POWDER TO THE PEOPLE
2,000
Of skiable backcountry terrain
3000
Of vertical, topping out at 10,000'
24-25
The season you create an unforgettable experience
Experience the backcountry.
Three ways to explore.
Cat Skiing at Soldier Mountain is not your typical backcountry experience.
Cat skiing in the Soldier Mountains is a little different than the typical guide skiing experience. Your guide team will lead you on every run as you explore glades, trees, and wide-open bowls. When conditions allow, the steep chutes and ridgelines will be there.
Regardless of the terrain type, your guides will encourage you to immerse yourself in the experience of powder snow without dictating your every turn. Our goal is to give you the chance to discover your flow in untracked snow without the pressures of a resort environment on a pow day.
Soldier is a very unique mountain, with 3,000’ of vertical that tops out at almost 10,000’. The cat skiing area is a large easterly facing bowl so it collects snow and holds it between storms. The south-facing bowls are the destination while the snow is fresh, later moving to north-facing trees where the powder lasts long after storms. When conditions allow, the chutes off of Peak 2 open up, allowing access to the steepest terrain of any backcountry operation in Idaho.
The highlight of many trips is a short five-minute walk up to Peak 1. An east-facing 25-degree slope, with 1,000’ vertical, there are enough trees to keep the snow fresh, but it is open enough to let the skis run. With 2,000 acres of skiable backcountry terrain, Soldier Mountain has it all: big open lines, rolling glades, steep trees, and extreme chutes. Tell the guides what you want, and they will accommodate you as long as it’s safe to ski or ride.
Cat ski prices include the use of a transceiver, backpack, shovel, and probe. If you have your own backcountry safety gear that you would prefer to use, please bring it. If our guides approve of your equipment, you are welcome to use your own instead of ours. However, the price of the trip will not be altered if you elect to use your own equipment.
It’s not every day that you can ride a tracked side-by-side
while skiing 3k feet above the Camas Prairie.
Step up your experience and Soldier’s Trax Skiing. With a group of four guests and traveling 2.5 times faster than the box cat, you will get more vertical and access to wider terrain options. Its heated and enclosed cab makes it perfect for stormy days. It is the best way to get the most untracked powder, the most vertical feet, and the least time traveling uphill.
Your day will include up to 3,500 vertical feet in a single run. You will be guided through various terrain, ranging from high alpine peaks to open bowls and world-class trees.
Trax skiing is only available for private booking. This ensures your guide can select the terrain that best suits your group, whether it is your first backcountry experience or you are a big mountain veteran.
We don’t need roads!
Tour the Soldier Mountains high above the Camas Prairie. You can ski up to 2,500 vertical feet in a single run and up and beyond 5,000 vertical feet each day. You will be guided through various terrain, ranging from desert alpine peaks to open forest meadows. You will experience a variety of snow, including deep, untouched powder and corn snow.
Starting your day at the Soldier Mountain Lodge, you will travel 5+ miles to the first zone. Throughout the day, your group will tour untracked snow. One of our signature runs flows down Peak 1, showcasing 3,000+ vertical feet of relief to the Prairie floor. You can see the Pioneer Mountains to the east and Nevada to the south from the Peak. As your day concludes, you will play the terrain and return to the Soldier Mountain Lodge.
This experience is for everyone, from the first-timer to the most experienced alpine tourer. Our guides will select the terrain based on your ability level and teach you how to travel and transition more efficiently.
The best backcountry experience
Soldier Mountain Boasts Some Of The Best Backcountry Skiing In Idaho. Soldier Mountain’s Snow Cat skiing will promise private powder. You can enjoy this awesome experience with your friends and family as long as all are expert skiers and you get set up with a cat skiing appointment.
“Powder snow skiing is not fun. It's life, fully lived, life lived in a blaze of reality” - Delores LaChapelle
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of safety gear do I need?
For the safety of all participants, Soldier Mountain requires everyone to carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Soldier Mountain will provide all necessary safety equipment, but guests may bring their own beacon, probe, and shovel.
Does Soldier Mountain provide food or should I bring my own?
Soldier Mountain offers Brown Bag Lunches for $15. it includes a hearty sandwich with a variety of meats and cheese, chips, cookies, and a variety of drinks. There will be a supply of water and energy drinks in the cat.
Will we stop for lunch?
We would rather give you the opportunity to get an extra run or two instead of stopping for a specific lunch break. We eat in the snowcat between runs, sharing stories and occasionally snacks. If you need a break mid-day, you are always welcome to sit out a run and stay with the cat.
What is the cancellation policy?
There are a lot of variables in backcountry skiing. We do everything we can to ensure all trips run as scheduled. However, if you have made other travel arrangements, such as flights or hotels, we highly recommend you purchase their trip insurance. We have delivered great experiences and great snow for thousands of customers over the years, and we put these policies in place to ensure our long-term health. We hope you understand because we wouldn’t be able to do what we all love without you.
Cancellations by Customer:
- 90+ days prior to trip: Full credit or refund
- 30-89 days prior to trip: Full credit or refund with a 10% cancellation fee
- Within 30 days of trip: No credits or refunds
Rebooking:
- Subject to a 10% rebooking fee.
- Trips are transferable but still subject to the 10% rebooking fee.
Cancellations by Soldier Mountain:
- Due to weather, snow conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances outside of our control
- Customers can rebook within the season without a penalty, receive a 100% credit, or a 75% refund.
- Due to mechanical or other reasons within Soldier’s control, customers will have the option to:
- Customers can rebook within the season without a penalty, receive a 100% credit, or a 100% refund.
*You will be prorated if your trip is canceled partway through a trip.
Notes:
- The 6% booking fee is non-refundable, regardless of the reason or timing for cancellation.
- Rescheduled trips are subject to availability.
- The credit is for a dollar amount and may be applied to any product at Soldier Mountain.
- Soldier Mountain reserves the right to change or modify this cancellation policy at any time.
- For more information or to discuss specific circumstances, please contact our reservations team at 208-765-3437 x3.
Snow Conditions
Up in the peaks expect to encounter a variety of snow conditions. It’s not uncommon to carve south facing lines as we hit a corn or melt-freeze cycle and then on the next run rip through spectacular powder
Does the cat need to be full in order for a trip to run?
Our cat holds 12 passengers. For a Cat Scratch trip, there must be a minimum of 6 participants for the trip to run. If you have booked the cat privately, you can have as few people as you want, and there can be up to 12 people in your group.
How much should I tip the guides?
The amount you tip the guides is totally up to you, but it’s typically at least 20% of the trip cost. Cash is preferred, but most of the guides have Venmo.
Can I bring anyone I want when I book the cat privately?
You can bring anyone who is an advanced skier or snowboarder. However, we need the name and contact information of everyone who will be on the trip prior to the trip’s date.
Ready to book? Have questions? Get in touch!
The ‘Smokey Dome’
Want to turn your backcountry experience into a multi-day excursion without leaving the beautiful snow-capped mountain?
As a cat ski participant, you have the option of staying in a mid-mountain retreat. Renting the Smokey Dome Yurt in conjunction with private cat skiing is a treat reserved exclusively for you. It will provide you with a quiet, cozy retreat after a long day of skiing or boarding in the backcountry.
The yurt can be rented in a multi-day cat skiing package. This combination allows you and your friends and family to spend two days in the backcountry while staying at the yurt in between your days skiing or snowboarding. The yurt sleeps 12, so gather some friends for an overnight experience you won’t soon forget.
2 days of cat skiing with 1 night in the yurt for up to 12 people
Ready for adventure?
Questions?
Yurt Frequently Asked Questions
If I rent the yurt, do I have to share it with anyone?
If you rent the yurt, no one else will have the ability to rent it at that time.
What night(s) can I rent the yurt once I book my cat skiing trip?
Your yurt stay will be the night in between your two days of private cat skiing. So, if you are planning on skiing Saturday and Sunday, you would stay in the yurt Saturday night.
How do I get to the yurt?
The snow cat will provide transportation to and from the yurt, unless you want to get there on your own. If that is the case, we can make arrangements on an individual basis.
How do I get my belongings to and from the yurt?
If you are cat skiing and then staying the night in the yurt, we can bring your belongings up to the yurt in the snowcat. We ask that you bring no more than 2 bags, and both must comfortably fit next to you on the chairlift. These bags should be no larger than an airline carry-on bags.
What is the yurt cancellation policy?
There are a lot of variables in backcountry skiing. We do everything we can to ensure all trips run as scheduled. However, if you have made other travel arrangements, such as flights or hotels, we highly recommend you purchase their trip insurance. We have delivered great experiences and great snow for thousands of customers over the years, and we put these policies in place to ensure our long-term health. We hope you understand because we wouldn’t be able to do what we all love without you.
Cancellations by Customer:
- 90+ days prior to trip: Full credit or refund
- 30-89 days prior to trip: Full credit or refund with a 10% cancellation fee
- Within 30 days of trip: No credits or refunds
Rebooking:
- Subject to a 10% rebooking fee.
- Trips are transferable but still subject to the 10% rebooking fee.
Cancellations by Soldier Mountain:
- Due to weather, snow conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances outside of our control
- Customers can rebook within the season without a penalty, receive a 100% credit, or a 75% refund.
- Due to mechanical or other reasons within Soldier’s control, customers will have the option to:
- Customers can rebook within the season without a penalty, receive a 100% credit, or a 100% refund.
*You will be prorated if your trip is canceled partway through a trip.
Notes:
- The 6% booking fee is non-refundable, regardless of the reason or timing for cancellation.
- Rescheduled trips are subject to availability.
- The credit is for a dollar amount and may be applied to any product at Soldier Mountain.
- Soldier Mountain reserves the right to change or modify this cancellation policy at any time.
- For more information or to discuss specific circumstances, please contact our reservations team at 208-765-3437 x3.
What is provided in the yurt?
Our yurt is equipped with most of what you would need for a rustic night in the woods. Guests will need to provide their own food, beverages, clothing, sleeping bags, pillows, first aid supplies, and any other winter gear needed for sleeping in a wilderness yurt. Here is a list of what is included in the yurt: bowls, plates, coffee cups, wine glasses, hand towels, cutting boards, cheese shredder, egg beaters, stirring and mixing spoons, spatulas, chopping knives, silverware, paper towels, toilet paper, matches, can openers, oven mitts, trash bags, aluminum foil, clorox, scrub pads, 4 burner propane stove, wood burning stove, BBQ, large table with plastic and folding chairs, solar light, fire extinguisher, hand sanitizer, bunkbeds for 12 people with pads but not bedding. There is also an outhouse and firewood. You can melt snow on the stove in metal pans for water, or bring your own.
Soldier Mountain operates under
