Best Skiiing In Idaho: Your Guide For Best Mountains and Dates for Peak Snow Conditions

Idaho is an excellent destination for skiing enthusiasts, thanks to its spectacular sceneries and more than 16 ski resorts. The state is not crowded, it’s safe, and has plenty of hot springs to unwind after skiing sessions.

Skiing in Idaho has been a low-key activity for years, but it has recently become popular. Passionate skiers and snowboarders now make Idaho a great winter destination for outdoor vacations like skiing!

The best snow mountain for skiing in Idaho is Brundage Mountain, with an average of 320 inches of snow base area. However, there are other great mountains for skiing, each with multiple resorts for a comfortable stay after heavy outdoor activities.

If you are an avid skier and plan to explore Idaho, here is a guide on the best five resorts to consider during your visit. We will also mention the best dates for peak snow conditions to help you make informed decisions.

1 – Brundage Mountain Resort

This is a classic resort in Idaho, well known for its well-groomed terrains and friendly vibes. It is home to one of the best snow zones in Idaho and gives visitors an unforgettable experience.

For more than 50 years, the resort has satisfied the locals’ skiing needs and attracted thousands of powder lovers from other states.

Brundage Mountain Resort was established in 1961 and has since upgraded its amenities, expanded its terrains, and installed modern equipment. As a result, the resort has plenty of natural powder and a friendly atmosphere, making it a hotspot for skiing lovers.

This resort has six functional lifts and more than 60 trails. One of the lifts is for high-speed skiing experts, while the rest are slow and ideal for beginners.

During winter, the base area of Brundage Mountain Resort sees nearly 320 inches of light and foggy snow powder. The summit elevation is 7800 feet, while the base elevation is 5880 feet. During summer, the extensive mountain offers excellent hiking and trails to everyone, irrespective of their skills.

Brundage Mountain Resort is an excellent destination for both expert skiers and beginners with families. The resort has friendly teams who help beginners and offer general guidance to anyone new to the resort.

Accommodation options are available, and it’s easy to access the resort by air or road. Be sure to book accommodation early to avoid inconvenience and have the most enjoyable time.

Brundage Mountain Resort highlights include:

Six lifts—one high-speed, four triple airlifts, and one conveyor
Two terrain parks: bear park and jammer park
Summit elevation 7800 feet
Base elevation 5882 feet
Vertical drop 1921 feet
18,000 acres of blackguarded country

Best Date for Peak Snow Conditions

The best months for mountain skiing in Brundage Mountain Resort are November, December, January, February, March, and April. December enjoys the most snowfall days (15 days), followed by February (14 days). Also, December has the highest average monthly snowfall (66 inches). Check out this snow planner for detailed monthly information on peak snow conditions.

2 – Sun Valley Resort

Sun Valley Resort is another incredible destination for skiing and snowboarding in Idaho. It is one of the oldest resorts, established in 1936 as the country’s first skiing destination. Sun Valley’s location is in central Idaho, near Ketchum town and approximately two-and-a-half hours’ drive from Boise.

It is located between two mountains that provide an excellent skiing environment—Bald and Dollar Mountains. Depending on your skiing experience, you may find yourself on top of any of these mountains. Here are a few highlights for each mountain:

Bald Mountain

Bald Mountain is on the west side of Sun Valley Lodge. It offers the highest per-lift capacity in the world, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. Its summit is 9150 feet, while the base is 5750 feet. It comes with 15 lifts, and the skiable area is 2054 acres.

Dollar Mountain

Dollar Mountain is located on the southern side of the Sun Valley resort. It has a summit of 6638 feet and a base of 6010 feet and is, therefore, perfect for kids and skiing beginners. The lifts are four, while the vertical drop is 638 feet.

Sun Valley Resort is a gateway to plenty of powder-filled terrains with scenic views. You can easily access the resort via helicopters, snowmobiles, and human means. After a busy day skiing and other outdoor activities, rest in one of the 108 guest rooms with modern finishes, or visit the spa, yoga studio, or gym.

But some of the guest rooms are far, and you may need to get a shuttle for easy access.

Sun Valley has beautiful terrains that you can watch and take photos of when tired of skiing. In 2021, Ski Magazine voted Sun Valley the leading resort in West America.

Main Sun Valley Resort highlights include:

26,000 square feet family center with all skiing amenities
Two mountains: Bald and Dollar
18 lifts on Bald Mountain and four lifts on Dollar mountain
2,500 acres terrain
2,000 feet elevation

Best Dates for Peak Snow Conditions in Sun Valley

The best times for skiing in Sun Valley resort are December, January, February, March, and April. December and February have the longest snowfall days, while December enjoys the heaviest average snowfall. Check out this snow planner for Sun Valley destination to ensure you visit the resort at the right time.

3 – Silver Mountain Resort

Silver Mountain Resort is the best destination if you need a small, non-crowded, intimate resort for your small family. The resort occupies 1590 acres of terrain and has 73 trails. The resort is conveniently located on north Idaho’s i-90, 30 miles from Coeur d’Alene and 70 miles from Spokane. You can easily access the resort by air and road in all seasons.

Silver Mountain Resort has seven ski lifts, five of them chairlifts and two surface lifts. The resort has two main mountains, Kellogg and Wardner, which offer nearly 2000 feet of vertical descent and 73 trails. The mountains receive an average of 300 feet of snow every year and a wide range of terrain, which make it a family fun destination point in Idaho.

Anyone can go skiing at Silver Resort, whether experienced or a beginner. Most terrains are ideal for intermediate skiers, but beginners and experts still have some terrains suited for them. Besides skiing, you can participate in snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, and other activities at the Resort. There is an indoor waterpark where you can relax after a busy day and enjoy the mesmerizing resort views.

The Silver Resort is designed for families, thanks to its easy runs and ski school. Accommodation is readily available, and the nearest of them all is the Silver Mountain Lodging located within the resort. Other accommodation areas are 30 minutes’ drive away and offer all sorts of dining options that increase your comfort during your stay.

Silver Mountain Resort’s highlights include the following:

Two mountains offering 2200 vertical height
1590 acres of terrain and 73 trails
Average of 300 inches of snow annually
28-hole golf resort
Indoor water park
Seven sky lifts

Dates for Peak Snow Conditions in the Silver Resort

The best months for skiing at the Silver Resort are December, January, February, March, and April. December enjoys the most snowfall days, while January has the largest average monthly snowfall (63 inches). If you plan to visit the famous silver resort on your next skiing vacation in Idaho, check out the snow planner to make a more informed decision.

4 – Tamarack Resort

Tamarack Resort is one of the most beautiful resorts for skiing in Idaho. The resort was opened in 2004 and has since become a top destination for locals and international visitors. You will enjoy more than 1,100 acres of terrain, which you can easily access with lifts and up to 2,800 feet of vertical height.

The resort has six lifts, but only three are airspeed lifts, allowing you to access up to 50 runs. The mountain enjoys an average of 300 inches of snowfall annually, so you will have much fun visiting the resort at the best snow peak dates. Tamarack is a go-to destination for experienced skiers and snowboarders.

However, there are beginner-friendly runs in the base area that you can enjoy if you have kids or are not experienced in skiing.

Tamarack Resort has plenty of accommodation options, all with modern amenities. Whether you need a hotel, a condominium, a cottage, or a townhome, you will get what you want, provided you book it early enough.

Dining options are plenty, and there is a spa and daycare, which make the resort a must-visit destination for skiers in Idaho. You can quickly fly to Boise Airport from your city of origin. Tamarack Resort is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Boise airport.

Tamarack’s skiing season starts in December and ends in mid-April. Visitors enjoy up to 300 inches of powder every winter, which creates fun for mountain hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.

Main Tamarack Resort’s highlights include:

Six lifts that provide access to 36 runs
Up to 300 inches of snow every year
1100 acres of terrains
Up to 2800 feet vertical height
45 trails
Plenty of accommodation and dining options

Best Snow Peak Days for Tamarack Resort

You can go to Tamarack Resort skiing in mid-November, December, January, February, and March. However, December enjoys the highest monthly snowfall of 60 inches, followed by February and January. Also, December enjoys the longest snowfall days (14 days). As a snow enthusiast, it’s advisable to visit Tamarack Resort for skiing from December to March when the snowfall is at its peak. Here is a snow planner for more details on the best pick dates for skiing in tamarack resort.

5 – Bogus Basin Ski Resort

The resort was established in 1942 and has since been a great recreational destination for people of all ages. The resort’s location is in southwest Idaho, 16.5 miles from Boise. It is the closest mountain resort for anyone in Boise town planning to participate in skiing, snowshoeing, or enjoying the fantastic views of the mountain.

Bogus Basin visitors enjoy 2600 acres of terrain and up to 90 runs. There are ten ski lifts, six of them are chairlifts, and four are surface lifts. The resort gives skiers an impressive vertical descent of 1800ft. The resort is suited for expert and intermediate skiers, but there are a few terrains suited for beginners.

Bogus opens for skiing activities in November, but the best time to visit is in December, January, and February. During those three months, the snow is powdery, and you can enjoy breathtaking day or night skiing in the resort.

Bogus Basin resort offers more than just skiing and snowboarding. People who don’t like snow powder can participate in rock climbing, while the kids can join other kids in kid-friendly plays at the base area.

Bogus Basin may not be as big as Sun Valley and the rest, but it is not crowded and has plenty of terrains to enjoy.

Also, its proximity to Boise makes it an excellent destination for people planning to return to town after a day of skiing and other recreation activities in the resort. There is no lodging at the base, but plenty of nearby lodges with great accommodation entities and dining options are available.

Bogus Basin’s main highlights include:

1800 feet vertical rise
2600 acres of skiable terrain
225 inches of annual snowfall
53 trails
Ten lifts and 90 runs
Summit elevation 7582 feet, and base elevation 5800 feet

Best Dates for Snow Peaks in Bogus Basin Resort

The best months for skiing in Bogus Basin are late November, December, January, February, and March. December has 11 snowfall days, followed by February (10) and January (9). Also, February has the highest average monthly snowfall of 37 inches, followed by December and January. Here is a snow planner with detailed information on the best snow peak dates to visit Bogus Basin Resort.

Final Remarks

Idaho offers plenty of exciting opportunities to skiing lovers, thanks to its multiple mountain resorts. For the most memorable experience, book the resort of your choice early, and be sure to pack your skiing essentials in time.

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Sources

Tamarack Idaho, Available here: https://tamarackidaho.com/activities/skiing-and-snowboarding
Silver Mt, Available here: https://www.silvermt.com/
Ski Mag, Available here: https://www.skimag.com/tag/sun-valley-idaho/
On The Snow, Available here: https://www.onthesnow.com/idaho/brundage-mountain-resort/historical-snowfall

About the Author

Alan Lemus

Alan is a freelance writer and an avid traveler. He specializes in travel content. When he visits home he enjoys spending time with his family Rottie, Opie.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Which resort is a “go-to” destination for skiing and snowboarding?

The Tamarack Resort has six lifts, but only three are airspeed lifts, allowing you to access up to 50 runs. The mountain enjoys an average of 300 inches of snowfall annually, so you will have much fun visiting the resort at the best snow peak dates. Tamarack is a go-to destination for experienced skiers and snowboarders.

Where is the country’s first skiing destination?

Sun Valley Resort is another incredible destination for skiing and snowboarding in Idaho. It is one of the oldest resorts, established in 1936 as the country’s first skiing destination.

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