaho, which counts 19 ski areas among its member destinations, is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Photo courtesy of Peak Media and Grand Targhee
SKI IDAHO THIS SUMMER
Idaho ski areas offer fair-weather adventures like lift-served mountain biking
BOISE, Idaho (May 24, 2022) -- Eleven Idaho ski areas offer summertime mountain biking, nine of the operations are lift-served, most are debuting new trails this season, and two -- Silver Mountain, and Soldier Mountain -- are opening Memorial Day weekend. So is the Route of the Hiawatha, and the crown jewel of the nation's rails-to-trails initiative, which is operated by Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area, is also celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Bogus Basin will open June 10, and most of the remaining Idaho ski areas boasting mountain bike parks will open June 17, including Brundage Mountain, Grand Targhee, Lookout Pass, Schweitzer, and Tamarack. Due to U.S. Forest Service elk-calving closures, Sun Valley will begin lift-service access to Bald Mountain for foot traffic only June 25 with bike access opening July 1. Kelly Canyon anticipates opening no later than June 30, but possibly earlier weather permitting. Pomerelle is only open one weekend this summer for lift-served mountain biking, but riders are welcome to pedal uphill under their own power to access the resort's trails like at Soldier Mountain.
Although Pebble Creek does not offer mountain biking, it will host music festivals in June and September.
NORTH IDAHO
Route of the Hiawatha - Image courtesy of Lookout Pass
The Route of the Hiawatha, which Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area operates under a special-use permit from the U.S. Forest Service, opens May 27. Considered the crown jewel of the nation's rails-to-trails initiative, the family friendly bike trail is celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer and will operate seven days a week through Sept. 18.
Close to the historic town of Wallace, the 15-mile Route of the Hiawatha's gentle 1.6-percent to 2-percent, all-downhill ride straddles the Idaho-Montana state line, delves 10 tunnels, crosses seven sky-high train trestles, and has a shuttle service back to the top. Attracting 70,000 riders each summer, the Route of the Hiawatha is by far the most popular ski area bike trail in the country.
Full-moon night rides are planned for June 14, July 13, Aug. 11, and Sept. 10 by reservation only. In fact, the Route of the Hiawatha strongly encourages guests to make reservations for the day they want to ride -- especially when renting equipment.
Meanwhile, Lookout Pass will open its ski area for the summer June 17. It offers lift-served mountain biking and hiking trails, scenic chairlift rides up and down the mountain, a mountain summit nine-hole frisbee golf course, a bungee jump, and huckleberry picking later in the season. This summer the resort will also operate a Euro Bungee, a multi-station super trampoline system supporting up to four participants that enables them to jump over two stories high.
Lookout Pass will operate Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Labor Day, Sept. 5.
Celebrating its third summer, the Lookout Pass mountain bike park offers impressive views of the St. Regis Basin and five top-to-bottom downhill mountain bike trails with more on the way. There are no jumps or wooden features on its family friendly trails, which vary from singletrack that winds through the woods and across ski trails to wider mountain-access roads.
Visit SkiLookout.com and RideTheHiawatha.com for more details.
Meanwhile, Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg will begin summer weekend operations -- which include mountain biking and scenic rides on North America's longest gondola -- May 28. Daily operations commence June 17 and run through Labor Day, Sept. 5. At that point weekend operations will continue through Oct. 2.
Voted Best in the Northwest for four consecutive years in the MTBparks.com Riders' Choice Awards as recently as 2017 and earning second place in 2018 (the most recent survey), Silver Mountain Bike Park sports nearly 40 singletrack trails that span 3,300 vertical feet.
Silver Mountain has a brand-new trail opening early this summer called "Ghost Pepper." The black diamond jump trail will have a variety of machine-built and hand-groomed jumps that cater to more-experienced riders. However, the resort has also rerouted "Payday," one of its best beginner trails, to make it smoother and friendlier, and this rebuilt run will be ready on opening day.
It added e-bikes to the fleet at Silver Mountain Sports last summer. The e-bike rentals allow guests to more easily explore sections of the nearby Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.
The resort also boasts the state's largest indoor waterpark, Silver Rapids, which opens for weekends over the Memorial Day holiday and begins daily operations June 17. Access to the waterpark is included in every lodging stay, plus a limited number of day tickets are available on the Silver Mountain website for those looking to enjoy the park for the day.
Activities at Silver Mountain include trail hiking and running, and the resort's exquisite nine-hole Galena Ridge Golf Course is tucked away in the mountains of the Silver Valley.
Silver Mountain's calendar is jam-packed with events this summer, including a 3D archery shoot June 25-26, Fourth of July fireworks, its annual Brewsfest Aug. 13, Negative Split's Back to Nature Trail Run Aug. 21, and the three-day mountain bike festival Silveroxx Sept. 23-25. Plus, the North American Enduro Cup and Northwest Cup mountain bike races June 10-12 and July 15-17, respectively, and its Silver Kings Hard Enduro motorcycle race June 18-19 attract some of the best riders in the world.
Visit SilverMt.com for more details.
Biking season at Schweitzer near Sandpoint begins June 17, with daily operations continuing through Sept. 5. The resort maintains more than 40 miles of mountain bike trails, and it also offers a 2-hour hosted e-bike tour daily.
The resort will unveil three new bike trails this summer. Its in-house trail crew created "Shenanigans," a partially machine-built, partially hand-built mile-long expert trail that has some fun, natural rock features and drops. Montana-based Terraflow Trail Systems and Sandpoint-based Collaborative Trails designed the other two trails. Both are machine-built intermediate trails that will have great flow, berms, and potential for jump options.
Schweitzer's summer visitors also can play disc golf on its 18-hole course and enjoy scenic chairlift rides on the Great Escape Quad to the summit. The latter serves up breathtaking views of Lake Pend Oreille and the Selkirk, Bitterroot, and Cabinet mountain ranges.
Other summer activities include hiking and trail running, geocaching, bungee trampolines, a 25-foot climbing wall, gold panning, huckleberry picking, and horseback riding.
The Northwest Winefest at Schweitzer is slated for July 16-17. Guests can sample upwards of 80 wines from 20 different Pacific Northwest wineries. And Fall Fest returns Sept. 2-5. The annual event offers four days of beer tasting and fun over Labor Day weekend.
Visit Schweitzer.com for more details.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO
Image courtesy of Tamarack Resort
Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area near Boise will open June 10. Seven-days-a-week operations will begin then if conditions allow and continue through Aug. 21, with the ski area open Fridays-Sundays Aug. 26-Sept. 2 and Saturdays-Sundays Sept. 10-Oct. 2.
The nonprofit ski area built 4.5 miles of trail last summer and fall and continues to establish The Basin Gravity Park and Bogus Basin as a regionally renowned mountain bike destination.
"New to This," a 1.1-mile beginner cross-country trail, features playful, nonthreatening berms geared for riders completely new to the sport while appealing to mountain bikers of all skill levels.
"Around the Mountain Extension," a new trail that descends off the tail end of "Around the Mountain" -- the top mountain bike trail in the state as ranked by MTBprojects.com -- has the first of several planned sections opening this summer. This includes "Dirty Bob's," a section of trail with a rating of more difficult (blue square). Test riders likened the one-third-mile trail to a roller coaster for bikes designed to challenge the rider's ability to corner successfully. Meanwhile, "Sunday Stroll," a three-quarter-mile trail described as down country, provides cross-country riders a trail option that introduces them to bike-park-style riding in an easy-to-comprehend manner. Plus, Bogus Basin will introduce a new technical downhill trail, "Loam Star," to The Basin Gravity Park, which debuted last summer.
Other summertime activities at Bogus Basin include scenic chairlift rides, the Glade Runner mountain coaster, a climbing wall, a bungee trampoline, a tubing hill, and food and beverage services. It is also staging a free Music on the Mountain concert series and hosting Yoga on the Mountain Saturday and Sunday mornings throughout the summer.
Visit BogusBasin.org for more details.
Daily lift service at Tamarack Resort near Donnelly will begin June 17 and continue through Aug. 21, but zipline, waterfront, and whitewater activities will commence Memorial Day weekend depending on weather.
This summer the resort is opening additional mountain biking and hiking trails, offering new amenities, and expanding its recreation fleet while investing millions into building out its master plan.
The International Mountain Bicycling Association created Tamarack's 27-mile trail system, which the resort continues to expand as part of its long-term plan, with new options to summit and descend this summer. It will open two new intermediate mountain biking flow trails, "Sky Pilot" and "Hot Shot," as well as a loop trail to ascend the summit.
The resort is growing its rental fleet, too, with Tamarack Outfitters adding Knolly full-suspension bikes, e-bikes, Jamis and Kona cross-country bikes, and kid's lift-served bikes.
Getting gear onto the mountain will be easier with the addition of self-loading bike trays on the Tamarack Express lift that allow for e-bike access to the downhill trails.
The Northwest Cup Downhill Race, the premier downhill single-stage mountain bike series in the West, returns to Tamarack June 24-26, with hundreds of riders showing up to show off their skills and speed.
The resort's Waterfront Cabana on Lake Cascade has expanded its fleet, too. In addition to kayaks, paddleboards, more pontoon boats, and new jet skis, the marina also offers three new surf boats for rental, including the 2022 Malibu M220.
Tamarack's amenities also include scenic chairlift rides, an outdoor axe-throwing facility in The Village and a nine-hole disc golf course just steps away at the base of West Mountain. Plus, work is underway to restore and reopen the award-winning Osprey Meadows championship golf course, with the driving range slated to open later this summer.
Its zipline canopy tours explore 3,500 feet of terrain, including eight different ziplines, two suspension bridges, and a 105-foot-high tree house. Plus, Tamarack conducts guided whitewater rafting trips on the Cabarton stretch of the North Fork of the Payette River and guided fishing excursions on Lake Cascade.
The Village -- which boasts the Rendezvous Food Hall with a variety of options, a coffee shop, a fine-dining establishment called The Reserve, and a market -- will feature live music three nights a week in the plaza.
The resort will stage fireworks celebrations Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends.
Visit TamarackIdaho.com for more details.
In the West Central Mountains near the resort town of McCall, Brundage Mountain Resort will commence summer operations June 17. The BlueBird Express lift will operate Fridays-Sundays June 17-19 and June 24-26 and then Wednesdays-Sundays from June 29-Sept. 5. Bonus Days include Monday and Tuesday July 4-5 and Labor Day, the last day of the season.
Its 30-mile trail system offers plenty of variety and appeals to all types of mountain bikers. "Rock Garden," which opened last summer, connects to "Lakeview Vista" to complete a 360-degree loop around the mountain.
The resort also offers scenic chairlift rides that afford a 360-view at the summit that includes silhouettes of Idaho's Seven Devils Wilderness, Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness, and sweeping vistas of the Payette Lakes. Hikers can take the chairlift to the top and explore short, scenic trails from the summit or choose longer multi-use routes to soak in more of the mountain's beauty.
Brundage also boasts a 2,500-foot-long, nine-hole disc golf course in the base area, outdoor dining at Smoky's Bar & Grill, and a grassy amphitheater that provides a charming, spacious, fresh-air environment for summer concerts. Its free, weekly TGIF Summer Concert Series runs July 8-Sept. 2. And its free Yoga Wednesday will be staged every Wednesday this summer June 29-Aug. 31.
Other events on the calendar include the Fourth of July Music Festival & Cat Track 10K/5K foot races, Twisted Turtle Racing's July 23 Brundage XC and July 24 Send it @ Brundage enduro bike races, and National Interscholastic Cycling Association Youth Bike Races July 19-20.
Visit Brundage.com for more details.
SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO
Image courtesy of Peak Media and Sun Valley Resort
Seven-days-a-week lift access to hiking and mountain biking trails at world-famous Sun Valley Resort begins June 25 for hikers and July 1 for mountain bikers via the River Run Gondola and the Christmas Chair. Meanwhile, the resort's three championship golf courses and area driving ranges are already open daily.
America's first destination ski resort and birthplace of the chairlift, Sun Valley sports a dozen biking and hiking trails, including the longest purpose-built downhill mountain-bike trail in the U.S., dropping 3,350 vertical feet. Plus, riders can access more than 30 miles of paved, car-free bike paths throughout the Wood River Valley.
In addition, the resort offers an array of activities, including scenic gondola rides, horseback trail rides and horse-drawn wagon rides, bike rentals for bike path or trail riding, and a full menu of pampering options at the Sun Valley Spa. The resort also boasts numerous indoor and outdoor dining options, including The Ram, Gretchen's, Konditorei, Sun Valley Club, Village Station, and Roundhouse.
Events abound at Sun Valley this summer, including the popular Sun Valley On Ice shows and the Sun Valley Symphony. Sun Valley On Ice will dazzle guests and light up six evenings this summer at the iconic outdoor ice rink with many of the best figure skaters in the world headlining the performances. The 2022 season kicks off with reigning U.S. Gold Medalist and Olympic team member Mariah Bell July 1. The Pavilion and lawn will host 14 free symphony concerts brought to the community by Sun Valley Music Festival July 24-Aug. 18. Tickets for all shows at the Pavilion and River Run are on sale now, and more information can be found on the Sun Valley events calendar.
Sun Valley Resort is teaming up with many local nonprofits to host a myriad of concerts this summer, including the country rock bands Cadillac Three and the Powell Brothers at the open-air Sun Valley Pavilion June 18 and three-time Grammy Award nominee the Avett Brothers July 13 at River Run.
Other events include the Sun Valley Wellness Festival June 10-13, Ballet Sun Valley June 24-25, Yoga on the Mountain, and free Yoga at River Run Plaza and on the Pavilion lawn.
Visit SunValley.com for more details.
SOUTHERN IDAHO
Image courtesy of Peak Media and Soldier Mountain
The mountain bike park at Soldier Mountain will open for the season May 28. However, the lifts will not turn this summer except for a few special events, so riders must pedal under their own power uphill. Mountain biking will not be allowed during those special events, which include a 3D archery shoot June 11-12 and two disc golf tournaments, the details for which are forthcoming.
Besides the special events, the resort is open to riders Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays through the end of September depending on weather. Soldier Mountain is charging riders $10 per day, although it is free for 2022-2023 ski season passholders. Riders must purchase their tickets on its website. The resort will publish full details on its website and social media channels.
Soldier Mountain added a 1.5-mile hand-cut intermediate trail last fall, bringing its network of trails to five spanning a total of 9 miles. One of those will be designated as an uphill route that riders ascend to access the other trails, which include easy, intermediate, and advanced hand-cut trails and an extreme machine-cut jump trail. Soldier Mountain also boasts a skills park.
The resort will inspect and maintain the trails and skills park on a weekly basis. It stated riders must understand there is no emergency personnel on the mountain.
Hailey-based Titus Trails and Apex Trail Construction from Park City, Utah, designed and built the bike park with generous help from Southwest Idaho Mountain Bike Association, Wood River Trails Coalition, and other volunteers.
Soldier Mountain will host National Interscholastic Cycling Association youth bike races in September and other bike races throughout the summer.
Beverage service will be available Saturdays and Sundays at the bar's pass-through window, but otherwise the lodge will be closed. However, the resort's outdoor bathrooms will be open 24/7 to accommodate riders and campers, who are welcome to dry camp in the parking lot at no cost.
Visit SoldierMountain.com for more details.
Pomerelle Mountain Resort near Albion is booked for many private events this summer and only plans to open to the public for lift-served mountain biking and hiking Aug. 12-14 during the Pomerelle Pounder. The 2022 Utah Gravity Mountain Bike Series will stage the races that Saturday and Sunday, with racers practicing there Friday. Pomerelle will open the Slopeside Grill and its lodge and cafeteria that weekend, as well.
Otherwise, riders can bike uphill under their own power and ride the trails beginning Fourth of July weekend, but they must understand there is no emergency personnel on the mountain, according to the resort.
Pomerelle will stage the Minidoka Bow Shoot, which is open to the public, June 26-27, and the resort will stage its annual Farm to Table Dinner July 9-10.
Visit Pomerelle.com for more details.
EASTERN IDAHO
Image courtesy of Peak Media and Kelly Canyon
Kelly Canyon Ski Resort near Ririe will celebrate the grand opening of its new restaurant, the Half Cab Grill, May 27. The restaurant, which also serves beer and wine, will be open for lunch and dinner Wednesdays-Sundays until July 1, when it begins operating seven days a week.
Owners anticipate commencing lift-served mountain biking Thursdays-Sundays no later than June 30, but hopefully earlier. Dean Lords and the mountain crew are working hard developing the 18-mile network of lift-served trails. It also sports a 4-mile loop designed especially for National Interscholastic Cycling Association teams to practice their riding skills.
New this summer at Kelly Canyon will be side-by-side UTV rentals. Great trails that lead to waterfalls, huckleberry patches, and other landmarks are available, and as advocates for safety Kelly Canyon will also stage workshops for UTV and motorcycle riders.
Kelly Canyon anticipates upwards of 350 UTV riders from across the country will join its KLIM Cow Tag Off-Road Ride June 25. The event is a fundraiser to support off-road recreation and trail preservation.
Construction will be underway on a zipline that will be operational in summer 2023. The dual zipline will accommodate two riders at a time and boast four different sections -- including a high-speed zipline on the last length. Between sections guests will navigate the course via a network of swinging bridges in the trees, and they will rappel 50 feet to the forest floor at the end.
Visit KellyCanyonResort.com for more details.
Just across the border in Alta, Wyo., Grand Targhee affiliates with the Idaho Ski Areas Association because the resort is only accessible via Driggs, Idaho. It will open for downhill biking June 17, with the Shoshone and Dreamcatcher lifts running daily through Sept. 18.
The resort is opening a new intermediate downhill flow trail from the summit called "Nice Marmot" that offers 2 miles of machine-built trails and is perfect for progression. And "Sticks and Stones," an expert downhill trail, will reopen this summer after getting rebuilt last year.
Grand Targhee offers 2,200 vertical feet of lift-serviced downhill, 17 miles of downhill trails, more than 70 miles of multi-use trails for biking and hiking and running, and a mountain bike school. MTBparks.com Riders' Choice Best Bike Parks Awards ranked its bike park among the Northwest's top five for six consecutive years.
It will host the GTR Downhill Mountain Bike Race No. 1 and No. 2 on July 23 and Aug. 20, respectively. Pierre's Hole 50K/100K Mountain Bike Race returns Aug. 6, and Grand Targhee will host MBT's Teton Dirt Series July 27.
Grand Targhee will also host one of eight Cirque Series mountain running races Aug. 27. Each race in the series starts from the base of a world-famous ski resort.
Other events include the 2022 Wrun for Wray June 25, National Interscholastic Cycling Association Bike Festival July 2, Ladies All-Ride Mountain Bike Camps July 16-17 and July 19-20, Ninja Mountain Bike Performance Camp July 23-24, and the Wydaho Rendezvous Mountain Bike Festival Sept. 2-4.
Summertime activities at Grand Targhee also include scenic chairlift rides, a nature center, horseback riding, swimming in the outdoor pool, a bungee trampoline, a summer kids camp, the GTR Mining Co., and an 8,000-foot-long, 18-hole disc golf course.
In addition to slopeside lodging, Grand Targhee Resort boasts a parking lot camping area that can accommodate pull-behind trailers, sprinters, and camper vans. If vehicles and trailers exceed a combined length of 25 feet, guests must purchase two spots.
Visit GrandTarghee.com for more details.
Pebble Creek Ski Area in Inkom will open for two special events this summer and fall: the Idaho Music & Wildflower Festival June 18 and the Inkom Village MountainFest Harvest & Music Festival Sept. 10. Both are fundraisers, the former for the National Ski Patrol and the latter for the resort's hometown benefitting the Inkom Revitalization Commission.
The resort is booked most weekends for private events, and the lodge is available to rent as a venue for weddings, corporate events, family gatherings, and other functions.
Visit PebbleCreekSkiArea.com for more details.
ABOUT SKI IDAHO
Founded in 1982, the Idaho Ski Areas Association, a.k.a. Ski Idaho, is a nonprofit association funded in part by the Idaho Travel Council via the state's 2 percent lodging tax paid by travelers and collected by hotel, motel, and private campground owners. Boasting 28,000 vertical feet of terrain spanning more than 20,000 acres, Idaho is the birthplace of lift-assisted skiing, home to America's first destination ski resort, and often considered the soul of skiing. Its 19 family friendly Alpine ski areas offer trails and backcountry for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and skill levels, breathtaking views, hundreds of inches of fresh powder, and short lift lines. Many Ski Idaho destinations open for the summer season, as well, to serve up lift-served mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, hiking and trail running, disc golf, and more. Visit skiidaho.us for more details.