Your Complete Winter Guide to Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area

December 24, 2025

Get Out There, Skiing/Snowboarding, Sponsored

Ski or snowboard in two states at the region’s powder place just off I-90 on the Idaho-Montana state line.

Cover photo courtesy of Lookout Pass

Lifts: 5 (2 quads, 2 triples, 1 double)
Vertical: 1,650
Skiable acres: 1,023
Number of runs: 59
Terrain parks: 3
Annual snowfall: 450 inches
Operating schedule: With 100% natural snow, Lookout opens as soon as conditions permit. Seven-day-a-week operations pre-Christmas through April 20 (conditions permitting).

Season Deals
Lookout Pass is the mountain for anyone who wants to ski natural snow without draining their wallet and is known as one of the most affordable mountains in the region. Check out these deals:

Score two lift tickets for a total of $75 on Thursdays with the Bring a Friend Thursdays promotion.

Ski free on your birthday when you show ID or a birth certificate.

Make a reservation for lift tickets online by 11:59 p.m. the day before you arrive and save money.

If you have a season pass from any other mountain in the world, show your valid pass at the ticket window to get half-price lift tickets Monday through Thursday with the Golden Pass deal. With that offer, an adult can get a full-day lift ticket for just $31.50.

Why ski Lookout Pass? Because the only thing better than its fresh powder and reliable grooming is knowing you saved enough to buy a round or two at après.

Ski and Stay Packages
Lookout Pass partners with lodging establishments in Wallace, Idaho, including the Wallace Inn, the Stardust Motel and The Brooks, to offer ski and stay packages. Contact lodging partners directly for pricing and options. Learn more at Skilookout.com/silver-valley.

Lessons for Everyone
Lessons are available for ages 2 through adult, with both group and private options. A few lesson highlights include:

Private Lesson 5-Pack: For ages 2 and up, consider a five-pack of private lessons for $375 (regular private lessons are $99 per hour). It’s a solid deal and a great stocking stuffer.

Group lessons are offered from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and are $65. Rentals can be added for $20. Lift tickets are sold separately.

The Kids’ First Timers Learn to Ski or Snowboard package is $199 and valid for any three days this winter. Participants receive three lessons, three rental setups and three lift tickets. Valid for kids ages 7 to 12. Similar offerings are available for older kids and adults. It’s best to commit to three days when first learning to ski or snowboard.

Lookout’s World-Famous Free Ski School

For kids ages 7–17, this program has been running since 1940. It is the longest-running free ski school in the country. Ski or snowboard lessons are offered on seven specific Saturdays during the winter (participants must attend one of the first lessons to participate throughout the season). Children are placed in groups based on age and skill level and receive roughly an hour and a half of instruction. It’s an excellent program for first-timers as well as committed young skiers or riders looking to progress and have fun on the mountain. Sign-ups begin in early to mid-December. FreeSkiSchool.org

Lookout Pass strongly suggests that all students purchase a season pass or a lift ticket three-pack so they can continue to ski before or after their lessons. Lookout also offers affordably priced, season-long rental ski or snowboard packages.

More Space to Relax

With the grand opening of the Snow Globe—a sprung structure that opened last year—Lookout continues to offer additional space for skiers and riders to warm up and refuel. The Snow Globe includes comfortable couches, large-screen TVs and a more relaxed vibe than the historic lodge next door.

The original historic lodge (the second-oldest in the Northwest) still serves hot breakfasts, hearty meals, pizza, chili, hamburgers, hot dogs and fries, along with hot and cold drinks. Guests can also find a selection of healthier menu options, beer, good coffee, and warm beverages in the Snow Globe.

The Loft Pub offers options for the 21-and-up crowd, including cocktails, beer on tap or in cans, wings and other snacks. With even more room to kick back, it’s an easy place to unwind after a day on the slopes.

Featured Events this Season

Lookout Pass hosts some creative events and competitions, from the Cardboard Box Derby to Kids Snow Bowling, where parents compete using their kids used as bowling balls! Check Skilookout.com/events for the full event calendar.