A chill is in the air and there is an unmistakable scent of snow. It’s official: winter is here!
And it’s no mistake that Idaho, where the world’s first chairlift debuted, is home to some wonderful snow skiing. If you’re planning a visit to Sun Valley, Tamarack, or Brundage, some fun upgrades will make your time swooshing down the mountain more enjoyable.
Brundage Mountain
With a 10-year Mountain Improvement Plan underway, Brundage Mountain is planning for the future. That comes with the just-released news that USA Today has Nominated Brundage Mountain as a Top 10 Best Ski Resort Nominee for Third Year in a Row.
And that means saying goodbye to the past. This will be the final season for the 32-year-old Centennial Triple Chair. Next season, a new high-speed lift will cut the ride time from 14 minutes to 6.
On the runs, you’ll see improved grooming from Brundage’s two new snowcats. The equipment will allow the Brundage Terrain Park crew to offer more features and improved freestyle skiing and snowboarding.
A new, two-story first aid building will serve as the permanent home of Brundage Mountain’s Ski and Bike Patrol. The facility includes additional bed space and improved privacy and ambulance accessibility. It’s the first step in the expanded base area plan, which will add 30,000 square feet of new and remodeled facilities over the next two to three years.
“We have both ambitious plans for the base area and high standards for the experience we offer our guests,” Brundage General Manager Ken Rider said. “We’re taking a lot of care to build the vision in thoughtful phases with minimal disruption of operations and the guest experience.”
Tamarack Resort
At Tamarack Resort, a newly renovated snow front and improvements in the resort’s direct-to-snow experience mean you’ll hit the slopes faster. The snow front now offers RFID-enabled ski check and heated lockers with boot and helmet dryers. Guests can also upgrade to ski-in, ski-out parking via gates synced to Tamarack’s Boundless Pass.
Tamarack has kept the prices of its Boundless Pass options the same this year. Additionally, it unveiled the Boundless Teacher Pass: a year-round pass for Idaho’s K-12 public school teachers for $299.
“We’re dedicated to giving back to our community and expanding access to skiing and riding in Idaho’s mountains,” Tamarack Marketing and Operations Vice President Wolfe Ashcraft said.
On the runs, in addition to miles of new snowmaking lines, Tamarack also installed six new automated snow guns.
If you’re a fan of the après-ski scene, Seven Devils Tap House is your spot. Located in The Village, the restaurant and tap house offers fast-casual fare and a tap wall offering 40 regional beers, ciders, and hard seltzers.
Need some extra relaxation after a hard day of fun? The revamped Spa at Tamarack, located in The Lodge at Osprey Meadows, offers treatments such as a Signature Wild Herbal Massage and facials incorporating huckleberries, yarrow flower, and elder blossoms.
Sun Valley Resort
To experience North America’s number one ski resort, you can stay right here in Idaho. Sun Valley clinched the top spot for the third consecutive year in SKI Magazine’s Annual Ski Resort Awards.
“We’re thrilled to have captured the hearts of so many skiers, riders, and visitors to the resort, and to be honored with this incredible award three years running,” Sun Valley Resort General Manager and Vice President Pete Sonntag said. “It’s truly a testament to our team’s dedication to the guest experience, and to our wider community for making Sun Valley a place everyone feels welcome.”
Sun Valley has rolled out a multi-year improvement plan to help it stay on top. The first phase will cover Bald Mountain, with goals for improving skier circulation, increasing accessible skiable terrain, and improving lift and snow quality. As part of this, Challenger Chairlift will be replaced, a new chairlift will replace the Flying Squirrel lift (destroyed by fire in 2014), and the Flying Squirrel ski trail will be extended. The lifts are intended to open for the 2023-2024 ski season. The Warm Spring Lodge’s patio area will also be expanded.
The Bald Mountain Stewardship Project will open up 79 acres of new gladed terrain this season. The project is a first-of-its-kind innovation in resort development and environmental protection.
And if you’re a fan of competitive skiers, U.S. Ski & Snowboard will have Sun Valley host the Alpine Skiing National Championships for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. You’ll be able to see the best alpine athletes put their skills to the test.
If you’re ready to hit the slopes, or just go play, explore your options at skiidaho.us.
Bald Mountain (Pierce, ID)
- 100″ Snowfall Avg
- 684′ Vertical Drop
- 140 Acres
- 21 Named Runs
- 2 Lifts
Bogus Basin
- 225″ Snowfall Avg
- 1800′ Vertical Drop
- 2600 Acres
- 82 Named Runs
- 10 Lifts
Brundage
- 320″ Snowfall Avg
- 1921′ Vertical Drop
- 1920 Acres
- 67 Named Runs
- 6 Lifts
Cottonwood Butte
- 45″ Snowfall Avg
- 845′ Vertical Drop
- 260 Acres
- 6 Named Runs
- 2 Lifts
Grand Targhee
- 500″ Snowfall Avg
- 2270′ Vertical Drop
- 2602 Acres
- 97 Named Runs
- 5 Lifts
Kelly Canyon
- 200″ Snowfall Avg
- 1000′ Vertical Drop
- 688 Acres
- 51 Named Runs
- 5 Lifts
Little Ski Hill
- 180″ Snowfall Avg
- 405′ Vertical Drop
- 50 Acres
- 4 Named Runs
- 1 Lifts
Lookout Pass
- 430″ Snowfall Avg
- 1650′ Vertical Drop
- 560 Acres
- 38 Named Runs
- 4 Lifts
Lost Trail
- 350″ Snowfall Avg
- 1800′ Vertical Drop
- 1800 Acres
- 25 Named Runs
- 8 Lifts
Magic Mountain
- 230″ Snowfall Avg
- 700′ Vertical Drop
- 120 Acres
- 24 Named Runs
- 3 Lifts
Pebble Creek
- 225″ Snowfall Avg
- 2200′ Vertical Drop
- 1100 Acres
- 51 Named Runs
- 3 Lifts
Pomerelle
- 500″ Snowfall Avg
- 1000′ Vertical Drop
- 500 Acres
- 24 Named Runs
- 3 Lifts
Schweitzer
- 300″ Snowfall Avg
- 2400′ Vertical Drop
- 2900 Acres
- 92 Named Runs
- 10 Lifts
Silver Mountain
- 370″ Snowfall Avg
- 2200′ Vertical Drop
- 1600 Acres
- 73 Named Runs
- 7 Lifts
Snowhaven
- 60″ Snowfall Avg
- 400′ Vertical Drop
- 60 Acres
- 9 Named Runs
- 2 Lifts
Soldier Mountain
- 250″ Snowfall Avg
- 1425′ Vertical Drop
- 1150 Acres
- 25 Named Runs
- 3 Lifts
Sun Valley
- 220″ Snowfall Avg
- 3400′ Vertical Drop
- 2434 Acres
- 121 Named Runs
- 18 Lifts
Tamarack
- 300″ Snowfall Avg
- 2800′ Vertical Drop
- 1100 Acres
- 50 Named Runs
- 7 Lifts
Rotarun
- 90″ Snowfall Avg
- 441′ Vertical Drop
- 15 Acres
- 8 Named Runs
- 1 Lift