Mountain Review: Lookout Pass
MOUNTAIN SCORE
CATEGORY BREAKDOWN
See our criteria
9
Snow:
6
Resiliency:
4
Size:
4
Terrain Diversity:
4
Challenge:
3
Lifts:
9
Crowd Flow:
6
Facilities:
7
Navigation:
4
Mountain Aesthetic:
GOOD TO KNOW
1-Day Ticket: $53-$75
Pass Affiliation: None
On-site Lodging: No
Après-ski: Limited
Nearest Cities: Spokane (1.5 hrs), Seattle (6 hrs)
Recommended Ability Level:
+ Pros
Impressive quantity of snow
Low crowds
Remarkably affordable, even for its region
– Cons
Lack of high-speed lifts
Small size
Little expert terrain
Lack of on site lodging
MOUNTAIN STATS
Lifts: 5
Trails: 52
Beginner: 14%
Intermediate: 42%
Advanced/Expert: 44%
Mountain Review
As one of only four US ski areas that straddles state lines, Lookout Pass offers an affordable, low-key, local experience and some of the highest snowfall totals in the region. Powder hounds and families alike will be drawn to this ski area, although it is often overlooked by its more well known neighboring resorts, which are closer to population centers.
Lookout Pass is smaller and more remote than some other nearby resorts, but it offers some of the highest snowfall totals in the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene region.
Size and Terrain Layout
Lookout Pass features a 736-acre skiable footprint and a 1,650-foot vertical drop, making it the smallest resort in the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene region, although it has more than tripled in size over the past two decades. Most of Lookout Pass is centered around Runt Mountain, where three chairlifts serving different flanks of the mountain converge at the top. The Eagle Peak terrain zone, which opened in 2022, ascends up a ridge to the southeast of Runt Mountain that straddles the Idaho and Montana state lines and features runs over a mile long in length.
Beginner Terrain
Lookout Pass features a limited amount of beginner terrain. The very slow and low to the ground Success chairlift serves the bunny hill and is a great place for first time skiers and snowboarders, with a single isolated run that involves a mild pitch. Beyond this, there is only one other green run at Lookout Pass that doesn’t start as a blue: the Huckleberry Ridge run, which descends from the top of Runt Mountain down to the base area. For beginners with a bit of proficiency, there are plenty of blue runs that are wide and mild in pitch enough to push the envelope without becoming overwhelmed.
TRAIL MAP
Intermediate Terrain
Intermediate terrain is a strong point for Lookout Pass, with plenty of variety ranging from mild, wide open groomed blue runs, to narrower blues with steeper pitches, and even some intermediate accessible glades such as Dilly Dally Alley. Blue runs are accessible off of every chairlift except for the bunny hill, and intermediates will be able to enjoy a large majority of the skiable footprint at Lookout Pass. Intermediates looking to test their skills can find some steeper blues going down to the Northstar chairlift. The longest intermediate runs are off the Eagle Peak chairlift, some of which are groomed and others left ungroomed.
Advanced Terrain
Advanced terrain is another strong point of Lookout Pass, with an extensive glade network across almost the entire ski area. The Lucky Friday and Last Chance Glades feature a milder pitch and more widely spaced trees that are arguably accessible to stronger intermediates. The Paradise and Meadows Glades are comparatively steeper and have tighter tree spacing. Most black diamond runs are ungroomed and vary in width, providing sustained bumps, powder, and natural jumps. Similar to the blue runs, the longest black diamonds are off the Eagle Peak chairlift, while the steepest and narrowest are off the Northstar chairlift.
Advanced and expert skiers will be drawn to Lookout Pass’s extensive and varied assortment of glades.
Expert Terrain
There is only one marked double black diamond run at Lookout Pass, the Buffalo Gulch Glades near the bottom of the Timberwolf chairlift. This glade area features a steep pitch with dense trees and lots of untracked powder. Although Lookout Pass’s extensive glade network, prolific powder and ungroomed runs can entertain some experts, those seeking a true challenge will have to look elsewhere, as there are no cliffs, rock outcroppings, or remarkably steep runs at Lookout Pass.
Terrain Parks
There are three terrain parks at Lookout Pass, all lappable off the Peak 1 Quad chairlift. Two typically more mild terrain parks, the Progression Park and Huckleberry Jam Terrain park, are located off the Huckleberry Ridge run. The larger Rolling Thunder terrain park goes from near the top of Runt Mountain to the Quicksilver catchline and can feature some pretty decently sized jumps and other snow features, including a half pipe contingent on seasonal snow quality.
Unfortunately, the existence of all three terrain parks is pretty sporadic throughout the season. There are many days where Rolling Thunder will go unmaintained, which can make for an interesting run on a powder day, but otherwise it won't really be much of a terrain park. Likewise, there are large portions of the season where the other two terrain parks outright won't exist.
RECOMMENDED SKIS FOR LOOKOUT PASS
NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.
Recommended all-mountain ski
Recommended carving ski
Recommended glade ski
Recommended expert/touring ski
Snow Consistency/Resiliency
Despite being smaller and farther from civilization than the other ski areas surrounding the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene region, Lookout Pass has developed a loyal following thanks to its superior snowfall totals. With an average annual snowfall of just under 400 inches, Lookout Pass’s annual snowfall average is over 100 inches higher than neighboring Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area ski resorts. Other than the fairly windy Eagle Peak chairlift area, most of Lookout Pass is very wind protected, with lots of fresh powder preserved in the glades even days after a snowfall event. The low crowds at Lookout Pass also mean that fresh snow stays in good condition, with fresh powder and corduroy often being found throughout the entire day after a storm.
However, Lookout Pass does suffer from one weakness, and that is fairly frequent freeze-thaw cycles resulting from its relatively low elevation. Still, the snowfall is typically spread out into frequent refreshes and doesn't arrive all at once, which helps mediate this issue. The heavier precipitation and lower elevation does result in more rainy days than the neighboring ski areas as well.
Navigation
Lookout Pass is a very straightforward ski area to navigate, with three of the chairlifts converging in the same place at the top of Runt Mountain, along with good visible signage at junctions. No part of the ski area is more than one chairlift ride away. The one weakness of navigation at Lookout Pass is the presence of several flat traverses, such as the mandatory traverse across the flat top of Runt Mountain to get to any runs, and the traverse to and from the Eagle Peak chairlift.
Lookout Pass is generally easy to navigate, though traverses are sometimes necessary to access certain resort areas.
Lifts
Lookout Pass has a lift fleet that consists entirely of slow, fixed grip chairlifts of varying vintages, all but one of which were purchased secondhand from other ski areas. Some of the chairlifts have safety bars, while others do not. Despite this, the chairlift rides aren't terribly long and there are almost no lift queues to speak of.
The only truly arduous chairlift ride is the Eagle Peak Quad, which is a mile long ride that lasts over ten minutes and can be quite cold on some days, as it is the most wind exposed lift at Lookout Pass. The Success chairlift is a good beginner chairlift if one can forgive the lack of safety bars; it runs extremely slowly and is so low to the ground that one cannot even ski under it. Overall, the lift fleet at Lookout Pass is slow and offers few frills, but it gets the job done.
Crowds
Although the lift fleet consists of slower, lower capacity chairlifts, lift queues are never more than a couple minutes long on the busiest days as Lookout Pass is not a resort that often gets crowded. The large number of runs and glades within the somewhat modestly-sized terrain footprint spread crowds out nicely, and there are no choke point runs that get overcrowded. The new sprung structure lodge, built right next to the original day lodge, has also significantly helped alleviate the seating crunch that the main lodge previously had, providing a 43% increase in base area seating.
RECOMMENDED SNOWBOARDS FOR LOOKOUT PASS
NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.
Recommended intermediate board
Recommended advanced board
Recommended expert board
Recommended touring board
On-Mountain Facilities
Lookout Pass has one base area, consisting of the second oldest (albeit heavily renovated) ski lodge in the Pacific Northwest and the new sprung structure lodge built right next to the original day lodge a few seasons back. There is also a small snack shack at the top of Runt Mountain. All of Lookout Pass’s facilities are clean and comfortable, with the vintage ski lodge providing a cozy, local atmosphere. Although the food offered is pretty standard ski area fare, it is noticeably cheaper than food offered at most other resorts. Cafeteria-style food service and a bar are offered in the main ski lodge, while the sprung structure has cafe-style food. The sprung structure lodge features a variety of seating styles, including comfortable couches and two large flat-screen TVs, although there are no restrooms.
The snack shack at the top of Runt Mountain is open only on select weekends and holidays and doesn't offer any indoor seating, so guests will have to return to the main base area for shelter from the elements, food service, and restrooms on most days. This is hardly an issue when skiing on Runt Mountain, but getting to and from the Eagle Peak area is a slow process with the slower chairlifts and flat traverses.
Mountain Aesthetic
Lookout Pass is snugly tucked in its namesake mountain pass, with other forested and snowy mountains visible for miles from each part of the ski area. There is very little development nearby and the ski area feels very isolated - for the most part. Interstate 90 passing by makes accessing Lookout Pass very convenient, but the freeway can be seen and heard from numerous parts of Runt Mountain, somewhat disrupting the quietness and solitude one would associate with skiing and snowboarding. In the Eagle Peak area of the resort, it is far enough away that the freeway cannot be seen or heard; this zone is arguably the most beautiful and isolated part of the ski area, surrounded by untouched snowy forests and mountain ridgelines.
Lookout Pass has just one base area which features the second oldest lodge in the Pacific Northwest.
Time Zone
Lookout Pass, being split by the Idaho and Montana state lines, also means it is in two separate time zones. However, the ski area operates on Northern Idaho’s Pacific Time Zone, and likewise has the Idaho sales tax on purchases. Guests will have to remember this, as their devices will jump between Mountain Time and Pacific Time numerous times throughout the day.
Getting There and Parking
Lookout Pass is an hour and forty minute drive from the Spokane International Airport and an hour and twenty minute drive from the Missoula Montana Airport under good road conditions. Lookout Pass is located right next to the well-maintained Interstate 90 freeway, making it one of the easier ski areas out there to access.
Parking at Lookout Pass is free and requires no advanced reservations, with a short walk from the parking lots to the lodge and lifts. It's easy to find everything upon arrival, with the ticket window facing the parking lot and signs pointing out where to go for certain skier services in the fairly small base lodge buildings. The short walk from the parking lots means it's also a feasible option to bring your own lunch and stow it in your vehicle to save money and skip the lunch line if desired.
Lookout Pass still offers free parking with no reservations required, and the lot is immediately adjacent to the slopes.
Lodging
Lookout Pass has no on-site lodging, although plenty of hotels and motels across all budgets are available less than 30 minutes away in the Idaho towns of Kellogg and Wallace. A small amount of motel lodging is also available in nearby rural Montana communities such as Haugan and Saltese.
Après-Ski
Lookout Pass itself doesn't have an après-ski scene, as the bar and food outlets close shortly after the lifts stop spinning. However, there is a decent selection of restaurants and activities nearby after a day on the slopes. Despite its small size, the town of Wallace, the self-proclaimed “Center of the Universe,” has numerous restaurants and bars packed inside its quaint downtown only 20 minutes away. Kellogg has Idaho's largest indoor water park, a part of neighboring Silver Mountain Ski Resort. In Haugan there is the 50,000 Silver Dollar, a roadside destination featuring a motel, two bars, two casinos, a gas station, restaurant, and a motel.
Lookout Pass lacks high speed lifts entirely, though lift lines rarely exceed a couple of minutes even on the busiest of days.
Verdict
Lookout Pass offers a very affordable and uncrowded local experience that appeals to families and powder hounds alike with region-leading snowfall, a historic lodge, and quaint nearby communities creating a ski trip full of personality. While not a destination resort within itself, Lookout Pass is fairly close to numerous other ski resorts in Northern Idaho, Eastern Washington and Western Montana, making it a great addition to a broader ski trip through this region.
Pricing
Lookout Pass offers the cheapest season passes in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene region, and day ticket prices range from $53-$75. While unaffiliated with any megapasses or large reciprocal season pass alliances, the Lookout Golden Pass is a deal available on a non-holiday Monday through Thursday basis, where anyone with a season pass to any ski area in the world (or a megapass) can present it at the ticket window and receive a 50% discount on a lift ticket for the day.
A few other deals worth noting: on non-holiday period Thursdays, Lookout Pass offers two lift tickets for a combined price of only $75 to those who bring someone else with them, and the resort also offers free lift tickets on birthdays.
