Ski Area #33: Bogus Basin, ID

Day 72
Location: Boise, ID
Resorts: 33 out of 40

I didn’t know what to expect from Bogus Basin, Boise’s closest ski area. To be honest, I almost skipped it because I never heard of it. But after spending a weekend in Idaho’s capitol, I was convinced by the city’s residents that the Basin was worth a trip.

The pleasant surprise is that Bogus Basin is bigger than expected. It’s a twisty sixteen mile ride from boisterous Boise up the ski area. Before leaving town, swing by a Chevron and pick up a 12 pack of any Pepsi product and get a $10 off discount coupon. Apply that to a $20 night skiing ticket and you’re only paying $10 bucks to ride the Basin.
The peak you see when pulling into the lower parking lot is Deer Point. You can skip this one and head straight up to the Pioneer Lodge. Deer Point is where you’ll find the terrain park, some groomers, and the beginner terrain. We took a few laps over here, enjoyed the views of Boise and turned our planks towards Shafer Butte.

At 7,580 feet, Shafer Butte is where you’ll find all the good stuff of Bogus Basin. There’s two lifts that take you to the top — the superfast Pine Creek Express quad and the slower Superior Double. Both have plenty of longer runs, some groomed, some glades, and a few spots to get into some trouble. There’s also backcountry access gates scattered around the resort.

Apres Ski Report:

Who knew that Boise, Idaho would be one of the most fun stops on the trip? A lively college downtown means that there’s plenty of excitement if you’re planning a weekend trip to Boise. Head over to Main Street or Grove to find all the best restaurants and bars. We posted up in the Red Room Tavern for a Saturday night to enjoy some $2.50 tallboys.

The Cheat Sheet:

Bogus Basin
2600 N. Bogus Basin Rd.
Boise, ID 83702

The Red Room
603 Main Street
Boise, ID 83702

Mountain Stats