Schweitzer Skiing & Snowboarding Resort Guide
Schweitzer Mountain Resort is a very cool ski and snowboard area located just outside of Sandpoint, Idaho, in the tip of the Idaho Panhandle. This 2,900 acre ski and snowboard resort has very few crowds and is a great destination for families and powder hounds alike. The facilities are developed enough to be comfortable with kids and beginners, while there are no huge crowds like other big western United States ski and snowboard areas. The mountain has plenty of great terrain for advanced and expert riders, too.
Photo: Cy Whitling
Schweitzer is made up of two large areas, the frontside Schweitzer Bowl, and the backside Outback Bowl. The two are separated by a ridge called the Great Divide. The mountain is primarily made up of intermediate and advanced terrain, although there is a nice separate beginner area located near the base. The Enchanted Forest is a kid favorite.
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders have tons of options at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, on both sides of the mountain. The Basin Express lift has a nice selection of wide open runs. The Six person Stella chair is also a good area for intermediates to check out and explore the backside Outback Bowl. On a clear day, head to the top via the Great Escape chair, and enjoy a super long run all the way down the ridge and to the Stella chair.
There is all kinds of fun advanced skiing and snowboarding on both side mountain at Schweitzer, and plenty of good powder stashes to be discovered. There are a lot of good advanced runs that are named groomers and bump runs, as well as tons of nice tree skiing that powder hounds will love to seek out. The Lake VIew Triple is a solid place to start exploring this terrain. Dropping into Outback Bowl from the Great Escape Quad there are some challenging and fun expert rated chutes on the way to the Snow Ghost Lift. This is a slow old double, but that along with the lack of crowds mean that fresh powder last for a long time out here after a snowstorm. Far to the skier’s left off of Snow Ghost has a lot of fun skiing and snowboarding.
Schweitzer ski and snowboard area is located 12 miles outside of Sandpoint, in the far northern tip of the Idaho Panhandle. Driving, the resort is less than 30 minutes from Sandpoint, and less two hours from Spokane. The Spokane International airport is the closest airport. Schweitzer is very close to Canada, making it a great stop on the way to British Columbia.It’s also possible to take the bus from Sandpoint to Schweitzer.
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Getting to Schweitzer
Schweitzer ski and snowboard area is located 12 miles outside of Sandpoint, in the far northern tip of the Idaho Panhandle. Driving, the resort is less than 30 minutes from Sandpoint, and less two hours from Spokane. The Spokane International airport is the closest airport. Schweitzer is very close to Canada, making it a great stop on the way to British Columbia.It’s also possible to take the bus from Sandpoint to Schweitzer.
Getting to Schweitzer
There is a small mountain village at Schweitzer that is a nice place to see for families and powder hounds looking for convenience and easy access to the slopes. There are a couple shops and restaurants and shops in this village. There is also lodging available down in Sandpoint, which has more dining options, as well as the small town of Ponderay, which is closer than Sandpoint to the Schweitzer access road and has some value hotel chain hotels.
Schweitzer Lodging Overview
Our Favorite Snowboards for Schweitzer
Local Food Picks
While there aren’t a ton of dining options on the mountain and at the base area of Schweitzer, there are plenty of restaurants to keep skiers and snowboarders fueled up and ready for long days riding powder. Powderhound Pizza is a solid spot for those staying at the mountain. Pucci’s is the local’s bar. Down in Sandpoint there are more options. DiLuna’s Cafe is a nice spot to grab breakfast on the way to the mountain.Schweitzer Dining
DiLuna's
Our Favorite Skis For Schweitzer
Where to Find Lift Tickets to Schweitzer?
Schweitzer has affordable lift tickets for a ski and snowboard area of its size. It is definitely cheaper than Sun Valley. Juniors (7-17), seniors, college students, and members of the military all receive discounted lift tickets, while kids six and under ski for free.Schweitzer Conditions & Weather Information
Schweitzer sees a nice 300” of average annual snowfall. This means 25’ of powder each winter. There are beautiful views from the ski and snowboard area down to Lake Pend Orielle, however, proximity to the lake often means thick fog near Schweitzer.Schweitzer Ski Report
Close to Spokane, and on the way to British Columbia, Schweitzer mountain resort packs a lot of character and fun into the tip of Idaho’s panhandle. The mountain is great for intermediate skiers and no crowds also makes it a great family ski and snowboard destination. For powder hounds seeking their private stash, road tripping riders, and families alike, Schweitzer is worth a trip.
