Seeking Adventure? Enjoy These 6 Winter Sports in Idaho
LOOKING FOR FUN WINTER SPORTS IN IDAHO?
You’ve come to the right place. We have been enjoying winter sports in Idaho since we were both little kids. Every year, we look forward to enjoying all of the fun outdoor activities and sports that Idaho has to offer during the colder winter months.
Idaho is one of the country’s fastest-growing states for many reasons, and the many great outdoor opportunities are one of them. Idaho has a fantastic community and culture and has an abundance of great activities everyone can enjoy throughout the year.
If you are new to Idaho or looking to try something you have not tried before, these winter sports in Idaho are just what you are looking for.
6 Winter Sports in Idaho
1. Skiing and Snowboarding
Skiing and snowboarding are the most popular, well-known, and easiest Idaho winter sports to get into. There are many options for ski resorts, and most of them are relatively close to Boise and the surrounding area.
Bogus Basin Ski Resort is the closest ski resort to the Boise area. The resort is only 30 minutes away from downtown Boise and is much improved over the years.
They have a top-notch terrain park brought to you by one of the best terrain park builders and snow diggers you will find with Corey McDonald. We might be a little biased since we are related, but every year, the terrain park is filled with new jumps and rails.
Renting gear is easily done at the mountain, where they offer everything you will need, along with lessons if you want someone to show you the ropes.
Another great place to rent your gear if you need some is at McU Sports. Located at the base of the mountain, before you head to Bogus Basin, you can get fitted before you get all your snow gear on.
A few notable ski resorts that are not as close but offer world-class snow and well-known amenities are Sun Valley, Brundage Mountain Ski Resort, and Tamarack Resort. We love taking our kids to Tamarack because the bunny hill is free!
2. Snowmobiling and Snowbiking
Snowmobiling and snowbiking are Idaho favorite winter sporting activities. More commonly enjoyed by Idaho natives or Idaho transplants who love the mountains and snow. Snowmobiling in Idaho is a fun, exciting sport where you can explore many of the great public lands Idaho offers.
You won’t find better views or powder than you will while mobbing through the majestic Idaho forests. For those new to the sport, you can easily rent snowmobiles from Intermountain Power Sports, Mountain Meadow Adventure Rentals, or Redline Recreational Toys.
While many experienced snowmobiling and snow-biking families keep their favorite spots secret, a well-known place to visit is the Wellington Snow Park between Banks, Idaho, and Cascade, Idaho.
You can also take advantage of the Brundage snowmobile tours that visit many scenic and beautiful viewpoints. For more information and the Brundage snowmobile tours, contact the Brundage ski resort.
If you are in the mountains, Stanley also has some great snowmobiling trails to enjoy. It is one of our favorite winter destinations in Idaho.
3. Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing is a wonderful winter sport to enjoy in Idaho and there are many different ways to enjoy this sport.
You can head over to the many ski resorts like Bogus Basin, which offers many miles of cross-country trails professionally groomed with some of the best mountain groomers you will find, or you can find a nice public land spot and make your own trail.
If you have not tried cross-country skiing before, starting on the mountain is a great way to start. You can rent your gear with many trail options. The great part about Nordic Skiing is that it is a lot cheaper than purchasing an expensive lift ticket.
At Bogus Basin, you can cross-country ski, or many people on the mountain call it Nordic Skiing, for around 20 dollars if you have your own skis.
If you are looking to go cross-country skiing outside of the Boise area, Idaho City is just outside Boise but has beautiful mountains to explore. Plus, you can visit the Springs afterward to enjoy some nice hot springs.
4. Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is arguably one of the best Idaho sports to try in the winter because it is one of the most economical. Snowshoes are a blast, and they are relatively cheap compared to many of the other winter sports.
All you need to do is head towards one of the Idaho ski resorts, and you will find some great pull-offs where you can snowshoe. We will bring our snowshoes when we go cut down our own Christmas tree on the years when there is lots of early snow in the mountains.
5. Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is not for everyone because you tend to get a little chilly, but if you are prepared, it can be a really fun experience that you will want to do on a regular basis. There are many places where you can go ice fishing throughout the state of Idaho.
Before you head out, though, you will want to make a stop at Cabelas or Sportsmans Wearhouse to make sure you have the needed essentials. There are a few pieces of gear you won’t want to be without when ice fishing. If you are trying to figure out where to go ice fishing, you can visit Where to go Ice Fishing. It will give you some great options.
A few things you will need before you venture onto the ice for your first ice fishing trip are going to be your warm winter attire, ice fishing rods, and line, fishing lures, an ice auger to drill through the ice, buckets, and sleds to haul your gear or kids, fishing license, ice fishing shelter to help stay warm and a heater.
A heater in your ice fishing tent is one of the best ways to stay warm. Before you head out ice fishing, make sure you understand the safety precautions related to ice fishing. The ice needs to be a certain thickness before you can ice fish on the ice, but once the ice is thick enough, you can even drive your vehicle to your spot.
6. Ice Skating
Ice skating has become increasingly popular in Idaho over the years. When we were in high school, the only place that offered ice skating was at Idaho Ice World. This is still a great place to go ice skating, but it can be a bit of a drive for those who are not right in Boise.
Thankfully many downtown areas now transform into winter wonderlands where you can get food, see Christmas lights, and go ice skating. We personally think the Downtown Caldwell Ice skating ribbon is super fun. It has become a bit of a family tradition to visit this ice rink and grab some food and hot chocolate in the area.
The Village in Meridian sets up a nice little ice rink in the winter, which makes for a nice outing if you are also looking to do some shopping.
A few other options you can look at are the Idaho Central Area, where the Idaho Steelheads play, and the Manchester Ice Rink & Events Center in McCall, Idaho. Make sure to check their schedules to see when the ice rinks are open to the public.
What Are the Most Popular Outdoor Winter Sports in Idaho?
Skiing and snowboarding are by far the most popular outdoor winter sports in Idaho. This is because it can be tailored for everyone in the family. If you want to go fast and hard or slow and easy, the many ski resorts in Idaho make this work for everyone.
A pro-local tip for beginners is to check out the Bunny Hill programs that the ski resorts offer. For those who are new to skiing or who have little kids, you can go to some great bunny hill skiing for FREE at the Tamarack Ski Resort. This is one of the best cheap winter sport activities you will find close to Idaho, besides maybe some sledding.
What is the Typical Winter Weather in Idaho?
The typical winter weather in Idaho depends on where you are located. If you are in the Boise Valley, you should expect cold days with high temperatures ranging from the mid to high 30’s and your average low temperatures in the low 20’s.
If you are in the mountains, you can expect considerably lower temperatures and much more snow.
Conclusion: Best Sports in Idaho During Winter
Idaho has some great winter sporting options for everyone. We make sure to get our kids out every winter to get some winter sporting experience.
Sometimes it can feel like a lot a work to get the family out in the winter but the more you do it the better you become at getting everyone out with the right gear to make for some really fun adventures.
