There are mountains of Nordic skiing in southern Idaho, probably more than you can ski in one season.
Groomed and backcountry trails criss-cross the Salmon River, Boise, Sawtooth and Boulder mountains from McCall to Sun Valley.
Opportunities abound to ski groomed skating lanes and classic tracks. Or you can go bushwhacking on your own.
Although not all areas are ready for skiers and snowshoers right now because of the lack of snow, here is an update for the upcoming Nordic season:
BOGUS BASIN
Status: Not enough snow.
What: Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area usually has more than 20 miles of groomed trails with several miles open for night skiing.
You can ski all the way to the Shafer Butte Campground for great views of the Valley.
Alpine touring skiers trek up to the campground and then ski Mores Mountain.
There are lots of opportunities for classic, skate and backcountry skiing.
Dogs: No.
Getting there: Drive 16.5 miles up Bogus Basin Road, drive past the Simplot Lodge on your right and the tubing hill on your left.
Trail fees: Adults (12 and over), $14; child (7-11), $7; kids (6 and under), free; snowshoers, $5.
Information: Go to bogusbasin.org.
LAKE CASCADE STATE PARK
Status: Not enough snow.
What: The Crown Point Trail at Lake Cascade State Park is usually groomed in the winter. It runs 2.5 miles along the lake with nice views of West Mountain across the reservoir.
It’s a classic track. The trail is also shared by snowmobilers and snowshoers.
The state park also plans to have a Park Loop Trail available. Park Loop’s entrance starts at the Van Wyck campground unit and runs through Ridgeview. It is a 1.2-mile classic track and skating lane for beginners and intermediates.
Dogs: Allowed at Crown Point.
Getting there: Drive north on Idaho 55 for about 70 miles to Cascade. Look for the Lake Cascade Parkway (Old State Highway) turnoff to Lake Cascade. Turn left.
Trail fee: $5 motor vehicle entry fee or $40 annual state park pass for the Park Loop. Parking at Crown Point is free.
Information: (208) 382-4258.
IDAHO CITY PARK N’ SKI
Status: There’s enough snow for skiing. Grooming could start this weekend.
What: This is considered a premier backcountry trail system on the mountain divide between Idaho City and Lowman in the Boise National Forest.
Idaho Parks and Recreation has approximately 55 miles of marked trails with about 28 miles of those groomed each week during the season when conditions allow.
Dogs: Yes, on certain trails.
Getting there: Drive on Idaho 21 northeast of Boise about 23 miles past Idaho City. It’s about 60 miles from Boise.
Trail fee: Annual Idaho Park N’ Ski permit, $25; or a three-day permit for $7.50.
Information: 514-2423; parksandrecreation.idaho.gov.
LITTLE BEAR BASIN
Status: Open and groomed.
What: Operated by the Payette Lake Ski Club, it offers skiing in mountain and forested terrain. In full operation, the area has about 25 kilometers of groomed trails, including 10 kilometers of dog trails and 8 kilometers of snowshoe trails.
Getting there: Drive north on Idaho 55 about 102 miles to McCall. Continue about 3 miles west of McCall on Idaho 55.
Dogs: Yes.
Trail fee: Child, $5 (4 and under, free); adult, $10; dogs, $2.
Information: (208) 634-5691; littleskihill.org.
ACTIVITY BARN
Status: Not enough snow.
What: The area will groom 5 kilometers of groomed skating lanes on rolling terrain that range from beginner to expert.
Dogs: Yes.
Getting there: After entering McCall on Idaho 55, turn left at the stoplight on Deinhard Lane. Continue a half-mile on Deinhard to Mission Street. Take a left (south) on Mission.
Continue south for 1.6 miles until you reach Moonridge Road. Take a right on Moonridge and continue .6 of a mile. The Activity Barn is on your left.
Trail fee: $5 daily; $20 season pass.
Information: (208) 634-2222; activitybarn.com.
JUG MOUNTAIN RANCH
Status: Not enough snow.
What: It offers 25 kilometers of groomed trails on beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain near McCall.
The trail system has a mixture of flat, open stretches, gentle gradients and occasional short hills scattered throughout forested areas.
Getting there: From Boise, drive about 100 miles north on Idaho 55 and turn right at the Lake Fork Merc and Sinclair gas station onto East Lake Fork Road.
Drive 1.5 miles, crossing Farm to Market Road, and then straight into the entrance to Jug Mountain Ranch.
Trail fee: Adults, $10. (part of the McCall Area Pass Group; mccallnordic.com).
Information: jugmountainranch.com.
PONDEROSA STATE PARK
Status: Not enough snow.
What: Skiing along the shore of Payette Lake in the park is unforgettable.
The terrain is forested, with rolling hills and some ridgetops that offer spectacular views of the lake.
You’ll find classic and skating tracks and also trails for snowshoeing.
Ponderosa State Park boasts 12 miles of groomed trails (19.3 kilometers).
Nordic trails range from recreational to competition to accommodate all abilities.
The park also has 3.4 miles of designated snowshoe trails through the forest that offer viewpoints of the lake.
Getting there: Drive 102 miles north of Boise on Idaho 55 to McCall. Turn right on Railroad Avenue. Look for the signs.
Dogs: No.
Trail fee: $5 vehicle entry fee and $4 per person trail fee, or $40 annual park pass.
Information: (208) 634-2164.
TAMARACK RESORT
Status: Currently open with 5 kilometers of groomed Nordic skiing behind the Lodge at Osprey Meadows.
What: Nordic skiers glide along on skate and classic skis in the area, which includes pine, fir and tamarack trees. The resort will groom 10 kilometers when it gets more snow. The trails wind through meadows and aspen groves. There are also snowshoe trails.
Getting there: Drive about 90 miles north of Boise on Idaho 55 to Donnelly and turn west on Roseberry Road and follow the signs to Tamarack Resort.
Dogs: Yes.
Trail fee: $5; check in at the activities desk in the Sports Dome.
Information: Call (208) 325-1000, or go to tamarackidaho.com.
QUIGLEY NORDIC
Status: Not enough snow.
What: Groomed trails east of Hailey. In the height of the season, about 13 kilometers are groomed for classic and skate skiing.
There’s lots to do for the nonskiers in the group or for families. The Quigley Winter Park features a sledding area, warming yurt and Nordic ski terrain park.
Getting there: At Hailey on Idaho 75, turn east at the Fox Acres Road and go past the high school. Continue to the dead end in the road. That’s the trailhead.
Dogs: Allowed in some areas.
Trail fee: Day pass $10; trail passes for Galena and North Valley trails are accepted. Sledding and use of the yurt are free.
Information:
www.bcrd.org.
SUN VALLEY NORDIC
Status: Open and groomed for skiing.
What: The Sun Valley Nordic and Snowshoe Center is at the Sun Valley Club.
The facility in the backyard of the Sun Valley Lodge has a restaurant, lounge, bar, locker rooms, equipment repair, rentals and storage.
In the peak of the season there are usually 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) of groomed and marked trails. The terrain is gentle at the trailhead and progresses to challenging hills.
Getting there: Once in Sun Valley, head to Sun Valley Lodge. The Sun Valley Nordic Center is in the Sun Valley Club, a mile east of the Sun Valley Lodge.
Dogs: No.
Trail fee: Adults, $22; children (6-12), $10; 6 and under, free.
Information: sunvalley.com.
GALENA LODGE/WOOD RIVER TRAILS
Status: Higher-elevation trails are open and groomed.
What: Galena Lodge has 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) of groomed trails at the northwest end of the Boulder Mountains in the shadow of mountaintops like 11,170-foot Galena Peak.
The North Valley Trail System, which includes Galena, has about 130 kilometers. The trails cut through meadows and timbered country with views of the Boulder and Smoky mountains. Galena Lodge is a perfect place to warm up and have lunch.
Getting there: Drive 24 miles north of Ketchum on Idaho 75 to Galena Lodge. Other trails start just north of Ketchum.
Dogs: On designated trails.
Trail fee: Adults, $15; youth (13-17), $5; children (12 and under), free; dogs, $5; snowshoers, $5.
Information: Blaine County Recreation District: for winter trail information, go to bcrd.org; Galena Lodge: galenalodge.com; trail grooming report for trails around Sun Valley, (208) 578-2273; Galena Lodge, (208) 726-4010.
STANLEY AREA
Status: Some trails have been groomed, and there are places with enough snow for Nordic skiing or snowshoeing.
What: The ski club in the Stanley area grooms two areas, Park Creek off Idaho 21 northwest of Stanley and Alturas Lake off Idaho 75 south of Stanley.
Both areas offer beautiful backcountry skiing in the shadow of the Sawtooth Mountains. Trails are groomed on a regular basis.
Dogs: Yes.
Trail fee: Donations wanted.
Getting there: If Idaho 21 is open, it’s the best way to go.
Drive 125 miles northeast on Idaho 21 to Stanley. Just 7 miles before reaching Stanley, you’ll see the turnoff for Park Creek. If you want to go to Alturas Lake, continue into Stanley and then take Idaho 75 about 26 miles south to the trailhead.
Information: Go to sawtoothskiclub.com.
Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445
