Cover photo courtesy of Lookout Pass
Ski or snowboard in two states at the region’s powder place just off I-90 on the Idaho/Montana Stateline.
Lifts: 5
Vertical: 1,650
Skiable Acres: 1,023
Number of Runs: 52
Terrain Parks: 3
Annual Snowfall: 450 inches
Operating Schedule: Aiming for a pre-Thanksgiving opening with 7-day-a-week operations through April 20 (conditions allowing)
Info: SkiLookout.com / 208.744.1301
Season Pass Sale Extends Until Nov. 22
Lookout consistently gives passholders more days on snow with early openings and seasons that typically stretch into spring. It’s also the easiest ski area to drive to on well-maintained I-90 all the way to Exit 0 on the ID/MT Stateline. Don’t let your last chance for season pass savings this season slip away. “We go a lot later with our pre-season pricing, up until Nov. 22,” says Lookout’s Matt Sawyer. Get your discount pass online or at one of the resort’s in-person pass events.
Gift Cards and Other Deals
Lookout has some great deals this season, including two-for-one lift tickets for just $75 on Thursdays (excluding holiday periods). If you have a pass from another mountain (anywhere in the world!), Lookout also offers a half-priced “Golden Ticket” valid Mondays-Thursdays (excluding holiday periods). Anyone can also save $5 on a lift ticket when making a reservation 48 hours or more in advance or $10 on weekends and holidays with a two consecutive day reservation. If you have a ski season birthday, show up with your ID to score a free lift ticket for the day!
Lookout also offers the option of gift cards, so you can help someone get on the mountain and have fun. Beginning Nov. 18 until Christmas Eve, look for gift card options $50 and up, where the mountain actually adds extra cash onto each card as a bonus. This is a great way for families to buy a card for kids to use on purchases across the mountain.
New Glades and Terrain and Glade Upgrades
Lookout Pass has been getting dialed for the likely quality season with a host of improvements. “We’ve mowed the whole front and back side of the mountain with the exception of a few of the steeper areas so that we can open with less snow,” says Sawyer. The mower takes brush down to about six inches, he says, which makes for smooth skiing right away when the resort opens. Glade trimming has also been happening this fall, with the removal of hanging trees and stumps that were in the way to open things up for flowier glade runs.
“We’ve also added three new glades on the hill, and that’s fun for people to experience some new terrain,” Sawyer says. Silver and Gold glade will be on the front of the mountain and Bigfoot and Thunderbird glades are up off of Eagle Peak. Sawyer notes that the Silver and Gold glade is great for families, offering a safe place for parents to let their kids experience glade skiing or riding in a more forgiving setting where parents can see their kids and monitor progress from the adjacent ski trails.
More Parking Added
With the number of powder days Lookout typically gets, the parking lot has been growing increasingly crowded in recent years on peak days, something Lookout plans to mitigate this season with the addition of another 150 parking spots. The whole lot also received a re-surfacing makeover for a smoother parking experience.
Facility Improvements Across the Mountain
Lookout Pass is celebrating 90 years this season with the added notoriety of being the oldest ski area in Idaho. (Sun Valley had the first lift, but Lookout was the first ski area to open.) With that kind of legacy, many small upgrades are made every year that make a big difference on the quality of the experience. Some of the improvements made for this season include a new trail map, two new permanent bathrooms adjacent to the bottom of the Eagle Peak Chairlift (Chair 5), a deck that has been added onto the new Day Lodge that was built last season, and an upgrade to the ski and snowboard demo fleet so it will have the latest equipment available.
Snowsports School Programs for Kids and Adults
Lookout Pass takes pride in providing an affordable gateway for people to learn to ski and snowboard, and one of the most budget-friendly options is the mountain’s learn to ski or snowboard in three days program. The Learn to Ski/Ride in 3 Days program is an all-inclusive package for kids, teens, or adults that comes with three half-day group lessons, rental ski or snowboard gear, and lift tickets for three days on the slopes. All who complete the program are then eligible for a discount season pass deal to keep progressing and having fun for the rest of the 24/25 season!
Sawyer says the mountain’s many adult lesson options are also a great way for skiers and snowboarders with some experience to build on their skills to be better able to keep up and enjoy the same terrain with friends and family. A great way to save on rental gear is Lookout’s season-long rental equipment, with rates that were actually lowered this season.
Featured Events this Season
Lookout Pass puts on some of the most creative events around, from the Cardboard Box Derby in the spring to the Kids Snow Bowling & MTN Brewfest (Jan. 26), where parents compete with their kids used as bowling balls! Support the Lookout Ski Patrol by showing up for the Greg Stump ski movie at the Hayden Cinema (Dec. 4). Check Skilookout.com/events for the full calendar as event details firm up this fall.
Sponsored by SNWR and Lookout Pass
