Bogus Basin
2,600 acres, 82 runs, 16 miles from Boise. Nonprofit resort with extensive night skiing and affordable tickets.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
28 Nov 2026
Closes
21 Mar 2027
Days open
113
Annual snow
250in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Bogus Basin's summit reaches 7,591 feet, dropping 1,800 vertical feet to a base at 5,791 feet across 82 runs spread over 2,600 acres in the Boise National Forest. Terrain splits 50 per cent intermediate, 28 per cent advanced, 12 per cent expert and 10 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 250 inches. The resort holds Powder Alliance affiliation and sits just 16 miles from downtown Boise. Eleven lifts, including four quad chairs and three triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside four surface lifts for beginner terrain.
Bogus Basin is a nonprofit ski area, operated by the Bogus Basin Recreation Association rather than a for-profit company, with proceeds reinvested into the mountain instead of paid out to shareholders. This structure keeps ticket prices notably lower than comparable resorts of its size. Extensive night skiing is a defining feature, reflecting the resort's role as an accessible, close-to-town mountain rather than a destination resort. The 2,600-acre footprint on leased Boise National Forest land supports a broad mix of terrain within a short drive of the state's largest city.
Ski pioneer Alf Engen, known as the father of the American powder technique, selected the site in 1939, and Bogus Basin opened to the public in December 1942 with a 500-foot rope tow. The area has operated as a nonprofit since its founding, with the Bogus Basin Recreation Association gaining formal 501(c)(3) charitable status in 2005. More than 80 years after its founding by outdoor-minded locals, the resort has kept its community-access mission through generations of Boise's growth.
Adult daily tickets run from 69 to 89 US dollars depending on date, with season passes from 399 dollars for a Twilight Pass up to 1,099 dollars for the unrestricted True Bogus Pass. The nonprofit model and proximity to Boise make Bogus Basin the default local mountain for Treasure Valley families and after-work skiers rather than a fly-in destination. Its low price point relative to nearby resorts reflects the association's charitable mandate rather than a commercial pricing strategy.
1,798ft
Vertical
82
Runs
2,600 acres
Skiable
250in
Annual snow
Powder Alliance
Pass
The Terrain
82 runs across 2,600 acres skiable
Bogus Basin spreads 82 runs over about 2,600 acres (1,052 hectares) of the Boise National Forest, with a summit at 7,590 feet (2,313 m) and a base at 5,790 feet (1,765 m), a vertical of roughly 1,800 feet (548 m). Half the runs are intermediate, 28% advanced, 12% expert and 10% beginner, so blue square cruising is the main business. Four quad chairs and three triples handle most of the uphill traffic, backed by four surface lifts for learners, and the mountain sits close enough to Boise to work as an after-work ski.
The Deer Point quad climbs to the upper mountain and also serves terrain parks, one pitched at advanced riders and another for beginners and intermediates. Superior, Morning Star and Pine Creek quads spread skiers across the remaining zones, with steeper black diamond pitches mixed through the trees and open faces. A good share of the terrain is lit, so evening laps are part of the routine here. Bogus Basin suits families, local intermediates and anyone wanting a varied day with a solid advanced slice, though it is a regional mountain and not a vertical-chasing destination.
Terrain split
82
runs
82 runs across 4 grades
Beginner8 runs · 10%
Intermediate41 runs · 50%
Advanced23 runs · 28%
Expert10 runs · 12%
Time it right
When to visit Bogus Basin
The 2025-26 season at Bogus Basin ran from 12 December 2025 to 20 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season typical for the mountain's Boise National Forest location. Average annual snowfall of around 250 inches supports a season of this length without heavy reliance on artificial snowmaking alone, though exact snowmaking coverage is not confirmed in available resort information. Season dates can shift slightly year to year based on early and late-season weather patterns.
Midwinter months from late December through February typically bring the most consistent natural snowpack, while early and late season can vary more depending on storm timing. Night skiing extends the useful ski day well beyond daylight hours throughout the season, a significant draw for Boise's after-work skier base. Weekday evenings tend to be markedly quieter than weekends, reflecting the mountain's role as a commuter resort rather than a weekend-only destination.
As a Powder Alliance mountain, Bogus Basin offers reciprocal benefits to season pass holders from other affiliated independent resorts, extending its reach beyond the immediate Treasure Valley. The nonprofit's community mission means programming leans toward accessible ski school and youth offerings rather than festival-style events. School holiday periods bring heavier family visitation given the resort's broad intermediate-weighted terrain.
Given its short 16-mile drive from downtown Boise, Bogus Basin sees some of its heaviest use immediately after storms and on weekday evenings once the lights come on. Specific event programming beyond standard operations and night skiing is not confirmed in available resort information. The nonprofit's reinvestment model keeps the resort focused on dependable, affordable access throughout the season rather than high-end destination amenities.
Season 2026 - 2027
28 Nov 2026
Opens
21 Mar 2027
Closes
113
Days open
250 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Bogus Basin
Daily snow reports at Bogus Basin go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
20 in
Snowiest day
20 Dec 2025
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
211 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Bogus Basin, and where to stay
Bogus Basin sits in the Boise National Forest, with a base elevation of 5,791 feet and a summit at 7,591 feet across a 1,800-foot vertical drop over 2,600 acres. The resort operates on a mix of private and leased Forest Service land just 16 miles from downtown Boise, Idaho's capital and largest city. This proximity to a major metropolitan area is unusual among Mountain West ski areas of comparable size.
Boise itself offers the area's lodging, dining and broader amenities, with most visitors staying in the city rather than at the mountain itself. The Treasure Valley's population base supports Bogus Basin's nonprofit model directly, with locals forming the bulk of the resort's visitation rather than out-of-state destination travellers. Boise's growth in recent years has increased demand on the close-to-town mountain.
Bogus Basin Road connects the resort directly to Boise, climbing from the valley floor into the Boise National Forest over roughly 16 miles. The drive typically takes 30 to 45 minutes from central Boise depending on conditions, making the mountain accessible for evening night-skiing trips as well as full weekend days. Winter driving conditions on Bogus Basin Road can include snow and ice, though the route is regularly maintained given its role as the resort's sole access point.
Boise Airport, the region's main commercial airport, sits roughly 25 miles from the resort and offers direct flights to numerous major US cities. This makes Bogus Basin one of the more accessible Mountain West resorts for fly-in visitors despite its identity as a local's mountain. Most day-to-day visitors, however, are Boise-area residents driving up rather than travellers arriving by air.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Bogus Basin, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
Arapahoe Basin Opens First for North America’s 2026/27 Ski Season
Winter has officially started in North America, and it is one blue run long. On Wednesday 28 October, Arapahoe Basin fired up the Black Mountain Express at around 10:30 am after a surprise announcement just hours earlier, becoming the first major North American resort open for 2026/27. Cold nights, a dusting of natural snow and a lot of snowmaking made it happen in the resort’s 80th winter. More terrain is promised as the snow guns keep running.
28 Oct 2026
Sulden am Ortler Pushes Its Season Start Back a Week to 7 November
Sulden am Ortler has called off its 31 October opening. The South Tyrol ski area has pushed its 2026/27 start back to Saturday 7 November, citing current weather and snow conditions and saying it will use the extra week to get the slopes in the best possible shape. The season is still scheduled to run through 2 May 2027. Elsewhere in Europe, around a dozen areas are already open, led by Sölden’s 30 kilometres of groomed runs.
28 Oct 2026
Pinheiro Braathen Wins Sölden Giant Slalom Opener by 0.48 Seconds
Two days at Sölden, two races decided by a hundredth somewhere on the podium, and one very quick Brazilian. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen led from the first run to win the men’s World Cup opener by 0.48 seconds, with Loïc Meillard second and Marco Odermatt third. River Radamus charged from 15th to fourth on a rutted course, and Britain’s Freddy Carrick-Smith banked his first World Cup points. Braathen still hasn’t lost a giant slalom since Olympic gold.
25 Oct 2026
Bogus Basin Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 30 Oct 2026
7,589ft
summit
+0in
new snow · last 24 hours
Overcast35°F / 45°F · SW 13mph
Snowfall
24 hours
0in
48 hours
0in
7 days
0in
Base depth
0in
Season total
0in
Typical winter 211in
Total lifts11
Live open status isn’t available right now.
28 Nov 2026 - 21 Mar 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 48 hours· Updated Oct 30, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
7,228 ftUpdated Oct 30, 2026 at 6:02 PMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
4.0"
Days 8–14
0.0"
Fri, Oct 30
Heavy Snow
Temp45° / 35°°F
Snow0.7"(43%)
Wind13 mph SW
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Bogus Basin snow report
Planning a day at Bogus Basin? Our snow report combines official mountain data with live weather so you know exactly what conditions look like right now, from the 1765m base to the 2313m summit.
Snow measurements
Our snow reports measure snowfall in centimeters over multiple time windows — last 24 hours, last 7 days, and the season total. Base depth reflects accumulation at the 1765m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 548m higher at 2313m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.
Weather conditions
Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at Bogus Basin are holding up or starting to soften.
Data sources
Bogus Basin snow data is collected through a combination of on-mountain reports and weather forecasting services, giving you both official resort updates and independent forecast data in one place. The mountain is served by 11 lifts, including 4 quad chairlifts.
When to check
The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Bogus Basin's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.