I will admit, going to one of Idaho’s top-rated ski resorts for your very first time snowboarding might be a bit extreme. But when we had the chance to experience night riding at Bogus Basin, we couldn’t pass it up.
The Bogus Basin Ski Resort is located just outside of Boise, Idaho. It sits on the highest point of the Boise Ridge Mountains at 7,582 feet elevation and is known for having some of the best and most affordable snow in the region. And with 27 to 30 inches of fresh snow expected throughout the week, we knew this was the perfect opportunity to finally check Bogus Basin off our bucket list. Oh, and did we mention? We’re doing it at night!
Lucky for us, Connor’s best friend met up with us to show us the ropes (he’s a season pass holder there—fancy, right?). So, we loaded up all our gear and headed toward the mountain. We arrived just as the sun was setting and all the day-skiers were leaving. This was perfect because we knew we’d have amazing snow and almost no lines for the lifts! We were stoked, to say the least.
Now, here’s a little side note: Connor and his best friend are pretty great snowboarders (like doing jumps and flips sort of great). I, on the other hand, had never really strapped a snowboard to my feet before. Even with that knowledge, I still completely underestimated how hard snowboarding would be. I’m not exaggerating when I say it took me about 30 minutes and 20 falls to get down the mountain. But I’m happy to say by the end of the day, I had cut that number down to 20 minutes and 10 falls (very impressive, I know).
Our Honest Review of Bogus Basin:
Absolutely amazing snow! The snow at Bogus Basin was everything I had hoped for and more. That fresh powder was so soft and fluffy that it felt like floating on clouds. For someone like me, still getting the hang of snowboarding, that soft cushion really made all the difference especially for how many times I found myself laying in it. Both Connor and his friend were also loving their runs, making their way down the mountain with ease. I could definitely see why they loved it here.
Very high-tech! One of the things that really stood out to me was how modern the chair lift setup was. I was fully expecting the usual lift tickets that you’d connect to your jacket (like I’ve seen at pretty much every resort I’ve been to). But that wasn’t the case here. When we bought our tickets, we were given a small card—think of a hotel key card—that we simply slipped into our jacket pocket. To get to the lift, they had these scanners that looked like the ones you walk through at the airport. As you walk through, the scanner automatically detected and scanned the card in your pocket. No need to pull it out or fumble with anything! It was so quick and easy.
Runs for all skill levels. I’ll admit, I was worried that since we were going at night, the only runs with lights on them would be the expert-level ones. But that wasn’t the case at all. I was able to find a run that was perfect for my beginner skills. Of course, Connor and his friend had a blast on the more challenging runs, too. So whether you’re just starting off or an expert, Bogus Basin has something for everyone, even at night.
Beautiful and affordable! A huge plus was simply how easy it was to access Bogus Basin. The top of the mountain is only about 18 miles from Boise, so getting there was a breeze. The drive alone was a treat, as you go from the desert landscape to lush forests and gorgeous snow-covered mountains. It’s such a beautiful area to experience. And if you’re worried about the price, let me tell you—Bogus Basin is incredibly affordable. We were able to snowboard for 4 hours for only $50 for both of us. Seriously, I could hardly believe it!
It’s a bit hard to see at night. Now, despite all the cool things about Bogus Basin, I have to be honest, the visibility was very hard at times. It was actively snowing, which meant snow was sticking to our goggles and freezing as we went down the mountain. This was making it very hard to see. On top of that, there were sections of the mountain where the lights were a bit dim or even off. This was not ideal if you have goggles with any kind of tint to them. The good news is that the closer you stayed to the lift, the easier it was to see. So, as long as you stuck near the lit areas, you were good to go. Still, that’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning to go at night.
Overall, we would highly recommend checking out Bogus Basin! Whether it’s day or night, you won’t be disappointed. We can’t wait to go back, but this time during the day!
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