Where’s the snowiest ski resort in Idaho? Sun Valley? Nah. Grand Targhee? Doesn’t count. It’s technically in Wyoming even if you do drive through Idaho to get there. Schweitzer? Solid but still not the answer. The real winner is a low key gem tucked right on the Montana and Idaho border called Lookout Pass. Often overlooked in favor of its flashier neighbors, Lookout Pass is one of the three Northern Idaho ski resorts and easily the sleeper hit of the bunch. Long known as a cruiser’s mountain, Lookout stepped things up after its 2017 expansion, doubling its size and adding just enough expert spice to complement its wide open confidence boosting trails. The result is a laid back resort that quietly racks up snowfall and delivers way more fun than its size suggests.
Secret Behind Lookout Pass’s Legendary Powder
Lookout Pass has a well earned reputation for legendary powder, early season openings, and one of the longest ski seasons in the region. Thanks to its spot in the Northern Rockies, the mountain averages around 400 inches of light, dry snow every year. What makes that wild is how localized it is. Just minutes west, Wallace can be getting rain. Twenty miles further, Silver Mountain averages nearly 100 inches less snowfall.
Why? Well, like other powder magnets such as Kirkwood and Mt. Baker, it’s about location. For Lookout, it’s because it sits right on a mountain pass. Cold continental air from the east collides with Pacific moisture at the pass, causing storms to slow down and rise over the Bitterroot Range. That lift squeezes out moisture as dry, low density snow. The result is consistently deep, fluffy powder that skis far better than the numbers suggest.
Powder Without the People (Just Know the Schedule)
One of the best things about Lookout Pass is how uncrowded it stays. With no major population centers nearby, even weekends feel refreshingly empty. That low traffic also means a flexible lift schedule. In January and February, Lookout operates six days a week and is closed on Tuesdays. Come March and April, they shift to a Thursday through Monday schedule, still offering five solid days of skiing and riding. The upside? Midweek powder days are very much a thing here. Depending on the time of year, Wednesdays or Thursdays can feel like a private resort.
Front Side to Eagle Peak: A Complete “Look” at the Ski Area’s Layout
If you’re staying in Wallace, Lookout Pass is an easy 20 minute drive up I-90. On one of our trips, we rolled in around 11 am and the parking lot had only a handful of cars. Keep in mind that’s almost lunchtime. Bundled up in our warmest layers, we looked up at the front face. It’s wide with a mellow pitch that’s perfect for carving. Even at 11 am, most of the corduroy was still untouched. That pretty much sums up skiing here. No lift lines and great snow. We loaded onto the first lift and took a relaxed ride to the summit. From there, three lifts fan out to access different zones across Lookout Pass’s front side. Peak 1 and Northstar provide access to wide open groomers. While Timberwolf has some fun well-maintained glades of lodge pole pines, intermediate groomers and some of the steepest terrain at the resort. And beyond the original layout, you’ll find the newest segment – Eagle Peak. Which looks and feels MUCH different.
Run-down on Eagle Peak
Zipping over to the new area, it feels as if you’ve left civilization. The only sign of man-made structures is the chair and that’s it. The air felt crisper. The surrounding mountains appeared more rugged. It no longer felt like the same resort we had known. Even the gladed runs in this area seemed to offer a slightly steeper pitch and a bit more length compared to those on the front side.
Beginner to Expert: Where to Ski at Lookout Pass
Great Place To Learn
Even if the trail map doesn’t show many “easy” runs, Lookout Pass is a fantastic place to learn. Most of the steeper slopes can easily be avoided, and if you accidentally wander onto one, it’s still manageable that you can navigate down smoothly.
For the gentlest terrain besides Chair 4, head to Huckleberry Ridge and follow it around the mountain. The run is mellow, and the views are spectacular. Take it slow, enjoy the scenery, and snap lots of photos!
Intermediate Terrain
If you’ve recently graduated from beginner, Lookout Pass is perfect. Red Dog and Marmot, located on the North Side accessed via Timberwolf, are great introductions to intermediate runs. Looking for something a little steeper? Hit the Idaho side under the Peak 1 chair with runs like Bonanza or Black Bear, then head over to Gold for more challenge.
Experts
Lookout Pass may not have massive cliff bands or jaw-dropping descents, but the addition of Eagle Peak finally gave the mountain the expert terrain it was missing. Paradise Glades and Bigfoot Glades deliver the steepest runs on the mountain, with plenty of fun tree skiing.
On the original side of the mountain, you’ll still find a few short, steep runs that keep things interesting. And when it’s dumping, the Lucky Friday Glades and trails off Timberwolf Chair are especially fun.
Exploring Lookout Pass Backcountry
If you venture beyond the ski resort boundaries, be aware that there is no local avalanche center to provide information about the snowpack, and many parts of the surrounding mountains lack cell service. We have heard from friends that multiple people have been seriously injured and even forced to spend the night in the backcountry.
If you’re looking to try backcountry skiing without tackling extreme terrain, stick to the area just across the highway from Lookout Pass Ski Area. We found that it’s one of the easiest, most accessible old man hippy pow zones we’ve ever seen. Instead of a steep zigzagging climb, a defunct rail grade gently meanders to the summit, giving you a perfectly graded road width path, hands down the easiest backcountry ascent I have ever done. The descent is just as enjoyable, with widely spaced glades and slopes under 30 degrees, perfect for slow, flowing turns.
Read about our full experience here: Backcountry Skiing Lookout Pass – A Great Introduction for Beginners
Relax, Explore, and Discover Wallace While Skiing Lookout Pass
While there isn’t lodging on the mountain, Wallace Idaho is far from a typical ski destination. Staying in town comes with a perk: relaxed mornings. You don’t have to rush to the slopes, giving you plenty of time to explore. Stop by Johnson’s Gems & Collectibles, the largest gem and mineral store in the Inland Northwest. Next door, North Idaho Trading Company is packed with vintage guns and unusual taxidermy, like moose antlers selling for $30 a pound. Wallace is full of surprises you won’t find anywhere else.
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