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    Idaho, USA

    Kelly Canyon

    740 acres, 51 runs near Idaho Falls. No expert terrain, night skiing, family-friendly since 1957.

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    Season 2026 - 2027
    Opens
    4 Dec 2026
    Closes
    14 Mar 2027
    Days open
    100
    Annual snow
    200in
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Kelly Canyon's summit reaches 6,601 feet, dropping 1,001 vertical feet to a base at 5,600 feet across 51 runs spread over 740 acres near Idaho Falls, Idaho. Terrain splits 45 per cent intermediate, 35 per cent beginner and 20 per cent advanced, with no expert-rated runs. Average annual snowfall is a modest 200 inches, and the resort carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation. Five lifts, including four double chairs and one surface lift, serve the mountain.

    The absence of expert terrain and heavy beginner-to-intermediate weighting give Kelly Canyon a clear identity as a family and learning mountain for eastern Idaho. Night skiing is a significant part of its offering, extending the ski day for the nearby Idaho Falls population. The double-chair-dominant lift network reflects the resort's mid-sized, community-focused scale rather than destination-resort ambitions.

    Kelly Canyon was established in 1957 by a local investor group led by E. Bud Johnson, in a canyon originally known as Cedar Creek before being renamed for John Kelly, an early figure in the area's skiing history. The resort relied heavily on community support and local investment through lean economic periods, preserving its family-oriented character even as larger regional resorts expanded around it.

    Ownership transitioned in 2020 to Kelly Canyon Winter Park LLC under managing partner Mike VanSteenkiste, bringing renewed investment into facilities and a diversification into summer activities such as mountain biking. Snowmaking capability was added in 2022 to supplement the resort's natural snowfall. Adult daily tickets run from 99 to 119 US dollars, with a Family Season Pass from 1,899 dollars, positioning Kelly Canyon as an affordable, close-to-home option for eastern Idaho families.

    1,001ft
    Vertical
    51
    Runs
    740 acres
    Skiable
    200in
    Annual snow
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    The Terrain

    51 runs across 740 acres skiable

    Kelly Canyon is a compact local hill near Ririe and Idaho Falls, with 51 runs on about 740 acres (299 hectares) of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The base sits at 5,600 feet (1,707 m) and the summit at 6,600 feet (2,012 m), a vertical of around 1,000 feet (305 m). Intermediates take 45% of the trails, beginners 35% and advanced skiers 20%, with no expert terrain classified. Four double chairs and a surface lift move skiers, so lift rides are unhurried. Expect a friendly, mid-sized hill and not a steep, high-alpine challenge.

    Gentle green and blue runs fall away from the double chairs, giving learners and families plenty of room to build confidence, while the advanced runs offer a bit of pitch for stronger skiers. Several terrain parks sit across the hill, and a tubing park adds a non-ski option for groups. The main runs are lit for night skiing several evenings a week, which is the draw for locals finishing work in Idaho Falls. Kelly Canyon suits beginners, young families and intermediates after an easy, affordable day close to town.

    Terrain split
    51
    runs
    51 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner18 runs · 35%
    Intermediate23 runs · 45%
    Advanced10 runs · 20%
    Expert0 runs · 0%
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    Time it right

    When to visit Kelly Canyon

    The 2025-26 season at Kelly Canyon ran from 27 November 2025 to 29 March 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season. The resort's modest average annual snowfall of 200 inches means the addition of snowmaking capability in 2022 has become an increasingly important part of maintaining reliable conditions throughout the season. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically offers the most consistent conditions once natural snowpack and snowmaking combine to build a solid base. Night skiing extends availability for the nearby Idaho Falls population well beyond standard daylight hours, a significant part of the resort's identity as a community mountain. Weekday evenings and off-peak periods tend to be noticeably quieter than weekends.

    As a family and learning-focused resort with no expert terrain, Kelly Canyon's calendar centres on ski school and youth programming rather than festival-style events. The Family Season Pass pricing structure reflects this focus, with the resort positioned as an accessible option for eastern Idaho households. School holiday periods bring the heaviest visitation given the beginner and intermediate-weighted terrain mix.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations and night skiing is not confirmed in available resort information. Since the 2020 ownership change, the addition of summer mountain biking has extended the resort's operating season beyond winter alone. The combination of snowmaking and natural snowfall since 2022 has helped stabilise the length and reliability of the winter season.

    Season 2026 - 2027
    4 Dec 2026
    Opens
    14 Mar 2027
    Closes
    100
    Days open
    200 in
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Kelly Canyon, and where to stay

    Kelly Canyon sits near Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho, with a base elevation of 5,600 feet and a summit at 6,601 feet across a 1,001-foot vertical drop over 740 acres. The resort's location places it within easy reach of the Idaho Falls metropolitan area, making it the primary local ski hill for the region's residents.

    Idaho Falls is the nearest significant town, offering lodging, dining and services for visitors, with most Kelly Canyon skiers day-tripping from the city rather than staying at the resort itself. The surrounding eastern Idaho region includes agricultural communities and the broader upper Snake River valley, with skiing as one part of a varied outdoor recreation scene that also includes the nearby Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

    Local roads connect Idaho Falls to Kelly Canyon, with the drive typically taking well under an hour depending on starting point within the metropolitan area. Winter driving conditions on the approach roads can include snow and ice, though the routes are well used given the resort's role as the area's primary local mountain. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.

    Idaho Falls Regional Airport is the nearest airport with commercial service, offering a practical option for visitors flying in rather than driving from further afield. Most Kelly Canyon visitors, however, are eastern Idaho locals rather than fly-in travellers, given the resort's identity as a community mountain rather than a destination resort. No other regional airport offers a closer or more direct option.

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    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    1 Nov 2026
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    31 Oct 2026
    Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street

    Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street

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    31 Oct 2026
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    30 Oct 2026
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    What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass

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    30 Oct 2026
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    30 Oct 2026
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    29 Oct 2026
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    Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup

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    29 Oct 2026

    Kelly Canyon Trail Map

    Downloadable Kelly Canyon trail map

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    Kelly Canyon trail map↓ Download PDF
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    Terrain split
    51
    runs
    Beginner35%
    Intermediate45%
    Advanced20%
    Expert0%
    740 acres skiable299 hectares
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    Resort Stats
    Elevation
    Base5,600ft
    Summit6,601ft
    Annual snowfall
    200in
    Season
    2026 - 2027
    4 Dec 2026 - 14 Mar 2027
    Trail coverage
    51 runs
    740 acres (299 ha)
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    About Kelly Canyon's trail map

    Explore Kelly Canyon's full trail map with 51 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗

    More Kelly Canyon intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.