Schweitzer Mountain

Mountain resort in Sandpoint, Idaho, United States

About

What It Is

Schweitzer is a four-season mountain resort in the Selkirk Mountains of northern Idaho, near Sandpoint and overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. The resort has 2,900 skiable acres, 92 named trails plus open-bowl skiing, a 2,400-foot vertical drop, and a summit elevation of 6,400 feet. It receives an average of approximately 300 inches of snow annually. ^[1]

Although best known for skiing and snowboarding, Schweitzer operates as a summer mountain destination as well, with hiking, lift-served mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, and other outdoor activities. ^[2]^[3]

Activities & Experiences

Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding — Explore 2,900 acres of beginner through expert terrain, including groomed runs, glades, and open bowls. The terrain distribution is approximately 10% beginner, 40% intermediate, 35% advanced, and 15% expert. ^[1]
Nordic Skiing — Use approximately 32 km of maintained Nordic trails for classic and skate skiing. ^[1]
Snowshoeing — Explore designated winter terrain on snowshoes, including hosted snowshoe outings. ^[4]
Snow Tubing — Ride single or double tubes at Hermit’s Hollow, which has two tubing lanes. ^[1]
Snowmobile Tours — Take guided snowmobile tours through the mountain environment. ^[4]
Cat Skiing — Access an additional 4,350 acres of backcountry terrain through guided snowcat skiing. ^[4]
Twilight Skiing — Ski selected terrain after normal daytime operations on scheduled evenings. ^[1]^[4]
Mountain Biking — Ride more than 40 miles of trails, including cross-country routes and lift-served downhill terrain. Downhill trails descend approximately 1,700 vertical feet from the top of the Great Escape Quad to the village. ^[5]
Hiking — Explore marked mountain trails from the village and upper mountain during the summer season. ^[2]^[6]
Scenic Chairlift Rides — Ride the Great Escape chairlift to the upper mountain for panoramic views of the surrounding Selkirk Mountains and Lake Pend Oreille. ^[6]^[7]
Summer Recreation — Seasonal activities include zip lining, rock climbing, trampoline jumping, disc golf, horseback riding, and geocaching. ^[6]
Dining & Spa — The mountain village includes restaurants and Cambium Spa, with some lodging, dining, and spa services operating beyond the primary ski and summer lift seasons. ^[8]

Practical Access

Schweitzer is located in northern Idaho, approximately 83 miles from Spokane, Washington. The main mountain village is reached by road at 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Road. ^[9] The primary winter operating season normally runs from late November through early or mid-April, conditions permitting. Summer mountain operations generally run from late June through Labor Day, although exact opening and closing dates vary according to conditions. ^[1] Lift tickets, equipment rentals, and lessons are available through the resort. Purchasing lift tickets in advance can provide lower pricing than purchasing on the mountain. ^[10] Summer operations are weather-dependent. Wind and lightning can place lifts on hold, and mountain-bike trails may open progressively as remaining snow melts. ^[11]

Schweitzer is an Ikon Pass destination. For the 2026–27 season, the full Ikon Pass includes 7 days at Schweitzer with no blackout dates, while the Ikon Base Pass includes 5 days, subject to select blackout dates. Access is shared with other Alterra-owned destinations according to the applicable Ikon Pass rules. ^[14]

Restrictions

A valid lift ticket or pass is required to access operational ski terrain; Schweitzer’s ski terrain is private property. ^[12]
Uphill travel is prohibited during winter operations, except on Nordic trails while using Nordic equipment. The restriction is related to hazards including avalanche-control work, grooming equipment, and winch-cat cables. ^[12]
Dogs are not permitted on ski slopes, winter trails, or Nordic trails. During summer, leashed dogs are permitted on hiking trails and in the village. ^[13]
Dogs are not allowed on scenic chairlifts. ^[7]
Only Class 1 e-bikes are permitted on Schweitzer’s mountain-bike trails and lift system, provided the bicycle can be safely accommodated by the lift equipment. ^[5]
Front-mounted or shotgun-style child seats are prohibited on Schweitzer bike trails. ^[5]
Individual summer activities have their own participation and safety requirements, including weight restrictions for certain activities. ^[11]
Lift, trail, and recreational operations are weather and conditions dependent. ^[11]

What Makes It Distinctive

Schweitzer’s defining feature is the combination of large-scale mountain terrain and expansive views over Lake Pend Oreille. From the upper mountain, the landscape opens across northern Idaho’s mountains and the lake below, giving the resort a distinctive combination of alpine and lake scenery. ^[2]^[9] It is also one of the larger ski destinations in the inland Northwest. Its 2,900 skiable acres, 92 named trails, open bowls, glades, and 2,400-foot vertical drop provide substantial terrain ranging from beginner slopes to advanced and expert areas. ^[1] Schweitzer is not exclusively a winter attraction. More than 40 miles of mountain-bike trails, hiking, scenic lift access, and seasonal recreation transform the same mountain into a summer outdoor destination. ^[2]^[5]

Sources

Open year-round
Typical duration: 3 days

Access & fees

ikon pass accepted (network: 70+ destinations)
lift ticket from $83/day (package: 3-pack · per day low: $83)

Things to do

cat skiing (season: winter)
guided snowmobile tours (route: summit to Priest River Valleys · operator: Selkirk Powder Company)
helicopter skiing available (available since: 2017)
ski lessons (season: winter)
skiing & snowboarding (season: winter)
summer activities (season: summer) — seasonal, currently closed

Amenities

cambium spa (hours: year-round)
children's center
conference & wedding venue
dining & après (hours: year-round)
equipment rentals
lodging on-mountain (hours: year-round)
shuttle service

Best time to visit

winter season (window: winter months, snow-dependent)
year-round for spa/dining (window: year-round)

Features

300+ inches annual snowfall (measurement: average annual snowfall)
active master development plan
alterra mountain company resort
backcountry terrain access (area: Priest Lake State Forest, outside ski boundary)
ikon pass destination
summit elevation 6,400 ft (metres: 1,951 m)

Nearby

sandpoint, idaho (distance: 11 miles southeast)

Good to know

address: 10000 schweitzer mountain rd (zip: 83864 · city: Sandpoint · state: ID)
licensed idaho outfitter (license: State of Idaho outfitter and guide service)
mobile app available
webcams & mountain report online

Catalog identifier: AVIA-QRG2-FMZ3K