Idaho ski season is here. Where can you stay near resorts? Check out these five deals
The Idaho Ski Areas Association officially declared ski season open this past weekend, and multiple mountains around the state will begin operations in the coming weeks.
Warmer-than-normal temperatures have put a bit of a damper on the start of the 2023-24 ski season, but it won’t be long until fall quickly gives way to winter, and the Gem State’s resorts will be coated with fresh snow.
Grand Targhee Resort was the first resort to open on Friday, while Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area, Silver Mountain Resort and Schweitzer all plan to open on Thanksgiving. Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area opened the Explorer Terrain Park over the weekend, but there’s no timeline yet for chairlift operations to begin.
But picking a ski resort to visit is only half the battle — then you have to find a place to stay, unless you are just driving to Bogus. Airbnb remains a solid option for cheaper and practicable weekend trips, and Idaho has no shortage of cute cabins, lofts and ranches to stay in.
Here are five of the top options on the market right now in close proximity to a ski resort.
Long Horse Ranch Cabin
Location: Bellevue
Price: $70 per night, discounted from $84 per night
Nearby ski resorts: Rotarun Ski Area, Sun Valley
The Long Horse Ranch Cabin is one of five cabins based on the northern edge of Bellevue. The cabins are located on Main Street, offering easy access to Hailey and the Rotarun Ski Area. A 30-minute drive north will also bring you to Ketchum and Sun Valley.
The cabin offers a queen bed, a pull-out sofa bed, a recently renovated kitchenette, and western decor and furnishings. Each cabin also features a small porch with chairs.
Soldier Mountain Guesthouse Loft
Location: Fairfield
Price: $120 per night
Nearby ski resorts: Soldier Mountain
Described on Airbnb as a “Scottish highland ranch,” you’ll be staying in a completely renovated loft of a barn on a ranch south of Soldier Mountain. The property is not far from U.S. Highway 20, providing easy access to and from the property.
If you want to avoid driving up to Soldier Mountain, the large expanse of land around the ranch also makes for perfect cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
The Bonanza Cabin
Location: Stanley
Price: $139 per night, discounted from $169 per night
Nearby ski resorts: Park Creek Cross Country ski trails
Stanley is often known for its summer activities, such as hiking and biking, but its location in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area still makes for plenty of winter recreation opportunities.
The Bonanza Cabin is a two-bed Airbnb just 4.5 miles outside of Stanley, complete with a bathroom, open kitchen and covered patio for year-round outdoor seating.
Elkhorn Studio Condo
Location: Sun Valley
Price: $60 per night
Nearby ski resorts: Sun Valley, Dollar Mountain
Nicknamed “The Clocktower,” the Elkhorn studio is small but cozy, and is incredibly close to Ketchum, as well as the Sun Valley and Dollar Mountain ski resorts.
Not only are you close to the resorts, but the condo has access to the nearby Elkhorn Village amenities, including two outdoor pools, hot tubs, a sauna, laundry facilities and underground parking.
Cozy Cabin at Cold Springs Gulch
Location: Ketchum
Price: $199 per night
Nearby ski resorts: Sun Valley, Dollar Mountain
Located in the heart of Ketchum, this unit is one of two inside a “1937 cabin” within walking distance to the Wood River Valley and River Run ski lift that takes you up Bald Mountain.
The unique cabin has an upstairs bedroom accessible either from an exterior staircase or a steep set of stairs in the living room up through a small hole in the ceiling.
