Tamarack Ski Resort - Idaho

Address:Tamarack, Idaho
Tel: (716) 941-6821

If Donnelly, Idaho is not a place you immediately associate with skiing, it's only because you haven't yet discovered the joys of the Tamarack Ski area. Just 90 minutes from Boise, this resort is just waiting for you to take shooting runs down its slopes. It is open from 9am to 4pm daily, with a wide range of terrain to accommodate any rider.

When you arrive, head into the rental shop which houses standard and Demo equipment such as K2, Salomon, Volkl and Rossingnol. Should any equipment require a tune up or repairs, a full service shop is also onsite.

41 trails of varying levels of difficulty are spread over 1100 acres of snow. There are glades, steeps, cornices, cruisers, and 5000 acres of Nordic backcountry to carve your way through. An average snowfall of 300 inches and snowmaking that is aimed on 200+ acres leaves a nice mix of Mother Nature and manmade crystals. The vertical drop is 2800 feet and the summit peaks at 7700 feet in the sky. 7 lifts, including 3 high speed quads, rush you to the top so you can spend more time coming down. A nice perk worth mentioning is that Tamarack limits ticket sales to 2,000 riders a day, which cuts down on crowds and lift lines – but also means you should try and get there early so as not to be left out in the cold both literally and figuratively.

Snowboarders will have an amazing time dropping into the "Hell's Canyon" Superpipe which measures 22 feet high, 450 feet long and has a 16 degree pitch. There is the "No Business" Park which includes two 35 feet jumps back to back, flat rails, boxes, double barrels, and tabletops galore. For the novice or younger crowd, there is a beginner park which has smaller 10 foot high jumps and various jibs to create a lower risk area perfect for honing new skills on. All have ride on access from the chairlifts.

For new experiences, check out the Sno-Cat skiing and guide tours, avalanche orientation clinics, and access to 500 miles of snowmobile trails maintained by the local snowmobile club. All of these activities require an extra fee.

Lodging is available on site at the Tamarack Lodge with 200 rooms to stay in. alternatively, you may want to check out McCall, a town 10 miles away, with a range of lodging options from budget motels to hotels. Local watering holes in McCall, Donnelly, or Cascade, the 3 closest towns, offer hometown cooking and cold beer on tap. If it's city entertainment you crave, head into Boise to round out the day. Whatever your choice, you're never too far from great riding, great food, and great personalities.

To get to Tamarack, hop on the Valley Country Connection Shuttle which is free to the public and picks up at various spots in Donnelly. There is a weekend shuttle from Boise to the resort that requires reservations but will run you only around $10 roundtrip and takes you directly to the resort. For a much pricier, but perhaps more comfortable, option take the Tamarack Air Shuttle directly from the Boise airport to the resort. There is also plenty of parking available in the lot at the base of the mountain if you decide to bring your own vehicle.

Winter 2004-2005 was Tamarack Resort's inaugural ski season. A total of nine aerial lifts and five surface lifts are proposed for Tamarack to serve the more than 600 acres of groomed trails and 1,100 acres of beautiful, ski-able terrain.