Two mountain bikers enjoy stunning views of the Payette National Forest, the Salmon River Range, and Payette Lake on the trail "Rock Garden" at Brundage Mountain Resort near McCall, Idaho. Photo by Mark Stoeckl for Brundage Mountain Resort.

Summer Thrills a Big Draw for Idaho Ski Areas

BOISE, Idaho (June 18, 2024) — Summer operations, as well as construction on projects debuting next winter, are underway at many Idaho ski areas. It’s an increasingly important season for ski resorts — especially in the Gem State, with 11 of Ski Idaho’s 19 destinations maintaining bike trails and nine spinning the chairlifts all summer long.

Ski Area Management magazine reports summer revenues nationally represent just under 12 percent of total annual revenues compared to more than 20 percent for Idaho ski area operators, according to market research firm RRC Associates.

Eight Ski Idaho destinations have already opened, and the remaining mountains will follow suit by July 1:

• May 24 — Route of the Hiawatha (operated by Lookout Pass)
• May 25 — Silver Mountain, Tamarack (golf, waterfront only)
• May 31 — Tamarack (daily lift-served mountain biking)
• June 1 — Bogus Basin (limited weekend operations)
• June 14 — Brundage, Grand Targhee, Schweitzer
• June 15-16 — Lookout Pass open for scenic lift rides
• mid-June — Tamarack (zipline, whitewater rafting)
• June 21 — Sun Valley (lift-served hiking, Roundhouse Restaurant)
• June 22 — Soldier Mountain, Pebble Creek (open for music fest June 22 only)
• July 1 — Sun Valley (lift-served mountain biking), Pomerelle (pedal under your own power except July 19-21)
• July 4-7 — Lookout Pass open for scenic lift rides
• July 18-20 — Kelly Canyon (open for ROKMAN Games 3D archery shoot only)
• 31-Sept. 2 — Lookout Pass open for scenic lift rides

The golf courses at the three Idaho ski resorts that boast them — Silver Mountain, Sun Valley, and Tamarack — are open daily. Tamarack will officially celebrate the grand reopening of its 18-hole championship Osprey Meadows Golf Course and the new 19th Gambler’s Hole in early July.

Golf is back in full swing at Tamarack Resort in Southwest Idaho near Donnelly, with nine holes currently open and a grand re-opening of the championship 18-hole Osprey Meadows Golf Course and the 19th Gambler's Hole planned for early July. Photo by Sherri Harkin for Tamarack Resort.

Nine Idaho ski areas serve up disc golf, too, and Brundage and Soldier Mountain are unveiling new nine-hole courses this summer. The disc golf course at Lookout Pass will be closed this season, but the ski area plans to open it back up next summer.

New gravity bike trails await riders this summer at Bogus Basin, Brundage, Schweitzer, and Silver Mountain. And many Idaho ski areas are staging big races, too, including pro-level world-class enduro mountain bike and motorcycle races at Grand Targhee, Silver Mountain, and Tamarack.

Several destinations, including Grand Targhee, Route of the Hiawatha, Schweitzer, and Tamarack, are staging trail-running races, too, with some anticipated to draw upwards of 1,000 competitors.

Bogus Basin and Brundage will continue to offer mountain bike lessons, and Silver Mountain and Grand Targhee are launching instructional programs this summer.

Silver Mountain, Sun Valley, and Tamarack are staging Fourth of July celebrations with elaborate fireworks displays. Plus, noteworthy mountain biking, music, beer, and wine festivals are returning to Bogus Basin, Grand Targhee, Pebble Creek, Schweitzer, Silver Mountain, Sun Valley, and Tamarack throughout the summer and into September. In addition, Bogus Basin, Brundage, and Tamarack are staging free summer concert series.

An elaborate fireworks display lights up the night sky above Tamarack Resort and Lake Cascade in Southwest Idaho near Donnelly. Photo by Sherri Harkin for Tamarack Resort.

Meanwhile, construction has begun or resumed on significant projects that will debut next winter and beyond.

Bogus Basin is installing two new fixed-grip quad chairlifts and cutting three new ski trails. Brundage will complete its new Mountain Adventure Center by the fall, and Tamarack’s mid-mountain lodge is slated to open this December.

Sun Valley is replacing the Seattle Ridge chair with a high-speed detachable six-pack, the resort’s second such lift. Soldier Mountain is expanding snowmaking and adding TRAX  skiing and snowcat-assisted backcountry touring to its cat-skiing program.

And Pebble Creek is adding a 700-foot magic carpet — one of the longest in North America — to its beginner area.

With the exception of the ROKMAN Games 3D archery shoot in mid-July, Kelly Canyon is closed for the second consecutive summer as the resort’s new owners continue major infrastructure improvements and expansion of the snowmaking system.

NORTH IDAHO

The Route of the Hiawatha, which Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area operates under a special-use permit from the U.S. Forest Service, opened May 24. Considered the crown jewel of the nation’s rails-to-trails initiative, the family friendly bike trail will operate seven days a week through Sept. 15.

The Route of the Hiawatha near the historic town of Wallace, Idaho, is the crown jewel of the nation's rails-to-trails initiative, delving 10 tunnels and crossing seven sky-high trestles at a gentle 1.6-percent to 2-percent all-downhill grade. Photo by Gary Peterson for Ski Idaho.

Close to the historic town of Wallace, the 15-mile Route of the Hiawatha’s gentle 1.6-percent to 2-percent, all-downhill ride straddles the Idaho-Montana state line, delves 10 tunnels, crosses seven sky-high train trestles, and has a shuttle service back to the top. Attracting 60,000 riders the last few summers, the Route of the Hiawatha is by far the most popular scenic ski area bike trail in the country.

The Route of the Hiawatha strongly encourages guests to make reservations for the day they want to ride — especially when renting equipment.

The Route of the Hiawatha’s bicycle rental fleet boasts 600 units and includes cruisers, mountain bikes, tandem bikes, recumbent bikes for those wanting more stability, Burley bike trailers for young kids, and tagalong trailer bikes for kids ages 5-7. All bike rentals come with helmets and handlebar-mounted lights for the tunnels.

The Route of the Hiawatha is staging a food drive benefitting the Wallace Food Bank Aug. 29 where guests who contribute seven nonperishable food items will get a free shuttle ticket for the day. And Negative Split is staging a running race Sept. 28 that includes 10K, 15K, 25K, and 50K (full-marathon) distances.

Meanwhile, Lookout Pass will offer scenic chairlift rides three weekends this summer: June 15-16, July 4-7, and Aug. 31-Sept. 2. The Peak One Quad whisks guests up and down the mountain from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to enjoy hiking its five family friendly woodland hiking trails and to pick huckleberries later in the season. Check the website and social media for additional dates.

The ski area’s summit disc golf course won’t be open this summer, but Lookout Pass plans to open it back up next summer.

Visit SkiLookout.com and RideTheHiawatha.com for more details.

In nearby Kellogg, Silver Mountain Resort began summer weekend operations — which include mountain biking and scenic rides on North America’s longest gondola — May 25. Daily operations commenced June 14 and will run through Labor Day, Sept. 2. At that point weekend operations will continue through Sept. 29.

Two mountain bikers descend one of Silver Mountain Bike Park's 40 singletrack trails at Silver Mountain Resort in the historic mining town of Kellogg, Idaho. Photo by Gary Peterson for Ski Idaho.

The resort’s exquisite nine-hole Galena Ridge Golf Course tucked away in the mountains of the Silver Valley is open daily for the season.

Voted Best in the Northwest for four consecutive years in the MTBparks.com Riders’ Choice Awards, Silver Mountain Bike Park sports 40 singletrack trails that span about 30 miles and drop 3,400 vertical feet.

“Carnage Asada,” a new, blue technical trail, debuts this summer. An extension of “El Burro Loco,” the new trail is around 1 mile long. Beyond that, the bike trail maintenance team is constantly making small improvements to trails, including reroutes and new berms.

Also new this summer: The resort has begun offering mountain biking lessons.

Its fleet of premium, full-suspension Commencal downhill and enduro bikes deliver the ultimate experience on Silver Mountain’s renowned MTB trails.

The resort also operates the state’s largest indoor waterpark, Silver Rapids, which opened for weekends in early May and began daily operations June 7. Access to the waterpark is included in every lodging stay, plus a limited number of day tickets are available on the Silver Mountain website for those looking to enjoy the park for the day.

Activities at Silver Mountain include trail hiking and running. Plus, its e-bike rental fleet allows guests to more easily explore sections of the nearby Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, a 73-mile-long rails-to-trails conversion with a trailhead right in the resort’s parking lot.

As usual, Silver Mountain’s calendar is jam-packed with events this summer, including the pro-level North American Enduro Cup June 15-16, which boasted a prize purse of $12,000.

The Silver Kings Hard Enduro — North America’s premier hard enduro motorcycle event — is returning June 26-29. During the event the resort will only be open for scenic lift rides and race spectators. Although the race has its own trails, the mountain bike park will be closed to keep riders safe and patrol resources focused on the event.

The resort will launch fireworks from the resort parking lot on July 4. It is also sponsoring the City of Kellogg’s Independence Day celebration, which includes a 5K run, vendor fair, parade, and live music in the park.

Silver Mountain is also hosting the Wallace Blues Festival July 10-14 featuring live music on the mountain and in the gondola village. The Shootout at Silver Mountain, a 3D archery shoot on the slopes, returns July 13-14. Other events include the Northwest Cup downhill mountain bike race Aug. 2-4, and its annual Brewsfest Aug. 10 featuring more than 45 beers, two live bands, food trucks atop the mountain, and a free afterparty in the gondola village with live music.

The Silveroxx Super D MTB race Sept. 22 from the top of Silver Mountain all the way back to Kellogg will wrap up the racing season.

Silver Mountain’s Splash-and-Stay lodging packages start at $52 per person and include access to Silver Rapids. Between its Morning Star Lodge at the base of the gondola and the nearby Silver Inn, Silver Mountain offers guests 250 rooms with multiple floorplans and options available to accommodate families and groups of any size and on any budget.

Overnight parking costs $30 per night in the resort parking lot right across the street from the gondola. Hookups are not available but restrooms and garbage service are provided.

Visit SilverMt.com for more details.

Summer at Schweitzer near Sandpoint kicked off June 14 this year and continues through Sept. 2. Idaho’s largest ski area is celebrating its first summer under new ownership as the first anniversary of Schweitzer’s sale to Alterra approaches in August.

Schweitzer, Idaho's largest ski area, is celebrating its first summer under new ownership as the first anniversary of the resort's sale to Alterra approaches in August. Photo courtesy of Schweitzer.

The resort maintains more than 40 miles of mountain bike trails and offers a 2-hour hosted e-bike tour daily. It boasts a fleet of 30 premium, full-suspension downhill and enduro bikes and a half-dozen e-bikes.

A new 0.55-mile black-diamond downhill trail off “Pinch Flat” called “Butterstuff” debuts this summer, as well as a new 0.2-mile connector trail called “Hermit’s Hollow” on the resort’s cross-county network.

Schweitzer’s summer visitors also can play disc golf on two nine-hole courses — one in the village and one at the summit — and enjoy scenic chairlift rides on the Great Escape Quad to the summit. Unlimited rides on the latter are free this summer for  2024-25 winter season passholders, and both serve up breathtaking views of Lake Pend Oreille and the Selkirk and Cabinet mountain ranges.

Other summer activities include hiking and trail running, geocaching, bungee trampolines, a 25-foot climbing wall, gold panning, huckleberry picking, and horseback riding.

Race the Wolf returns June 22-23 with four different trail-running races all over the mountain. Its annual Northwest Winefest, slated for July 20-21, showcases wines from throughout the Pacific Northwest, local food vendors, and live music. And Schweitzer’s Fall Fest returns Aug. 30-Sept. 2 featuring free live music and more than 80 beers, ciders, and seltzers over four days during Labor Day weekend.

Visit Schweitzer.com for more details.

SOUTHWEST IDAHO

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area near Boise began limited weekend operations June 1, including food and beverage services, the Glade Runner mountain coaster, scenic lift rides, and Shafer Butte Mining Co. panning sluice. The Mineshaft — a three-story, 50-foot-tall challenge course with more than 60 obstacles and two ziplines — and the Sourdough Slider summer tubing hill, Stack Rock climbing wall, and Launch Pad bungee trampoline opened June 15.

Daily operations — including lift-served mountain biking, cross-country mountain biking, hiking, and disc golf — commence June 21 and continue through Aug. 15, with the ski area open Fridays-Sundays Aug. 16-Sept. 1 plus Labor Day on Monday Sept. 2 and Saturdays-Sundays Sept. 7-29.

The 30-plus miles of trails at The Basin Gravity Park and Bogus Basin have become a regionally renowned mountain bike destination and include “Around the Mountain,” Idaho’s top mountain bike trail as ranked by MTBprojects.com.

Several changes await mountain bikers this summer when they visit the ski area:

• A new multiuse trail that opened towards the end of last summer to provide easy hiking and biking access to various upper mountain junctions and trails will be used to reroute access to “Around the Mountain” due to lift construction.
• Season-long closure of “The Bitterroot Zone” of The Basin Gravity Park due to lift construction.
• Rerouted access to expert-only, community-built technical downhill MTB terrain “40 Acres of Freedom” in The Basin Gravity Park due to lift construction.

Its rental fleet of more than 40 mountain bikes includes TREK full-suspension downhill bikes, enduro bikes, and trail bikes in adult, youth, and kid sizes. It does not rent e-bikes, but e-bikes are permitted in The Basin Gravity Park.

Bogus Basin offers mountain bike instruction, including group and private lessons. It also hosts several noteworthy races.

The Boise Mountain Bike Festival is staging its main day, June 29, at Bogus Basin. Activities include group rides (cross country, trail, downhill, and gravel), skills demonstrations and a big air jam by pro riders, a slalom challenge, small group coaching sessions, a raffle, swag giveaways, and more.

Bogus Basin’s Community Race Series features two weekly contests — cross-country mountain bike races every Wednesday and downhill mountain bike races every Thursday — from June 26-Aug. 15. And the National Interscholastic Cycling Association will stage its Idaho State Championships at Bogus Basin Oct. 5.

The nation’s largest nonprofit ski area, Bogus Basin is presenting an array of free events this summer, including a free Music on the Mountain concert series every other Saturday July 13-Sept. 7. All summer long Bogus is also hosting its free Music on the Patio series most Saturdays-Sundays and its free Yoga on the Mountain sessions most Thursdays and weekends. For youths, the ski area will offer free guided weekend nature hikes throughout the summer.

It is also planning a Mountain Discovery Camp weeklong youth program.

A guest at Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area near Boise, Idaho, navigates The Mineshaft Challenge Course, a three-story, 50-foot-tall structure with more than 60 obstacles and two ziplines. Photo by Luke Tokunaga for Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area.

Construction has commenced on two new fixed-grip quad chairlifts to replace, extend, and realign two of Bogus Basin’s oldest lifts, Chairs 5 and 7, Bitterroot and Coach, respectively.

Bogus Basin will also cut three new ski trails that will debut next winter, including one new green trail at each of the two new lifts and a new blue trail.

Although Bogus Basin does not offer lodging, slopeside accommodations are available to rent from the Pioneer Condos. In addition, the mountain partners with several hotels in Boise to offer stay and play deals. It also offers large group and corporate bookings for space, catering, and activities.

Overnight RV parking is allowed in parking lot no. 3, which is paved, but there are no hookups and fires and unattended vehicles are not permitted.

Visit BogusBasin.org for more details.

Friday-Sunday operations began at Brundage Mountain Resort near McCall June 14. It will open daily June 28-July 7 and then observe a 5-days-a-week schedule, operating Wednesdays-Sundays starting July 10.

An adaptive mountain biker enjoys the lift-served mountain bike trails at Brundage Bike Park at Brundage Mountain Resort near McCall, Idaho. Photo courtesy of Brundage Mountain Resort.

Its 30-plus miles of trails offer plenty of variety, appeal to all types of mountain bikers, and include a 360-degree loop around the mountain. New last summer is an 8.4-mile trail the U.S. Forest Services calls “B2BB” (for “Brundage to Bear Basin”) that, while not technically *in* Brundage Bike Park, connects its network of trails to the popular Bear Basin and Payette Rim trail systems.

Brundage will continue offering mountain bike lessons through the Mountain Sports School. Brundage Bike School’s team of certified mountain bike instructors offer private lessons and skill-building clinics for ages 7-12 and 13 and up. Visit brundage.com/mtb-lessons for more details.

The rental fleet at Brundage’s Fall Line Shop includes more than 40 top-of-the-line full-suspension mountain bikes from Rocky Mountain and Kona that are perfect for the resort’s mix of trails.

The resort’s scenic chairlift rides afford a 360-view at the summit that includes silhouettes of Idaho’s Seven Devils Wilderness, Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness, and sweeping vistas of the Payette Lakes. Hikers can take the chairlift to the top and explore short, scenic trails from the summit or choose longer multi-use routes to soak in more of the mountain’s beauty.

Brundage is opening a new nine-hole disc golf course this summer dubbed The Mountain 9. It starts in the base area near the lodge and traverses through both forested and open areas into the lower part of the area known to winter visitors as Beartopia.

Brundage’s Fourth of July Music Festival & Cat Track 10K/5K foot races are returning July 4, and its free, weekly, dog-friendly TGIF Summer Concert Series runs Friday evenings July 5-Aug. 30. The Twisted Turtle XC Race returns Aug. 3.

Construction on Brundage’s new 17,000-square-foot Mountain Adventure Center — home to guest services, retail, rentals, the snow sports school, daycare, lockers, and tuning — is slated to finish by this fall.

Visit Brundage.com for more details.

Near Donnelly, Tamarack Resort opened its Cascade Lake marina and nine holes of its golf course on May 25. Daily lift-served mountain biking and scenic lift rides commenced May 31 and will continue through Sept. 2. Ziplining and whitewater rafting will begin in mid-June.

The grand opening of the 18-hole championship Osprey Meadows Golf Course and the 19th Gambler’s Hole is planned for early July.

This summer the resort is also opening a two-acre grass-lawn amphitheater on the snowfront near Guided Services and the Seven Devils Taphouse and a 70,000-square-foot outdoor event and social lawn space behind The Lodge at Osprey Meadows. Tamarack also has built a walking and biking trail connecting The Village with the Tamarack Express chairlift.

Tamarack will also debut four new mountain biking trails this summer, expanding its International Mountain Bicycling Association-created network of 27 lift-served downhill trails spanning 36 miles and 1,700 feet of elevation. The new trails include the 0.94-mile black-diamond flow trail “Shark Bait,” the 0.56-mile black-diamond technical trail “Project O,” the 1.05-mile black-diamond technical trail “Hot Shot Extension,” and the 1.01-mile green flow trail “Los Azulejos Extension.”

The resort also boasts 26 cross-country biking trails totaling 18 miles.

Its fleet of 95 bikes includes 50 downhill mountain bikes, 23 cross-country mountain bikes, 15 cruisers, and seven e-bikes.

Summer amenities also include an outdoor axe-throwing facility in The Village and a nine-hole disc golf course just steps away at the base of West Mountain. Plus, The Waterfront on Lake Cascade offers kayak, paddleboard, pontoon boat, surf boat, and jet ski rentals.

The resort’s zipline canopy tours explore 3,500 feet of terrain, including eight different ziplines, two suspension bridges, and a 105-foot-high treehouse. Plus, Tamarack conducts guided whitewater rafting trips on the Cabarton stretch of the North Fork of the Payette River and guided fishing excursions on Lake Cascade.

Camp Tam summer camp is back, offering kids various mountain, meadow, and lake activities. So is Summer Trailblazers at the Marina, which offers group instruction and dedicated sport time for each child in the water sport of their choice — waterskiing, wakeboarding, or wake surfing. And its Adventure Pack lodging add-on provides guests with discounts on activities such as biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, pickleball, disc golf, and axe throwing via an RFID wristband.

The resort is hosting several big races this summer. The Northwest Cup Downhill Race, the premier downhill single-stage mountain bike series in the West, returns to Tamarack June 21-23, with hundreds of riders showing up to show off their skills and speed. The sixth round of the Big Mountain Enduro Race Series — the largest enduro race series in the U.S. — is slated for Aug. 9-11. And Top of Tam, a new endurance mountain biking and trail hiking/running event benefiting a local mental health nonprofit, will debut Sept. 28.

The Tamarack Summer Concert Series takes place every Saturday on the grass lawn amphitheater from 5-8 p.m. in June-July and 4-7 p.m. in August-September. Its four-day Fourth of July Festival features live music, fireworks, and activities in The Village and at the waterfront July 4-7. A new family friendly Art & Wine Festival is slated for Aug. 17, the annual Bikes, Brews & Bluegrass Festival returns Sept. 1, and a new, vibrant Oktoberfest fall festival Sept. 28 features German food, beer, and music.

Construction on the mid-mountain lodge continues. It is slated to open in December.

Visit TamarackIdaho.com for more details.

SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO

Seven-days-a-week lift-accessed hiking and dining at The Roundhouse at world-famous Sun Valley Resort begins June 21 via the Roundhouse Express gondola followed by lift-accessed mountain biking July 1. Meanwhile, golf season at the resort is in full swing at all three courses —  White Clouds, Trail Creek, and Elkhorn.

A family mountain bikes the White Clouds trail system in Sun Valley, North America's first destination ski resort and the birthplace of the chairlift. Photo by Idarado Media for Sun Valley Resort.

America’s first destination resort and birthplace of the chairlift, Sun Valley sports a dozen biking and hiking trails, including the longest purpose-built downhill mountain-bike trail in the U.S., dropping 3,350 vertical feet. Plus, riders can access more than 30 miles of paved, car-free bike paths and over 400 miles of singletrack throughout the Wood River Valley.

Bike rentals are available throughout the warmer months for mountain, gravel, and road biking from brands like Trek, Norco, and Kona, plus cruisers and e-bikes are also on hand. Mountain bikes are available at Pete Lane’s River Run for lift-accessed riding. All other bike styles are available at Pete Lane’s in the Sun Valley Village.

The resort offers an array of additional activities, including scenic gondola rides, horseback trail rides and horse-drawn wagon rides, and a full menu of pampering options at the Sun Valley Spa. The resort also boasts numerous indoor and outdoor dining options, including The Ram, Gretchen’s, Konditorei, Sun Valley Club, Village Station, and, as mentioned earlier, The Roundhouse.

Summer in Sun Valley officially begins with the Sun Valley Ballet June 29-30 and a Summer Kickoff Party July 1 with live music at River Run Plaza. Sun Valley on Ice’s summer series premieres July 3 followed by fireworks at the Pavilion. The Baldy Bluebird Festival takes center stage at River Run Plaza featuring performances by Midland, Charlie Worsham, and Axel Diehl July 4 and Grace Potter, JD Clayton, and The Pisten Bullys July 5. The resort will launch fireworks after the July 4 concert near the Sun Valley Lodge.

Also planned for the holiday is the Sun Valley Tennis and Pickleball Center's 4th of July Weekend Pickleball Tournament.

The River Run Summer Series featuring live music, family fun, and extended lift hours begins July 24.

Other events include the Sun Valley Writer’s Conference July 20-22, Sun Valley Music Festival July 29-Aug. 22, Yoga on the Mountain, and free Yoga at River Run Plaza.

This summer Sun Valley is replacing the Seattle Ridge Chairlift with another high-speed Doppelmayr six-pack as part of its multi-year improvement plan to improve skier circulation and terrain access on the mountain. The new lift is scheduled to begin operation this December.

Visit SunValley.com for more details.

SOUTHERN IDAHO

Soldier Mountain will open for lift-served mountain biking every Saturday from June 22-Aug. 24 and a bonus day Sept. 22. Lift tickets cost $25 and must be purchased on the resort’s website.

Jon Botz (foreground) and David Krise (background) descend a mountain-biking trail at Soldier Mountain near Fairfield in Southern Idaho. Photo by Sherri Harkin for Ski Idaho.

Soldier Mountain’s network of five trails spans 9 miles. One of the trails is designated as easy, two are considered intermediate, and two are advanced, including one hand-cut trail and an extreme machine-cut jump trail.

The resort does not offer mountain bike rentals.

Soldier Mountain is unveiling a new nine-hole disc golf course this summer.

Its outdoor bathrooms are open 24/7 to accommodate campers and RVs, which are welcome to dry camp in the parking lot at no cost.

This summer Soldier Mountain is working to expand snowmaking to Canyon Run, doubling the acres of early season terrain, and deploying new mountain signage, including all new trail signs.

It is also dialing in a TRAX-skiing option to its cat-skiing program, using tracked side-by-sides to guide small guest groups in the backcountry. The resort said tracked side-by-sides can climb uphill three times faster than snowcats, yielding more powder and vert in a day.

Visit SoldierMountain.com for more details.

Pomerelle Mountain Resort near Albion is booked for many private events this summer and fall. However, the resort only plans to open to the public for lift-served mountain biking and hiking on one weekend this summer — July 19-21, for The Pomerelle Pounder, one of the longest-running mountain bike races in the state.

Two mountain bikers enjoy the trails at Pomerelle Mountain Resort in Southern Idaho near Albion. Photo by Sherri Harkin for Ski Idaho.

The event is part of the 2024 Utah Gravity Mountain Bike Series, with the races staged that Saturday and Sunday and racers practicing there Friday. Pomerelle will open the Slopeside Grill and its lodge and cafeteria that weekend, as well.

During the Pounder, the rest of the mountain will be open to the public for mountain biking, hiking, scenic chairlift rides, and hamburger eating.

Otherwise, riders can bike uphill under their own power and ride the trails beginning July 1, but they must understand there is no emergency personnel on the mountain, according to the resort.

Visit Pomerelle.com for more details.

EASTERN IDAHO

Kelly Canyon Resort in Eastern Idaho near Ririe and Idaho Falls is closed for the second consecutive summer as the new owners continue making major infrastructure improvements and expanding the snowmaking system. They will have a 10-year master development plan out to the public for review by the end of the summer that includes a new lift, a second lodge, treehouses, glamping, a Zipline, and a mountain coaster.

The resort will open one weekend this summer — July 18-20 — for the ROKMAN Games Archery Challenge, a 3D archery shoot where all participants are automatically entered into a drawing for a chance to take a million-dollar shot.

Visit KellyCanyonResort.com for more details and updates.

Just across the border in Alta, Wyo., Grand Targhee Resort — which affiliates with the Idaho Ski Areas Association because the resort is only accessible via Driggs, Idaho —opened for the summer June 14. The Shoshone and Dreamcatcher lifts are running daily through Sept. 15.

Two mountain bikers enjoy the unparalleled majesty of summer at Grand Targhee Resort. Photo by Jake Campos for Grand Targhee Resort.

Grand Targhee offers 2,200 vertical feet of lift-serviced downhill, 17 miles of downhill trails, more than 70 miles of multi-use trails for biking and hiking and running, and a mountain bike school. MTBparks.com Riders’ Choice Best Bike Parks Awards ranked its bike park among the Northwest’s top five for six consecutive years.

There are no new major changes debuting this summer to Targhee’s mountain bike trails, but the resort is updating some of its downhill and cross-country trails to be more flowy and riders can expect significant improvements over the next few summers.

The resort offers affordable rental packages from world-class brands like Santa Cruz, Kona, and more. And for the first time Targhee is offering bike clinics and camps to help riders of all ability levels learn new skills like cornering, climbing, downhilling, and more.

It will host the Colter Cup — Targhee’s first-ever two-day mountain bike race to the top of the resort and down into Mill Creek — for racers of all ability levels July 27-28. And the Pierre’s Hole 50K/100K Mountain Bike Race returns Aug. 3.

Mountain Bike the Tetons is presenting the Teton Dirt Series Grand Targhee Cross-Country Race Aug. 21. Teton Valley Trails and Pathways is presenting the 2024 Wydaho Rendezvous Bike Festival Aug. 30-Sept. 1. And Targhee is hosting a NICA High School Mountain Bike Race for the National Interscholastic Cycling Association on Sept. 7.

Summertime activities at Grand Targhee also include scenic chairlift rides, hiking and trail running, an outdoor swimming pool, a bungee trampoline, a summer kid’s camp, and an 8,000-foot-long, 18-hole disc golf course.

The second annual Wildflower Run, a trail run with 10K and half-marathon options, is slated for July 6. Targhee Music Camp returns Aug. 4-8. And the Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival celebrates its 34th year Aug. 9-11. Grand Targhee has a busy summer full of events that are sure to please all types of visitors.

In addition to slopeside lodging, the resort boasts meadow campsites and a parking lot camping area that can accommodate pull-behind trailers, sprinters, and camper vans.

Visit GrandTarghee.com for more details.

SOUTHEAST IDAHO

Pebble Creek Ski Area in Inkom is staging the 60th annual Pebble Creek Wildflower & Music Festival June 22 when the blooms are expected to be at their peak. A fundraiser for the National Ski Patrol, the event features live music by regional and local touring artists, scenic chairlift rides from 3-7 p.m., and tasty BBQ served by Pebble Creek Ski Patrol members.

Gates open at 12:30 p.m. and live music begins at 1 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person at the gates or $15 in advance. The resort asks guests to leave their dogs at home.

Scenic lift rides are $15 for adults and $5 for kids 5-12. Downhill lift service is not available — riders must hike down the mountain — and kids under 5 are not permitted on the chairlift.

Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. Vehicles with three or more people park for free; otherwise parking costs $20. The resort is offering free shuttle bus rides to and from the lower parking lots.

It is booked many weekends for private events, and the lodge is available to rent as a venue for weddings, corporate events, family gatherings, and other functions.

Pebble Creek is adding a 700-foot-long conveyer-type surface lift to the beginner area this summer that will debut next winter. It will be the longest magic carpet lift in Idaho and one of the lengthiest on the continent.

Visit PebbleCreekSkiArea.com for more details.