Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area
Location: Mullan, ID (Bitterroot Mountains)
Summit: 5,650’
Base: 4,500’
Terrain: 540 skiable acres/4 lifts/34 runs/2 terrain parks
Tickets: $34-49
Lodge: Historic lodge straddling the Idaho/Montana border is the second oldest lodge in the Northwest.
What’s New: Lookout’s Phase 1 expansion was approved in 2017, and work started last fall on cutting trails. Expansion work continues and when it’s all said and done will include two new chairlifts to the summit of Eagle Peak that will access 14 runs and gladed areas. An additional base lodge and more parking are also part of the plan. skilookout.com
Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park
Location: Spokane, Wash. (Selkirk Mountains)
Summit: 5,889’
Base: 4,200’
Terrain: 1,704 acres/7 lifts/52 designated runs/2 terrain parks & progression park
Tickets: $20-55/free for 6 and younger
Lodges: Main lodge (Lodge 2) near bunny hill/Lodge 1 near base of Chair 1
Tubing: 90-minute session, $8-$15 depending on age
Nordic: Over 60 k of trails within Mt. Spokane Cross-Country Ski Park (Discover Pass, seasonal SnoPark permit, and seasonal Groomed Area permit required).
Snowshoeing: Trail descriptions and map are available from Friends of Mt. Spokane (Discover Pass and seasonal SnoPark permit required).
What’s New: 7 new runs and 279 acres of new terrain are ready for skiing and riding on the backside and work continues to get the new lift running for the 2018/19 season. As of September, the 17 new lift towers had been installed and construction on the lift terminal operator building and ski patrol bump “shack” were underway. Mt. Spokane is also adding an expanded beginner area including a new surface lift. mtspokane.com
Silver Mountain Resort
Location: Kellogg, Idaho (Bitterroot Mountains)
Summit: Kellogg Peak 6,300’ /Wardner Peak 6,200’
Base: Gondola Village, 2,300’/Base of Chair 4, 4,100’
Terrain: 1,600 acres/gondola & 5 chairlifts/moving carpet/77 named runs/terrain park
Tickets: $42-$62/free for 6 and younger
Lodging: Morning Star Lodge condos in the heart of the Gondola Village come in various sizes and layouts and include access to the Silver Rapids indoor water park.
Village Fun: Access to the Silver Rapids indoor water park, Idaho’s largest, comes with your Morning Star Lodge condo stay. The park includes the FlowRider, a perfect, continuous wave that can be body boarded or surfed.
Tubing: 2-hour session, $7-$25, includes a gondola ride and access to the magic carpet for rides back to the top of the tube hill.
Best Hangout: Noah’s Canteen in the Gondola Village is the perfect après hangout, with great food and drink options and frequent live music. silvermt.com
49 Degrees North Mountain Resort
Location: Chewelah, Wash. (Selkirk Mountains)
Summit: Chewelah Peak 5,774’/ Angel Peak 5,295’
Base: 3,923’
Terrain: 2,235 acres/7 chairlifts/3 terrain parks
Tickets: $44-$62
Nordic: 25k of groomed trails ($7-$12 day pass required) and a warm and cozy yurt make 49 a great Nordic destination.
Snowshoeing: 6k of marked trails (rentals available at the Nordic yurt)
Fat Biking: Fat bikes are allowed on the groomed Nordic trail system
Coolest Hangout: Grab a beer, hot chocolate, cinnamon roll, German sausage, or other snack at Cy’s Café located in a yurt at the bottom of Sunrise Basin. ski49n.com
Schweitzer Mountain Resort
Location: Sandpoint, Idaho
Summit: 6,400’
Vertical Drop: 2,400’
Terrain: Skiable Acres, 2,900 (largest resort in Idaho/Wash.); 92 trails plus open bowl skiing; 3 terrain parks
Lifts: 9 (including Stella, Idaho’s only six-person high-speed lift, a T-bar, and conveyor lift)
Tickets: $50-$81
Tubing: Hermit’s Hollow tubing center offers two chutes and one tow
Nordic: 32k of trails maintained daily
Fat Biking: Fat-tired bikes are allowed on the Nordic trails (trail use fee required); rentals are available
Coolest Hangout: Sky House summit lodge with 360 degree views, the local-purveyor focused The Nest Bar & Restaurant, and the cafeteria-style Red Hawk Cafe
What’s New: Coming off a record 2017/2018 winter season for snowfall, skier visits, and lodging occupancy, Schweitzer spent over 1.5 million dollars in capital investments this summer, including things like a new grooming snow cat, extension of the Musical Carpet beginner conveyor lift, and other improvements. Looking ahead, Schweitzer anticipates replacing the Snowghost double chair accessing the North Bowl with two new lifts during the summer of 2019. One lift will start near Cedar Park and unload at the current Snowghost midway station with the second lift providing summit access from a location near Will’s Runout and Vagabond. schweitzer.com
Big White Ski Resort
Location: Kelowna, B.C.
Summit: 7,606’
Lifts: 15
Patrolled area: 2,765 acres
Vertical: 2,550’
Annual Snowfall: 24.5’
Opening Day Last Season: Nov. 30
Bluewood
Location: Dayton, Wash.
Base Elevation (4,545’, 2nd highest in Wash.)
Trails: 24
Skiable Acres: 400+
Vertical: 1,125’
Annual Snowfall: 300+ inches
Brundage Mountain
Location: McCall, Idaho
Summit: 7,803’
Lifts: 5
Lift-Accessed Terrain: 1,920 acres
Vertical: 1,921’
Snowfall: 320 inches
Fernie Alpine Resort
Location: Fernie, B.C.
Summit: 7,000’
Lifts: 10
Skiable acres: 2,500
Vertical: 3,550’
Snowfall: 30’
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Location: Golden, B.C.
Summit: 8,033’
Lifts: 5
Resort acres: 2,800
Vertical: 4,133’
Snowfall: 24’
Inbounds chutes: 85+
Kimberley Alpine Resort
Location: Kimberley, B.C.
Summit: 6,500’
Lifts: 5
Resort acres: 1,800+
Vertical: 2,465’
Snowfall: 13’
Loup Loup Ski Bowl
Location: Twisp, Wash.
Summit: 5,260’
Lifts: 3
Cut Runs: 10
Vertical: 1,240’
Snowfall: 12.5’
Mission Ridge
Location: Wenatchee, Wash.
Summit: 6,820’
Lifts: 6
Terrain: 2,000 acres
Vertical: 2,250’
Sunny Days: 300
RED Mountain Resort
Location: Rossland, B.C.
Summit: 6,807’
Longest Run: 4.3 miles
Lifts: 7
Skiable Acres: 4,200
Vertical: 2,919’
Annual Snowfall: 300 inches
New Lodging: The Josie Hotel & Nowhere Special Hostel
Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Location: Revelstoke, B.C.
Lift-top Elevation: 7,300’
Skiable Acres: 3,121
Longest Run: 9.5 miles
Vertical: 5,620 (North America’s greatest vert)
Annual Snowfall: 30-45’
SilverStar Mountain Resort
Location: Vernon, B.C.
Summit: 6,280’
Lifts: 11
Runs: 132
Skiable Acres: 3,282 (B.C.’s 3rd largest resort)
Vertical: 2,500’
Annual Snowfall: 275 inches
Stevens Pass
Location: Leavenworth, Wash.
Summit: 5,845’
Lifts: 10
Skiable Acres: 1,125
Vertical: 1,800’
Annual Snowfall: 460 inches
Tamarack Resort
Location: Donnelly, Idaho
Summit: 7,700’
Lifts: 6
Lift-accessed Terrain: 1,000
Vertical: 2,800’
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Location: Whitefish, Mont.
Summit: 6,817’
Lifts: 14
Terrain: 3,000
Vertical: 2,353’
Annual Snowfall: 300 inches
Terrain Parks: 5 (and a skier/boarder cross course)
Whitewater Ski Resort
Location: Nelson, B.C.
Summit: 6,700’
Lifts: 3 (and one handle tow)
Skiable Acres: 2,367
Vertical: 2,044’
Annual Snowfall: 40’
Lodge Food: Epic!
