Last Updated on 5th March 2021 by Steve
Skiers and snowboarders based in Moscow must resign themselves to the fact that they have a fair drive to reach the ski slopes, and that Idaho’s best skiing is even further away.
The three closest ski resorts are all weekend ski hills with limited skiing and lift facilities. Those looking for a little more will probably want to head up to Silver Mountain for the more extensive and challenging skiing.
Alternatively, keen skiers might want to take a slightly longer trip to some of the Best Resorts in Idaho…
Silver Mountain Resort
Silver Mountain is probably the most complete ski resort within easy reach of Moscow. Near the town of Kellogg, the ski area is a favorite of powder skiers and is known for its lack of crowds.
Silver Mountain has seven lifts, including a gondola from Kellogg itself, and the terrain covers 1600 acres.
Distance from Moscow: 121 miles
Website: www.silvermt.com
Lookout Pass Ski Area
Lookout Pass ski area straddles the border between Idaho and Montana on the crest of the Bitterroot range of mountains and claims an average of 400 inches of snowfall per year.
The small ski area offers four chairlifts covering just over 500 acres of terrain (scheduled to double with a new ski expansion in the future).
Distance from Moscow: 146 miles
Website: skilookout.com
Bald Mountain Skiing
Bald Mountain is essentially a small weekend ski hill located just to the north of Pierce in the Clearwater Mountains.
The ski terrain is served by a long T-bar and a short beginners’ rope tow near the day lodge. The skiing is largely beginner and intermediate standard and has a vertical drop of just under 700 feet.
Distance from Moscow: 84 miles
Website: skibaldmountain.com
Cottonwood Butte Ski Area
Cottonwood Butte is another ski resort in the Clearwater Mountains which is just open on weekends and public holidays. It is located to the west of US Highway 95 in between the towns of Ferdinand and Cottonwood.
A long T-bar serves six groomed runs on a vertical of 845 feet. There is also a rope tow for beginner skiers.
Distance from Moscow: 90 miles
Website: www.cottonwoodbutte.org
Snowhaven Ski & Tubing Resort
Snowhaven is a city-owned ski hill a few miles to the south of Grangeville with easy access from the I-95. It is also only open at weekends and public holidays. It offers a tubing hill alongside a T-bar and beginners’ tow covering a 400 feet vertical with mostly beginner level runs.
Distance from Moscow: 90 miles
Website: grangeville.us
