Bill Shearer

Brundage Mountain Resort

A visit to Brundage Mountain Resort is a getaway full of pleasant surprises. Generously wide groomed runs and a lack of crowds add to the relaxed feeling you'll find exploring this 1,500 acre gem. Plentiful Rocky Mountain powder makes it a delight to sample the ski area's many powder fields and untracked glades. Five well-placed chairlifts handily spread out the skiers and riders, so visitors are more likely to find solace on an open trail than they are to find themselves standing in a lift line. A high-speed quad makes for a quick ride to the summit, where you'll enjoy a 360 degree view that includes silhouettes of Idaho's Seven Devils Wilderness, Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness, and sweeping vistas of the Payette Lakes. The views highlight the fact that, in spite of the predictable heavy snowfall, Brundage enjoys a great many days of clear skies and bright sunshine. An overnight stay in nearby McCall, just 8 miles from the Brundage base area, provides an experience of its own. This charming mountain town hugs the shores of Payette Lake and offers a wide array of dining and lodging choices. Unique among mid-sized resorts is Brundage Mountain's backcountry SnowCat program. Brundage Backcountry Adventures operates on an expansive 17,000 acres of Payette National Forest backcountry. In the summer months, visitors speed down more than 20 miles of hand-built single track mountain biking trails or relax with a leisurely chairlift ride for sight-seeing at the summit. Smoky's slope side Bar & Grill is open on summer weekends and daily during ski season and offers tasty, affordable fare featuring local microbrews and locally-sourced menu items. The Brundage Mountain lodge is a charming venue for meetings, reunions and weddings, with Brundage Mountain Catering adding local flavor to any event. Brundage Mountain remains family-owned by the descendants of one of the resort's original founders, further entrenching its low-key, family-friendly vibe.