Although Idaho is known primarily for its potatoes, it’s also a great place to visit in the winter. Here’s why:

Skiing and Snowboarding

Idaho is close to Canada, which means it snows a lot. Combine that with a mountain landscape to make Idaho the perfect place to practice your favorite winter sports. Below are listed a few choice skiing and snowboarding spots:

• Sun Valley - Located about three hours from Boise in the Sawtooth Mountains, Sun Valley is Idaho’s most famous ski destination. The Sun Valley Resort, adjacent to Bald Mountain, offers over 2,000 acres of skiable surface, 80 trails and 19 lifts. Whether you’re a seasoned expert, a beginner or a frequent face-planter, there’s room for all types.
• Brundage Mountain Resort - The Brundage Mountain Resort is located about 120 miles from Boise and just 8 miles outside of McCall. The resort receives over 320 inches of snow fall annually and features 46 trails served by 5 lifts.
• Bogus Basin - You don’t need to travel far from Boise to enjoy the snow. Bogus Basin is just 16 miles from Boise and has 52 trails served by 7 lifts.
• Silver Mountain Resort - Forty-five miles from Couer D’Alene and 75 miles from Spokane, the Silver Mountain Ski Resort in Kellog has 67 trails, some with night skiing. Once you get tired of the snow, enjoy spending some time at Silver Mountain’s indoor water park.

Cross Country Skiing

Alpine skiing isn’t the only type of skiing. The state of Idaho maintains 13 separate Nordic trail systems, some equipped with overnight yurt lodging. In addition, cross-country skiing is available at most ski resorts and national and state parks. So while your friends rest in front of the ski lodge fireplace with bruised ribs and broken ankles, you can show off your rock-hard glutes after a day of cross-country skiing.

Snowmobiling

For those looking to motorize their transportation without getting stuck in a snow drift, Idaho has more groomed snowmobile trails than any other western state. Idaho also boasts more beautiful winter scenery than any other western state. Many local towns cater to snowmobilers, so there’s no need to worry about running out of gas. Don’t have a snowmobile? No problem-- there are numerous places to rent one. You may need to worry about the occasional avalanche or zero-visibility blizzard, so make sure you check conditions before you head out on your snowmobiling adventure.

Winter Activities You Never Really Think About

Those who haven’t grown up in a Winter Wonderland may not realize the abundance of winter activities available.

• Dog-sledding: Leave Fido at home and latch your sled to a team of muscular huskies for a fun ride.
• Ice Skating: Whether it’s outdoors or indoors, hockey or figure, private or public, there’s plenty of skating activities for the whole family.
• Tubing and Sledding: Not everyone appreciates zooming by trees at high speed while standing-- some prefer zooming by trees at high speed while seated. Most resorts have a section for tubers and sledders.
• Sleigh Rides: Just like the song.
• Sitting by the fire with that special someone: The best thing about cold weather and snow is that it provides an excuse to snuggle.

If you find yourself in Idaho in the winter and can’t find anything to do, it’s not Idaho’s fault.