The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Tamarack Resort's summit reaches 7,700 feet, dropping 2,802 vertical feet to a base at 4,898 feet across 50 runs spread over 1,100 acres overlooking Lake Cascade in central Idaho. Terrain splits 45 per cent intermediate, 38 per cent advanced and 17 per cent beginner, with no expert-rated runs, and average annual snowfall of roughly 300 inches. The resort carries Indy Pass affiliation. Seven lifts, including five quad chairs, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift and one t-bar.
Tamarack's lake-view setting and four-season resort amenities, including golf and a marina, distinguish it from Idaho's more purely ski-focused mountains. The resort's turbulent financial history has shaped much of its development, with terrain and lift buildout proceeding in stages tied to successive rounds of investment rather than a single continuous expansion. Its current 1,100-acre footprint remains smaller than the resort's original master-planned scope.
The project was first announced in 1988 as Valbois Resort on West Mountain in Valley County before going bankrupt, and in 1998 Mexican businessman Alfredo Miguel Afif purchased the assets and renamed it Westrock. When it opened in 2004 as Tamarack, it was the first new destination ski resort built in North America in 23 years. The resort's majority owners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2008 after failing to secure financing against an existing 262 million US dollar loan from Credit Suisse, and the resort closed in 2009.
A group of homeowners restarted limited ski operations in 2010 to keep the lifts running while foreclosure proceedings continued, with Credit Suisse ultimately gaining ownership through a 2014 sheriff's sale. New ownership group Tamarack Resort Holdings, a joint venture called Imperium Blue, took over in November 2018, and MMG Equity Partners assumed full ownership in October 2021, investing more than 245 million US dollars into the property since. Adult daily tickets run from 89 to 129 US dollars, with Boundless season passes from 699 dollars.
2,802ft
Vertical
50
Runs
1,100 acres
Skiable
25ft
Annual snow
Indy
Pass
The Terrain
50 runs across 1,100 acres skiable
Tamarack Resort spreads 50 runs across 1,100 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 45%, with 9 beginner runs to find your feet and 19 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
50
runs
50 runs across 4 grades
Beginner9 runs · 17%
Intermediate23 runs · 45%
Advanced19 runs · 38%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Tamarack Resort
The 2025-26 season at Tamarack Resort ran from 27 November 2025 to 12 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 300 inches. This snowfall total supports a reasonably long season for a resort of Tamarack's size and elevation. Season dates can shift slightly depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across the resort's intermediate and advanced terrain. As a resort still rebuilding its destination profile following years of financial difficulty, Tamarack's crowd patterns tend to be lighter than more established Idaho destinations, even during peak holiday periods. Weekday visits are generally quiet.
The resort's four-season amenities, including golf and a marina on Lake Cascade, mean Tamarack's identity extends beyond winter operations alone, though ski season remains the primary draw during the colder months. As an Indy Pass resort, Tamarack draws some visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass in addition to its regional Idaho base. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation to the resort's lodging and amenities.
Specific event programming beyond standard lift operations is not confirmed in available resort information. MMG Equity Partners' substantial ongoing investment since 2021 continues to shape the resort's development, with improvements extending across lodging and amenities as well as the ski terrain itself. The resort's lake-view setting remains a distinguishing feature relative to other central Idaho ski areas.
Season 2025 - 2026
27 Nov 2025
Opens
12 Apr 2026
Closes
136
Days open
25 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Tamarack Resort, and where to stay
Tamarack Resort sits above Lake Cascade in Valley County, central Idaho, with a base elevation of 4,898 feet and a summit at 7,700 feet across a 2,802-foot vertical drop over 1,100 acres. The resort's West Mountain location places it within a scenic lake-and-mountain setting roughly 90 miles from Boise.
The nearby town of Donnelly and the larger community of McCall offer additional lodging and dining options beyond the resort's own on-site facilities. Lake Cascade itself is a significant regional recreation draw beyond winter sports, contributing to Tamarack's four-season resort identity. Boise, the nearest major city, supplies much of the resort's weekend and holiday visitor base.
Idaho State Highway 55 connects Boise to the Cascade and Donnelly area, with local roads then leading to the resort on West Mountain above the lake. The drive from Boise typically takes around 90 minutes depending on conditions, with winter weather occasionally requiring extra caution on the mountain roads near the resort. There is no direct public transport service to Tamarack.
Boise Airport is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, roughly 90 miles south of the resort. This makes Tamarack accessible to fly-in visitors willing to make the drive north through the Treasure Valley and into the mountains. Most visitors, however, arrive by car from Boise or the broader western Idaho region rather than flying in directly.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Tamarack Resort, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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Aspen Snowmass turns 80 this December, and it's marking the milestone with $3.75 lift tickets on the anniversary itself - the original 1946 price. A discounted long weekend, $19.46 dining specials, lodging deals up to 46 percent off, and a season of anniversary programming round out the celebration across all four mountains.
17 Sept 2026
Doppelmayr Group Posts 9.1% Revenue Growth in 2025/26, Passing 1.3 Billion Euros
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16 Sept 2026
Hintertux Glacier Replaces 40-Year-Old Gondola to Tuxer Fernerhaus
Hintertux Glacier is retiring its 40-year-old gondola to the Tuxer Fernerhaus. The replacement carries 10 people per cabin instead of four, with seat heating and nearly 40 percent more hourly capacity. Doppelmayr's new line opens at the end of October 2026, right as the glacier's high-altitude terrain becomes accessible again for the new season.
16 Sept 2026
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
Tamarack Resort Webcams
3 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Tamarack Resort's live webcams
Check live conditions across Tamarack Resort with 3 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
- Mountain Summit7,700ft
- Experience breathtaking panoramic views from Idaho's premier four-season mountain destination through this spectacular Tamarack webcam positioned at an impressive 2347 meters summit elevation. This commanding vantage point offers sweeping views across the entire 1,100-acre ski area, stretching down to the glistening waters of Lake Cascade below. Updated every 10 minutes, this essential Tamarack Resort live cam provides crucial visibility information across all 50 named runs, helping you plan the perfect day exploring Idaho's newest alpine playground just 90 minutes from Boise.
- Mid Mountain Lodge6,234ft
- Capture the heart of Idaho's four-season mountain paradise through this strategically positioned Tamarack Resort webcam at the Mid Mountain Lodge at 1900 meters elevation. This central location reveals current conditions where multiple ski zones converge, offering perfect views of the resort's varied terrain. This Tamarack Resort live cam shows exactly how the mountain flows throughout the day, from morning light illuminating perfectly groomed runs to afternoon shadows across the diverse terrain—essential intelligence for timing your perfect descent to the scenic lakeside village below.
- Mid Mountain Snow Stake6,234ft
- Monitor real-time snowfall accumulation through this crucial Tamarack webcam focused on the official snow stake at 1900 meters elevation. Positioned at the mountain's strategic mid-point, this live snow cam reveals exactly how Mother Nature is blessing Idaho's newest alpine destination with fresh powder. Updated every 10 minutes, this essential Tamarack Resort web cam provides the precise snow data that powder hunters need when planning their adventure across the resort's impressive 2,800 vertical feet of varied skiing terrain overlooking spectacular Lake Cascade.
Tamarack Resort snow cams FAQ
How often do Tamarack Resort snow cams update?
All Tamarack Resort 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 Tamarack Resort.
Which Tamarack Resort webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Mountain Summit webcam at 2,347m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Tamarack Resort webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Tamarack Resort lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Tamarack Resort 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 Tamarack Resort snow cams?
Check Tamarack Resort 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 Tamarack Resort lift tickets?
Use our Tamarack Resort 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 Tamarack Resort webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Tamarack Resort snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Tamarack Resort intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.