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The three Greatest Northern Idaho Ski Resorts For Household Snowboarding & Newbies


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There was a distinct degree of pleasure and anticipation on our ski journey to Idaho. The Selkirk Mountains in Northern Idaho connect with the enduring Rocky Mountains, and is thought for its steep slopes and difficult terrain.

It’s the place individuals go for cat snowboarding, backcountry snowboarding, even heli-skiing, and for us newbie degree skiiers, we weren’t positive it was going to have sufficient household pleasant trails for us.

people in ski gear on a snowy mountain
Wonderful household reminiscences snowboarding in Idaho

Seems, there are many household pleasant slopes in Northern Idaho ski resorts – you simply want to seek out out the place they’re.

That’s the place we are available in. Whereas we all know that Idaho is residence to among the finest ski resorts within the USA, Solar Valley Resort (voted the eleventh greatest within the nation), we additionally know that not everyone seems to be able to zipping down the black runs and want tamer slopes for youths.

And right here they’re…

Disclaimer: We had a five-day snowboarding trip in Northern Idaho in partnership with Go to Idaho, although all ideas, concepts, and opinions on this information are our personal. We additionally donate a share of our marketing campaign payment to these native companies and organizations that help the group, the atmosphere, and humanitarian causes. On this journey, we supported the Kootenai Environmental Alliance for his or her conservation efforts in North Idaho.

The Greatest North Idaho Ski Resorts For Households

We personally visited three North Idaho ski resorts as a household, when our daughters have been 13 and 9; Schweitzer Mountain, Lookout Cross, and Silver Mountain. Every mountain gives a novel and beneficial expertise and we suggest you go to all three if you ski in Northern Idaho.

It was our first time snowboarding we have been have been whole inexperienced persons, so this information is written for individuals who have restricted expertise snowboarding or none, like us.

mother and daughter on ski field
Snowboarding with our children created priceless reminiscences
family skiing Lookout Pass Ski Resort, Idaho
Snowboarding at Lookout Cross, Idaho was lovely.

We couldn’t have picked a extra good place for our first household ski trip expertise. It’s awesomeness for household pleasant snowboarding was additional validated on our first evening absorbing the winter vibes with a pink wine in Pend d’Oreille Vineyard tasting room in Sandpoint.

A girl, attracted by Craig’s UNC winter hat, got here as much as discuss their win over Duke in basketball simply two hours earlier than. She and her daughter each stated,

“You couldn’t have picked a greater place to be taught. Absolutely the worst circumstances for snowboarding on this mountain could be higher than most different place’s greatest day. Simply don’t inform anybody.”

Oops.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort, The Greatest Ski Resort

Taps Bar at Schweizer Mountain Resort
Faucets Bar at Schweitzer Mountain Resort

First, we’ll start with the most important ski resort in Idaho, positioned close to the Idaho-Montana border. Schweitzer Mountain, generally known as the most important and among the finest ski resorts in Idaho, has over 2,900 acres of skiable terrain – 10 lifts service 92 runs.

It’s a ski out and in resort, which implies that you may keep within the lodge, challets, or condos, proper within the village on the base of the mountain and get rapid entry to the ski runs.

woman taking photo of ski field
Slopes at Schweitzer
Schweizer Mountain chair lift
Using the chair elevate on Schweitzer Mountain
Pucci's Pub in Schweizer Mountain
Pucci’s Pub in Schweitzer Mountain

We cherished this function, particularly when it got here to the convenience of getting out and in of our ski gear and having the ability to maintain most of our belongings in our room.

We additionally cherished the cozy Alpine village really feel, which we now have all the time needed to expertise at a ski resort.

It was quiet after we visited. At instances, it felt like we had your complete village and mountain to ourselves, particularly early within the morning and late afternoon when the chair lifts have been closed, and folks had gone residence for the day.

View of Lake Pend Oreille from Schweizer
View of Lake Pend Oreille from Schweitzer

Schweitzer is positioned 25 minutes’ drive from the lovable small city of Sandpoint on Lake Pend Oreille.

That’s the extraordinary views you’ll have from the highest of the mountain as you’re snowboarding down. It has essentially the most dramatic views of the three North Idaho ski resorts!

Views from top of Schweitzer Ski Resort
Views from prime of Schweitzer Ski Resort

On our first day, we had a non-public 3-hour lesson with Mary Joe, who advised me she’d been snowboarding for 64 years! Right here I used to be at 45 struggling to do flip my skis whereas she held my arms and skied backwards.

Mary Joe was nice in serving to us be taught the fundamentals: wedge turns, pizza stops and the beginnings of French fry turning.

After a lot of observe on the bunny runs (observe slope), Mary Joe took us on the inexperienced Troll Bridge run. The gradient was steep sufficient for us to choose up pace, really feel in management and construct our confidence.

That path joined the Glad Path, which obtained steeper, however an incredible place for us to observe.

The Enchanted Forest was the steepest of the inexperienced runs at Schweizer, which we did on our second day. I used to be terrified and almost walked down it. After 5 days of snowboarding and classes, I do know I may return to that run now and discover it simple. 

Extra competent skiers will need to head up the chair elevate to the steeper blue and black runs.

Regardless of it being a hazard zone for us, we have been nonetheless capable of take the chair elevate to understand the most spectacular view in North Idaho.

Riding the chairlifts at schweitzer
Using the chairlifts was enjoyable and simple!

Whether or not you’re snowboarding again down or catching the chair elevate, plan sufficient time for lunch on the Sky Home.

We cherished sipping on a Duck Fart Espresso whereas watching these knowledgeable skiers fly down the mountains on the double black runs.

I do know you’re intrigued by the prospect of Duck Fart espresso – assume warming drink of Canadian whiskey, baileys, Kahlua, espresso and topped with whipped cream. Well worth the chair elevate and black run down only for that!

schweitzer mountain views
Gorgeous views of Lake Pend Oreille.

You possibly can entry the Outback bowl right here, which is the opposite facet to Schweitzer, and gives much more difficult ski runs.  

A bonus of catching the chair elevate again down is you may absorb these views and watch the fun seekers race you down the slopes. They’ll win!

Schweizer Mountain Resort, Idaho
Superior view of Schweitzer on the best way down

The place To Keep at Schweitzer Mountain

selkirk lodge schweitzer
We stayed in Selkirk Lodge

We stayed in a snug lodge fashion room with lovely views over the ski slopes within the Selkirk Lodge on the Schweitzer Mountain.

There are different lodging choices obtainable, akin to chalets and cabins you may hire for extra homestyle facilities.

The place to Eat on Schweitzer Mountain

powedrhound pizza schweitzer
Powder Hound Pizza

We all know how onerous it may be to seek out eating choices, so listed below are a few household pleasant eating places we cherished on Schweitzer Mountain.

Powder Hound Pizza within the village had scrumptious pizza, together with gluten free bases and loads of beers on faucet.

For the après expertise you dream of, sit on the skin deck of the Faucets Bar to look at the sundown and the serenity of the mountain quieting down.

I used to be delighted to be reunited with the scrumptious ciders of the Pacific Northwest. There’s nowhere else like them within the nation!

taps bar schweitzer
Nice view from Faucets Bar

We cherished the garments within the domestically owned Alpine Store within the village. I may have purchased certainly one of every thing, however settled for my now favourite, sweater. 

You understand you like an expertise if you happen to purchase the sweater!

Lookout Cross Ski and Recreation Space, The Most Powder in Idaho

Lookout Pass Chair lift
Lookout Cross Chair elevate

Lookout Cross Ski Space is thought to have the most annual snowfall in Idaho, getting a mean of greater than 400 inches of sunshine, dry powder snow yearly.

It’s additionally recognized to have a number of the greatest snowboarding in Idaho with the best-groomed runs. There are three lifts serving 35 runs.

Feeling assured from our snowboarding at Schweitzer, we arrived at Lookout Cross earlier than our ski lesson and determined to tackle a inexperienced run ourselves, Huckleberry.

family skiing at lookout pass
Able to ski in Lookout Cross

Midway down we noticed how steep it was with blue and black trails operating off it.

Signage was a little bit complicated and we satisfied ourselves that we someway landed on a blue run and all of us freaked out!

Kalyra and I giggle now on the picture of her careening down the hill heading straight for a tree and someway managing to bounce herself backwards in a star formed determine with out harm.

Surprisingly, these are the reminiscences that make a household journey so worthwhile.

young girl skiing at Lookout mountain idaho skiing
Have a look at that powder

We needed to come collectively to determine the right way to resolve this downside of us being caught on mountain, out of our depths, with no different place to go however down.

We managed to drag in our deep breaths and slowly wedge ski down the quick steep a part of the mountain.

It was an incredible speaking level on how we let concern take over our frequent senses. We weren’t misplaced in any respect, and we have been all succesful, our minds simply freaked us out.

That helped us to navigate by way of the ups and downs of the remainder of our ski expertise.

Our teacher, Tom later took us again down Huckleberry and it appeared nowhere close to as dangerous.

family skiing at lookout pass
Tom taking excellent care of us in Lookout Cross

I didn’t even understand, till after our snowboarding at Lookout Cross that Tom took us snowboarding down a blue run – Tamarack.

We thought it was a inexperienced run – no surprise, the final steep half was a scary wrestle for me.

Tamarack was our favourite path at Lookout. It took you deep into the forest and crossed the state line into Montana.

The path was vast and simple for us to observe our turns, which Tom was nice at serving to us be taught.

It was not with out humorous reminiscences although: Craig uncontrolled on a flip gently hugging a tree, and myself touchdown within the forest amongst the timber with Savannah racing Tom to rescue me!

The ladies managed to remain upright for many of the expertise. It was superb how rapidly they picked up the snowboarding.

young girl skiing huckleberry pass
Having fun with the ski runs Lookout Cross

The neat factor about Tamarack is it’s a run on the Montana Aspect of the mountain. So, if you come again up the chair elevate to the height, it’s essential to ski again down Huckleberry to get again to the lodge. Simply make sure to depart your self sufficient time!

It snowed whereas we have been right here, which made it enjoyable to ski by way of the white hazy world of snowfall.

young girl catching snow with tongue
Catching snowflakes (Photograph credit score: Matt from Lookout Cross)
family portrait in snow
Loving our household ski journey in Idaho

You’ll admire the lack of crowds at Lookout Cross. As it’s not a ski village, there are restricted facilities – only a small lodge that has some meals and rental gear.

That is additionally the place we did the well-known Route of the Hiawatha bike journey within the summertime.

This area within the Bitterroot Mountains in spectacular, and we have been so joyful to be again experiencing it within the winter.

The place to Keep in Wallace

wallace main street
Wallace, Idaho

For our go to to Lookout Cross, we stayed within the close by intriguing city of Wallace. It has outdated mining historical past, with a lot of the buildings sustaining the identical attraction.

The Wallace Inn is an excellent place to remain in Wallace inside strolling distance of downtown.

family in pool at wallace inn
Each ski day deserves a scorching tub.

We cherished enjoyable of their scorching tub after a tough day of snowboarding. Simply have a look at how the attractive design retains you linked to the snowy outdoor.

Their restaurant additionally serves a hearty breakfast earlier than your day on the slopes.

The place to Eat in Wallace

Blackboard Cafe, Wallace
Yum at Blackboard Cafe, Wallace

You’ll be stunned by the good meals choices right here. Blackboard Cafe got here beneficial by everybody on the town as, “so good”. They weren’t flawed.

This connoisseur eatery focuses on recent do-it-yourself dishes with a powerful Italian affect. My steak was among the finest I’ve had.

The children will love their distinctive milkshake flavors!

It’s additionally a novel buying expertise with Todd’s Bookstore and The Fox & Hare Mountain Put on specializing in high quality outside put on from manufacturers like PrAna and Kuhl.

Metropolis Limits Pub & Grill is an area cease for burgers and native craft brews. Craig says, don’t miss the Loft Honey Pale Ale!

Silver Mountain Resort, The Longest Gondola in America

Silver Mountain Resort is within the city of Kellogg, one other Idaho mining city. For those who’re searching for ski resorts close to Coeur d’Alene, it’s only a 35-minute drive!

To achieve the slopes you catch a 25-minute gondola journey from the village on the Silver Mountain Resort to the ski fields.

At 3.1 miles, it’s North America’s longest gondola journey.

silver mountain chair lifts
Gorgeous views from the gondola

Other than the mountain lodge, there aren’t any facilities or lodging on the ski fields.

Runs are unfold out throughout two mountains: Kellogg Peak and Wardner Peak with two terrain parks together with a snow tubing park.

Filled with confidence from our earlier days of snowboarding, we arrived early and tried the Alpenway run ourselves.

Though my snowboarding had improved, I used to be nonetheless terrified after we got here to a slender part with a giant drop off that intersected with steep blues and blacks.

Slowly we made ourselves by way of it and all the way down to the underside with out a downside!

family skiing Silver Mountain Resort, Idaho
A lot enjoyable snowboarding Silver Mountain

We nearly ended up on the flawed chairlift – one taking us to the very prime of Kellogg Peak.

I caught the signal that stated, “no newbie runs” simply earlier than we obtained on and saved us a potential catastrophe! At all times ask the operator in case you are unsure.

For those who do get caught, our instructors advised us the snow patrols can convey you again down, or the chair lifts as nicely. Don’t ski down if you happen to’re not at that degree.

family skiing at Silver Mountain Resort, Idaho
Glad instances in Silver Mountain

At Silver Mountain, we had a cut up non-public lesson. Kalyra and Savannah went with Stan, and Craig and I went with Mike.

All of us loved this expertise simply as a lot because the non-public household lesson. I feel it helped us to raised consider our approach.

As Savannah stated later, “I actually appreciated it as I wasn’t distracted. After I’m with you, I fear an excessive amount of about you.”

“Similar right here, my darling. Similar right here.”

Mike took us down a steeper inexperienced run and labored with us on our turns. For the primary time, I began to really feel accountable for my pace. I lastly hit the “snowboarding is superb” part.

family skiing Silver Mountain Resort, Idaho
Unbelievable surroundings in Silver Mountain

We suggest ending your Northern Idaho Ski Resort journey at Silver Mountain. The runs right here have been a little bit tougher so by the tip of your journey – after all of your classes – you need to have the ability to handle (and luxuriate in) them.

Silver Mountain can also be the place we went snow tubing! Your ticket features a two-hour block of tubing enjoyable.

Snow tubing gave us a little bit of thrill with out the fearful depth of snowboarding.

We loved the entire time racing one another or flying down the hill holding on as a bunch. The views of the encompassing mountains as you fly down are spectacular.

snow tubing silver mountain idaho
tubing silver mountain resort idaho
Tubing on Silver Mountain Resort, Idaho
Don’t miss the tubing enjoyable!

On our final day at Silver Mountain, we have been filmed right here for Go to Idaho’s 2022 winter marketing campaign industrial. The crew have been superior.

We cherished this expertise as they flew round on their skis and snowboards capturing the magic of our Idaho ski journey.

They filmed our final ski lesson with Mike. Savannah and Kalyra and Stan joined us this time.

Mike and Stan, filled with confidence over our earlier day snowboarding abilities, took us down the subsequent degree inexperienced path.

We began on the steep Noah’s Run, which I dealt with completely the day earlier than, however this time, I obtained in my head, anxious in regards to the women and the digicam crew, and ended up flying into the timber on a number of events.

Then we hit the steeper Bear Grass a part of the inexperienced path – all of us positive it needed to be a blue run.

The ladies did SO nicely! I used to be so impressed and believed Stan when he stated they may do one of many blues from the highest of the mountain!

young girl skiing Silver Mountain Resort, Idaho
Savannah was a pure skier

I, nevertheless, couldn’t get myself collectively on this path, spending extra time on my butt and sliding down to satisfy the simpler path beneath.

It’s a enjoyable story to inform now.

That’s the enjoyment of this snowboarding journey, and I felt so taken care of by Mike, who was all the time there to choose me up. I nonetheless don’t get how the instructors can so effortlessly choose up my heavy flailing physique on skis and never fall over.

As Mike stated, “I don’t fall over anymore as I can’t get again up.”

All our instructors impressed me and confirmed me that age doesn’t must cease you from doing what you like and that snowboarding simply could also be a strategy to maintain your self extremely match and wholesome in physique and thoughts.  

In addition they confirmed me it’s potential to turn into a skier who doesn’t fall!

woman skiing Silver Mountain Resort, Idaho

After that loopy run, we went onto our favourite Alpenway path and ended up ending our Idaho ski journey with essentially the most lovely snowboarding run – in expertise and panorama.

The digicam crew advised us the footage they captured of us snowboarding down the slender path as a household was magical. By some means, we managed to ski in sync with one another with good turns within the good afternoon gentle.  

That was once I completed our household ski trip saying, “Yep. I really like this. We’re going to go snowboarding yearly.”

And we’ll.

The place to Keep in Kellogg, Idaho

silver mountain resort
Our condos at Silver Mountain Resort

The year-round Silver Mountain Resort is a good place to remain in Kellogg for the whole ski expertise.

It’s a contemporary resort with apartment lodging. The additional house and facilities are good for households who need to get monetary savings and put together their very own meals.

Households may also love the indoor waterpark at Silver included with each keep. With inside temperatures at 84-degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll overlook you’re surrounded by snow capped peaks.

Indoor waterpark, Silver Mountain
Superior enjoyable on the indoor waterpark

Don’t miss the thrilling Moose Sluice – a water slide at the hours of darkness and scarier than we anticipated. Dad and mom will love the Lazy River and make sure to have a go on the Circulation Rider wave machine– Craig let free with a barrel roll to cheering crowds!

The place to Eat in Kellogg

Noah’s Canteen on the resort is the place for lunch or dinner. In addition they have a bar space and out of doors fireplace pits. Their salmon caesar salad was among the finest I’ve had within the USA. And the burger is great too.

Noah's Canteen, Silver Mountain
Nice meals at Noah’s Canteen

Come early although because it will get busy – and also you need to protect all of your time for snow enjoyable on the mountain – seize a espresso to go for the 25-minute gondola journey up!

FAQs About These Northern Idaho Ski Resorts

How lengthy do you have to spend snowboarding in North Idaho?

young girl skiing Silver Mountain Resort, Idaho
Studying to ski at Silver Mountain

For newbie skiers, we suggest you begin in Schweitzer Mountain and transfer east. We visited Schweitzer for two nights, Lookout Cross (staying in Wallace) for two nights, after which again to Silver Mountain for two nights.

We discovered this an incredible period of time to completely benefit from the ski and snow expertise.

As we have been inexperienced persons, we have been restricted within the variety of runs we may do (confidently). We cherished visiting the three resorts because it gave us new newbie trails (GREEN) to ski. If we had of stayed on the one resort your complete time, we might have rapidly gotten bored of the identical runs.

I feel snowboarding on the totally different inexperienced trails at every ski resort additionally helped us ski higher. And the views at every have been so totally different, but equally lovely.

2. Ought to I take ski classes in North Idaho?

Ski lessons with Tom at Lookout Pass
Lookout Cross Ski Resort, Idaho

Sure, if you happen to don’t know the right way to ski, you need to take ski classes in Northern Idaho. When you can be taught from Youtube, or determine it out by yourself, a very powerful factor you be taught from ski classes is to discover ways to ski correctly and safely.

We improved tremendously over the course of the 5 days because of our day by day classes.

If you’re a brand new skier, I extremely suggest your first journey be centered on studying the right way to ski. We can not suggest the non-public ski classes sufficient. We may take our time to grasp every vital technical transfer earlier than progressing.

We cherished how our teacher took us down some tougher runs, which helped us really feel assured and secure. After we’d try and do them on our personal, I’d simply collapse with concern after we come to a steep half, however with our teacher, I felt in management.

The ski classes are reasonably priced within the ski resorts of Idaho. Personal classes would be the greatest and most price efficient for households.

I shudder to assume what would have occurred to me if I tried to ski with out taking any classes. Professional skiers make it look simple. You assume you may simply copy them, however there may be a lot finesse and approach behind it.

girl skiing at schweitzer
Kalyra studying to ski at Schweitzer Mountain

As Mike, our Silver Mountain teacher stated, “snowboarding is straightforward to be taught, however onerous to grasp. Snowboarding is more durable to be taught, however simpler to grasp”

In case you don’t know, inexperienced is the best run, adopted by blue, pink, and black.  

I’d additionally get your teacher that can assist you be taught the right way to get off the chair elevate. That was essentially the most anxiousness ridden a part of the snowboarding expertise, and all of us slapped it a number of instances.

Probably the most disturbing half was on our final ski run, when the 4 of us needed to get off the identical chair elevate on the identical time for the movie crew.

A lot strain, however we NAILED it!

Our Expertise Snowboarding In Northern Idaho

On this North Idaho snowboarding trip, I went from moments of pure elation to terror. The sort that claims, “I can’t do that anymore. I’m by no means going snowboarding once more,”

That was after I’d fallen over but once more on one other try and shuffle my toes onto the proper edge to show, or once I was going so quick, I’d freak out and someway ski into the forest, shoving a tree trunk with my toes.

Moments later I’d effortlessly glide down the hill, feeling so free, and ensconced in a second of pure “within the zone bliss” that I’d be singing,

“That is AWESOME! I’m coming again yearly.”

person skiing
Studying to ski in Schweitzer Mountain was enjoyable!

This Idaho ski journey taught me that’s the place you discover the true fantastic thing about life – not in its perfections, however within the up and down trajectory.

It’s the experiences that push you thru the concern and limitation vary of “I don’t assume I’m succesful”, into a brand new consolation zone that claims, “cling on a minute, possibly I’m.”

We by no means get to the subsequent degree of confidence and functionality with out the falling.

The Final Journey

That’s why this ski expertise in Idaho was my final sort of journey.

It was messy. It was scary. It was thrilling. It was enjoyable. It was so unbelievably lovely.

And I obtained to do it with my youngsters!

people standing on snowy mountains

We laughed and cried, confided our fears to one another, and labored as a household unit to encourage, help, and elevate one another as much as ski on.

Skiing with Savannah at Schweitzer
Snowboarding with Savannah at Schweitzer

The reminiscences from this quick 5-day ski trip are extraordinary. Not simply of the spills and accomplishments, however the individuals we met alongside the best way guiding us and choosing us up after we fall.

There was Mary Joe at Schweitzer holding my arms, instructing me the one leg strain flip, asking me to not break her fingers as she skied backwards to assist me “get it.”

There was Tom at Lookout Cross choosing me up but once more from a fall, snowboarding beside me as we tackled a difficult slope, speaking to me of my lovely household and the way nicely we have been doing.

There was Mike and Stan at Silver Mountain who slowly, patiently, and individually guided us down the mountain, serving to us lastly good our turns. Stan, serving to the ladies really feel secure and empowered with out us round.

ski lessons at schweitzer
Mary Jo guiding me down the slopes

Then Matt and Dig from the ski resorts exhibiting us such kindness, and the manufacturing crew filming us who have been so affected person, variety and BOLD, nearly hanging of the facet of cliffs on snowboards, and racing behind us on skis with heavy gear to movie our household snowboarding and snow tubing – all spills and easy glides.

This was the journey expertise we dream of and have sought all my life. The tales to without end share across the campfire.

As a result of if we now have these, then we all know our life has been significant.

READ MORE: 9 Enjoyable Idaho Winter Adventures to not miss

family in village at schweitzer resort
Schweitzer Mountain Resort

Extra Idaho Journey Ideas

Want extra inspiration for a visit to Idaho? Try these different guides…

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Remark: Are you planning on taking your loved ones snowboarding in Idaho or another locations? Which ski resort would you go to? Tell us within the feedback.

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