Brundage Mountain
1,920 acres, 67 runs near McCall. Locally owned since 1961, light powder, uncrowded slopes.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
27 Nov 2026
Closes
11 Apr 2027
Days open
135
Annual snow
320in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Brundage Mountain's summit reaches 7,802 feet, dropping 1,919 vertical feet to a base at 5,883 feet across 67 runs spread over 1,920 acres eight miles northwest of McCall, Idaho. Terrain splits 33 per cent intermediate, 25 per cent expert, 21 per cent advanced and 21 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 320 inches. The resort carries Indy Pass affiliation and remains locally owned by a group of Boise and Valley County residents. Six lifts, including one quad chair and four triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.
The triple-chair-heavy lift network reflects Brundage's mid-sized, locally focused character rather than a high-volume destination layout. Light, reliable powder and comparatively uncrowded slopes are the mountain's defining draw, supported by its remote Payette Lake setting away from Idaho's larger population centres. The resort's terrain balance leans toward advanced and expert skiing, with a full quarter of runs rated expert.
Businessman Warren Brown and Norwegian ski champion Corey Engen began planning a larger, steeper alternative to McCall's existing hills in 1959, bringing in Jack Simplot to help fund the venture. Brundage Mountain opened on Thanksgiving Day, 27 November 1961, drawing 1,000 skiers who paid four US dollars a head for lift tickets. Brown's daughter Diane and her husband Judd DeBoer purchased Brown's Industries' stake in 1980 alongside the Simplot family's continued interest.
In April 2006, the J.R. Simplot Company sold its 50 per cent share to the DeBoer family, consolidating local ownership. Following Judd DeBoer's death, Brundage Mountain Holdings, led by long-time board member Bob Looper and comprising eight local owners, took over the resort in 2020. Adult daily tickets range from 95 to 115 US dollars, with season passes from 599 dollars, reflecting a resort built and sustained by successive generations of McCall and Boise-area locals.
1,919ft
Vertical
67
Runs
1,920 acres
Skiable
320in
Annual snow
Indy
Pass
The Terrain
67 runs across 1,920 acres skiable
Brundage Mountain offers 67 runs across 1,920 acres (777 hectares) above McCall, rising from a base at 5,880 feet (1,793 m) to 7,800 feet (2,378 m) for 1,920 feet (585 m) of vertical. The split is unusually even for a mid-sized area: 33% intermediate, 25% expert, 21% advanced and 21% beginner, so almost half the mountain is black diamond or better. Six lifts cover it, one quad, four triples and a surface lift, and the lift count stays modest. Lines are rarely long, which suits a mountain where the terrain is the main draw.
The front side carries groomed cruisers off the Centennial quad, while the back side is where the character lies. Hidden Valley is the expert-only zone, with limited grooming and a mix of open bowls and glades, and the Lakeview area adds more of the same, served by the Lakeview triple. Beginners get their own gentler zone near the base. Brundage also runs a cat skiing operation with named areas such as Blue Moon Bowl, extending the terrain beyond the lifts. It suits strong intermediates stepping up and advanced skiers chasing uncrowded powder.
Terrain split
67
runs
67 runs across 4 grades
Beginner14 runs · 21%
Intermediate22 runs · 33%
Advanced14 runs · 21%
Expert17 runs · 25%
Time it right
When to visit Brundage Mountain
The 2025-26 season at Brundage Mountain ran from 28 November 2025 to 13 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 320 inches. This snowfall total is substantially higher than many Idaho resorts, reflecting Brundage's location in the mountains northwest of McCall. Season dates can shift slightly year to year depending on early and late-season storm activity.
Midwinter, from late December through February, typically brings the most consistent light, dry powder that has built the resort's reputation among Idaho skiers. The remote setting away from major population centres means Brundage generally sees lighter crowds than resorts closer to Boise, even during peak holiday periods. Weekday visits in particular tend to be notably quiet.
Brundage's Indy Pass affiliation brings in visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass, supplementing the mountain's core McCall and Boise-area clientele. As a locally owned resort without major destination infrastructure, event programming tends toward standard ski school and family offerings rather than large-scale festivals. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the presence of dedicated youth and child season pass options.
Late-season conditions into April benefit from the area's substantial snowfall total, typically extending good coverage later than lower-snowfall Idaho resorts. Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's uncrowded reputation and reliable powder make it a preferred destination for skiers explicitly seeking to avoid the crowds of larger regional resorts.
Season 2026 - 2027
27 Nov 2026
Opens
11 Apr 2027
Closes
135
Days open
320 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Brundage Mountain
Daily snow reports at Brundage Mountain go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
14 in
Snowiest day
9 Feb 2026
4 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
162 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Brundage Mountain, and where to stay
Brundage Mountain sits eight miles northwest of McCall, Idaho, with a base elevation of 5,883 feet and a summit at 7,802 feet across a 1,919-foot vertical drop over 1,920 acres. The drive from McCall takes roughly twenty minutes in average winter conditions. McCall itself sits on the shores of Payette Lake, adding a scenic lake-town backdrop to the resort's mountain setting.
McCall is the nearest town, offering lodging, dining and services for Brundage visitors, with the resort's own base facilities supplementing what the town provides. The town's Payette Lake setting makes it a recreation destination beyond skiing alone, drawing visitors for its broader mountain-town character. Boise, roughly two hours south, is the nearest major population centre and the source of much of Brundage's weekend visitation.
Idaho State Highway 55 connects Boise to McCall, with local roads then leading the final eight miles northwest to the resort itself. Winter driving on the mountain roads approaching Brundage can involve snow and ice, and travellers from Boise should allow extra time during and after storms. There is no direct public transport service to the resort, with private vehicle the standard means of access.
Boise Airport is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, roughly two hours' drive south of McCall. This makes Brundage accessible to fly-in visitors willing to make the drive north, though the bulk of the resort's visitors arrive by car from Boise, McCall and the surrounding Idaho communities. No closer regional airport offers comparable flight options.
Where to stay
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Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
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
Brundage Mountain Lift System
Brundage Mountain runs six lifts: one quad chair, four triple chairs and one surface lift, serving 67 runs across 1,920 acres. The four triple chairs form the backbone of the lift network, spreading uphill capacity across the mountain's advanced and expert-heavy terrain. This is a comparatively lean lift count for the acreage served, consistent with the resort's identity as an uncrowded, locally run mountain rather than a high-throughput destination.
Lift investment has tracked ownership changes since the DeBoer and Simplot families jointly held the resort through the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Following the DeBoer family's full buyout of Simplot's share in 2006 and the transition to Brundage Mountain Holdings in 2020, capital decisions have remained with a small group of local owners rather than an outside corporate parent. This has kept the lift network stable rather than rapidly expanding.
The quad chair provides the primary access to upper-mountain terrain, while the triple chairs distribute skiers across the mountain's varied advanced and intermediate runs. One surface lift serves beginner terrain near the base area. There is no gondola or high-speed six-pack chair, in keeping with the resort's mid-sized, non-destination scale.
Under Brundage Mountain Holdings' eight local owners since 2020, lift decisions continue to prioritise reliability and access over rapid capacity expansion. Specific recent lift replacement or addition projects beyond the current six-lift network are not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's Indy Pass affiliation brings in visiting skiers without requiring the lift infrastructure of a full-scale destination resort.
6lifts across 3 types
1
Quad Chair
4
Triple Chairs
1
Surface Lift
Brundage Mountain lift system
Brundage Mountain is served by 6 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Brundage Mountain intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.