
Pebble Creek's summit reaches 8,556 feet, dropping 2,198 vertical feet to a base at 6,358 feet across 54 runs spread over 1,100 acres in the Portneuf Range east of Pocatello, Idaho. Terrain splits 43 per cent advanced, 35 per cent intermediate, 12 per cent beginner and 10 per cent expert, making it one of the more challenging terrain profiles in southeastern Idaho. Average annual snowfall runs around 225 inches, and the resort carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation. Three triple chairs serve the entire mountain.
The heavily advanced-weighted terrain and comparatively low beginner share give Pebble Creek a reputation among southeastern Idaho skiers as a steep, uncrowded local mountain rather than a family learning hill. The three-lift network is lean relative to the 1,100-acre footprint, spreading skiers across a substantial amount of terrain without the density of lifts found at larger destination resorts. This combination has helped the area retain a strongly local, low-key character.
The area's ski history traces to the 1930s, when the US Forest Service and Civilian Conservation Corps developed the Lead Draw Recreation Area nearby. The Pocatello Ski Association formed in the 1950s and secured a Forest Service lease to develop terrain on Mount Bonneville, with the ski area opening in 1949 under the name Skyline with two rope tows and a warming hut. It was sold in 1978 and again in 1979 to the Pebble Creek Land Company, which renamed it Pebble Creek.
A CTEC triple chairlift was added in 1980 alongside additional terrain, and the resort was sold again in 1981 to Pebble Creek Ski Area Ltd, a group of local investors who operated it for more than three decades. In 2016, internet personality Shay Butler purchased the resort from that investor group, and it remains under his ownership today. Adult daily tickets run from 76 to 95 US dollars, with season passes from 386 dollars for seniors up to 858 dollars for adults.
Pebble Creek covers 54 runs and about 1,100 acres (445 hectares) on Mount Bonneville in the Portneuf Range, near Pocatello. The base is at 6,360 feet (1,938 m) and the summit at 8,560 feet (2,609 m), giving a vertical of roughly 2,200 feet (671 m), which is big for a three-chair mountain. Terrain leans hard toward the steeper end: 43% advanced and 10% expert, against 35% intermediate and just 12% beginner. Three triple chairs provide all the uphill capacity, and the lift lines tend to stay short because the mountain has a quiet, local following.
With so few lifts, the mountain skis like a series of long pitches, and runs have plenty of fall line to reward linked turns. The north-western aspect holds snow well, and the black diamond runs and tree skiing are the main appeal. Pebble Creek also has a dedicated giant slalom and slalom course, reflecting its racing pedigree. Beginners are not forgotten, but the mountain mostly rewards confident intermediates and advanced skiers. It suits southeastern Idaho locals and travellers wanting steep, uncrowded skiing without the price tag of a destination resort.
The 2025-26 season at Pebble Creek ran from 13 December 2025 to 29 March 2026, a roughly fifteen-week season shorter than many nearby Idaho resorts. Average annual snowfall of around 225 inches supports the season's length, though the resort's steep, advanced-weighted terrain means conditions can vary more noticeably with storm timing than at gentler mountains. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from January through February, typically offers the most consistent conditions for the resort's predominantly advanced and intermediate terrain. The area's uncrowded reputation means weekday skiing in particular tends to be notably quiet, appealing to skiers seeking steep runs without the crowds of larger regional resorts. Weekend visitation draws primarily from the nearby Pocatello and southeastern Idaho population.
As a locally focused mountain without major multi-resort pass affiliation, Pebble Creek's season programming leans toward straightforward operations rather than large-scale events. The ISU Student Season Pass reflects its role serving the nearby Idaho State University community in Pocatello. School holiday periods bring some increase in family visitation, though the terrain mix skews toward more experienced skiers overall.
Specific event programming beyond standard lift operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Shay Butler's 2016 purchase, the resort has maintained its identity as an authentic, no-frills local mountain rather than pursuing destination-resort amenities. The 2,198-foot vertical drop remains a significant draw for skiers seeking steep, extended runs within a short drive of Pocatello.
Pebble Creek sits in the Portneuf Range within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, east of Pocatello in southeastern Idaho, with a base elevation of 6,358 feet and a summit at 8,556 feet across a 2,198-foot vertical drop over 1,100 acres. This puts the resort within the broader southeastern Idaho mountain landscape rather than the more heavily trafficked resort corridors further north.
Pocatello is the nearest significant town, offering lodging, dining and the services of a mid-sized Idaho city, along with Idaho State University's student population contributing to the resort's visitor base. The surrounding Caribou-Targhee National Forest provides additional outdoor recreation beyond skiing, with the Portneuf Range's steep terrain shaping both the resort and the wider regional landscape.
Local roads connect Pocatello to the resort, with the drive typically taking well under an hour depending on starting point within the city. Winter driving conditions on the approach can include snow and ice given the elevation gain into the Portneuf Range, though the route is well used by the resort's predominantly local visitor base. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Pocatello Regional Airport offers limited commercial service nearby, while Idaho Falls Regional Airport and Salt Lake City International Airport, further south, provide more extensive flight options for visitors travelling from further afield. Most Pebble Creek visitors, however, are southeastern Idaho locals driving from Pocatello and the surrounding communities rather than fly-in destination travellers.
Hotels and lodges near Pebble Creek, powered by Stay22.

Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.

Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.

Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.

Winter was meant to be winding down in Chile. Then Valle Nevado took 108 cm in 48 hours in early October, and the resort has pushed its closing date out to November 8 - its latest in 38 years of operation. That makes 143 days of skiing since opening day on June 19, with 690 cm banked for the season. Only part of the mountain is running while the storm settles, so check the mountain report before you plan a trip.

The Alps look a lot more like winter today, for a day or so. A cold front is moving west to east, dropping up to 35 cm on high glaciers and peaks, with snow levels falling to around 1,500-1,800 m at times. Don’t plan a trip around it: mid-elevation snow will be thin and wet, every area is closed bar a limited Sölden glacier opening tomorrow, and warmer weather returns by Monday.

Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.

Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park are all chasing an October start, though none has a firm date yet. The first dated openers are Breckenridge and Copper on Friday 6 November, then Vail on 13 November, with most of the rest bunched around US Thanksgiving. Hesperus did not open at all last season. A super El Niño offers hope but no guarantee, and forecasters say the southern mountains have the better odds.

Dolomiti Superski is spending around €100 million across its 12 areas before winter. Kronplatz gets a new 10-passenger gondola with a middle station, 3 Zinnen gets Helmissimo, and Val di Fassa swaps a chairlift for a gondola above Col Valvacin. New water-storage basins and upgraded snowmaking follow, and construction has started on the San Martino to Passo Rolle link. A peak adult day pass is €89.
1 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
More Pebble Creek intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.