There's Way More Skiing at This Idaho Resort Than Just Powdery Glades

From Brundage’s classic A-frame base lodge to the beautiful views out over the town of McCall and the Payette and Cascade Lakes, Brundage feels like a hidden gem that you’ll want to keep to yourself. Owned for decades by the local DeBoer family, Brundage just changed ownership at the end of 2020, and the new owners, led by longtime Brundage employee Robert Looper, are expected to retain the ski area’s strengths and charms while upgrading certain parts of the experience. Planned improvements include a new village experience and base area lodge. Though it might not look like a very large mountain by Western standards at first glance, this ski area is deceiving: In addition to frontside and lakeview pods, there’s 420 acres of unpatrolled lift-served backcountry, plus a cat-skiing operation that tacks on an additional 18,000 acres of powdery glades, bowls, and steeps in Payette National Forest. It should be clear by now what this resort’s lure is, and if it’s calling out to you this winter, you best comply.

Also Read: Everything You Need To Know About The Indy Pass

Mountain Stats
Vertical Feet: 1,921
Lifts: 6
Trails: 67
Skiable Acres: 1,920
Average Snowfall: 320”

Related: A Late-Season Indy Pass Could Make Your Spring Road Trip Way Cheaper

Trip Planning

Lodging: Hartland Inn

This Historic Registry B&B’s main house was built in 1911 and was originally the family home of Colonel Edgar Heighgo, president of the Pacific & Idaho Northern Railway. Today the Hartland Inn comprises the five-room main house, the four-suite carriage house, and the budget-minded motel. (The main house is closed this season, but the carriage house and motel are open.) Stein & Stirrup bar and restaurant, in the main house, is open for room service. Indy Pass holders get 30 percent off of stays here.

Insider’s Tip: Breakfast at the Pancake House

The plate-sized cinnamon rolls at the Pancake House in McCall are a staple, but there’s something for everyone on the expansive menu.

COVID-19 Policies

Face coverings required for all indoor spaces and whenever six-feet of distance cannot be kept. Guests are encouraged to ride the lifts with their own parties. Only private lessons are available.

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