Idaho ski season is here. Where can you stay near resorts? Check out these five deals

Shaun Goodwin
·3 min read

The Idaho Ski Areas Association officially declared ski season open this past weekend, and multiple mountains around the state will begin operations in the coming weeks.

Warmer-than-normal temperatures have put a bit of a damper on the start of the 2023-24 ski season, but it won’t be long until fall quickly gives way to winter, and the Gem State’s resorts will be coated with fresh snow.

Grand Targhee Resort was the first resort to open on Friday, while Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area, Silver Mountain Resort and Schweitzer all plan to open on Thanksgiving. Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area opened the Explorer Terrain Park over the weekend, but there’s no timeline yet for chairlift operations to begin.

But picking a ski resort to visit is only half the battle — then you have to find a place to stay, unless you are just driving to Bogus. Airbnb remains a solid option for cheaper and practicable weekend trips, and Idaho has no shortage of cute cabins, lofts and ranches to stay in.

Here are five of the top options on the market right now in close proximity to a ski resort.

Long Horse Ranch Cabin

Queen bed and pull out sofa bed. The bed is already made up if you chose to use it. Extra blanket and pillows are in the armoire.
Queen bed and pull out sofa bed. The bed is already made up if you chose to use it. Extra blanket and pillows are in the armoire.

Location: Bellevue

Price: $70 per night, discounted from $84 per night

Nearby ski resorts: Rotarun Ski Area, Sun Valley

The Long Horse Ranch Cabin is one of five cabins based on the northern edge of Bellevue. The cabins are located on Main Street, offering easy access to Hailey and the Rotarun Ski Area. A 30-minute drive north will also bring you to Ketchum and Sun Valley.

The cabin offers a queen bed, a pull-out sofa bed, a recently renovated kitchenette, and western decor and furnishings. Each cabin also features a small porch with chairs.

Soldier Mountain Guesthouse Loft

Easy access to Soldier Mountain skiing and snowmobiling, and cross country skiing and snowshoeing directly on the ranch.
Easy access to Soldier Mountain skiing and snowmobiling, and cross country skiing and snowshoeing directly on the ranch.

Location: Fairfield

Price: $120 per night

Nearby ski resorts: Soldier Mountain

Described on Airbnb as a “Scottish highland ranch,” you’ll be staying in a completely renovated loft of a barn on a ranch south of Soldier Mountain. The property is not far from U.S. Highway 20, providing easy access to and from the property.

If you want to avoid driving up to Soldier Mountain, the large expanse of land around the ranch also makes for perfect cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

The Bonanza Cabin

Nestled among towering pine trees on a 1.3-acre lot, the Bonanza Cabin is a newly remodeled 2-bed cabin offers a peaceful and secluded setting.
Nestled among towering pine trees on a 1.3-acre lot, the Bonanza Cabin is a newly remodeled 2-bed cabin offers a peaceful and secluded setting.

Location: Stanley

Price: $139 per night, discounted from $169 per night

Nearby ski resorts: Park Creek Cross Country ski trails

Stanley is often known for its summer activities, such as hiking and biking, but its location in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area still makes for plenty of winter recreation opportunities.

The Bonanza Cabin is a two-bed Airbnb just 4.5 miles outside of Stanley, complete with a bathroom, open kitchen and covered patio for year-round outdoor seating.

Elkhorn Studio Condo

This third-floor retreat boasts a homey living space with a gas fireplace, a smart TV equipped with a Blu-ray and DVD player, and a well-equipped kitchen.
This third-floor retreat boasts a homey living space with a gas fireplace, a smart TV equipped with a Blu-ray and DVD player, and a well-equipped kitchen.

Location: Sun Valley

Price: $60 per night

Nearby ski resorts: Sun Valley, Dollar Mountain

Nicknamed “The Clocktower,” the Elkhorn studio is small but cozy, and is incredibly close to Ketchum, as well as the Sun Valley and Dollar Mountain ski resorts.

Not only are you close to the resorts, but the condo has access to the nearby Elkhorn Village amenities, including two outdoor pools, hot tubs, a sauna, laundry facilities and underground parking.

Cozy Cabin at Cold Springs Gulch

This 1937 cabin has a style all its own. It has been completely remodeled and is within walking distance to the river and bike path that runs the length of the Wood River Valley.
This 1937 cabin has a style all its own. It has been completely remodeled and is within walking distance to the river and bike path that runs the length of the Wood River Valley.

Location: Ketchum

Price: $199 per night

Nearby ski resorts: Sun Valley, Dollar Mountain

Located in the heart of Ketchum, this unit is one of two inside a “1937 cabin” within walking distance to the Wood River Valley and River Run ski lift that takes you up Bald Mountain.

The unique cabin has an upstairs bedroom accessible either from an exterior staircase or a steep set of stairs in the living room up through a small hole in the ceiling.