The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
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.
2,201ft
Vertical
54
Runs
1,100 acres
Skiable
19ft
Annual snow
The Terrain
54 runs across 1,100 acres skiable
Pebble Creek spreads 54 runs across 1,100 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 43%, with 6 beginner runs to find your feet and 28 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
54
runs
54 runs across 4 grades
Beginner6 runs · 12%
Intermediate19 runs · 35%
Advanced23 runs · 43%
Expert5 runs · 10%
Time it right
When to visit Pebble Creek
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.
Season 2025 - 2026
13 Dec 2025
Opens
29 Mar 2026
Closes
106
Days open
19 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Pebble Creek, and where to stay
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.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Pebble Creek, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Pebble Creek Webcams
1 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Pebble Creek's live webcams
Check live conditions across Pebble Creek with 1 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Pebble Creek Lodge View6,601ft
- Experience Southeastern Idaho's hidden gem through this Pebble Creek webcam stationed at the main lodge at 2012 meters elevation. This Pebble Creek live cam provides real-time views of base area operations and current mountain conditions in the Portneuf Range. Essential for checking snow quality and weather, this live snow cam captures the uncrowded, family-friendly atmosphere at this affordable ski destination near Pocatello.
Pebble Creek snow cams FAQ
How often do Pebble Creek snow cams update?
All Pebble Creek snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Pebble Creek.
Which Pebble Creek webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Pebble Creek Lodge View webcam at 2,012m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Pebble Creek webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Pebble Creek lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Pebble Creek snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Pebble Creek snow cams?
Check Pebble Creek webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Pebble Creek lift tickets?
Use our Pebble Creek webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Pebble Creek webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Pebble Creek snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Pebble Creek intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.