Winter Van Life: Soldier Mountain
When We Visited: March 2022
Soldier Mountain is Sun Valley’s less famous neighbor to the West in the Sawtooth National Forest. While Sun Valley might be world-renowned, Soldier Mountain has its own famed history. Bruce Willis owned the mountain from the late 1990s until 2012, when he donated it to a 501(c)3.
What we love about Soldier Mountain…
Cat skiing with an optional overnight stay in a yurt. While we didn’t get a chance to do this, I love that you can. I’ll have to save up my money for this one. You can see the cat skiing terrain from the top of Chair 1, and it looks fun.
The local enthusiasm. Skiers and riders seemed primarily local, with random visitors like us taking advantage of their Indy Pass. All seemed happy to be out in brilliant sunshine on the last day of the season, drinking beers on the patio and watching the pond skimming competition with their friends and neighbors.
It was a great way to spend our Saturday. We were both tired after the workweek, and our thought on Friday evening was to make Saturday a rest day. We picked up and headed to Soldier Mountain anyway. It was a non-stressful way to celebrate the weekend, repeatedly riding a single lift and hitting every open run on a spring day. We pulled out our camp chairs, parked them in a snow berm, and watched everyone take their last turns of the season.
Plan Your RV/Van Life Road Trip to Soldier Mountain
soldiermountain.com
1043 North Soldier Creek Road, Fairfield, ID 83327
(208) 765-3437 (SOLDIER)
info@soldiermountain.com
Pass affiliation: Indy Pass 2023/24
Operating hours: Thursday through Sunday with variable hours. See their Hours page.
Mountain Stats
- Average annual snowfall: 100 inches
- Lift-served skiable terrain: 1,150 acres
- Cat ski area: 2,000 acres
- Vertical rise: 1,421 feet
- More stats
Driving to Soldier Mountain
It’s an easy drive to Soldier Mountain. However, I would note that Apple Maps wanted us to turn right prematurely onto a dirt road as we entered Fairfield from the east on US-20. While Apple Maps probably would’ve succeeded in getting us there, the way to Soldier Mountain is very well signed when you reach Fairfield. I would ignore any GPS shortcuts.
Parking at Soldier Mountain
As you approach the ski area, you’ll pass the trailer and overflow parking on your left. If you keep driving past the ski lift and lodge, you’ll run into the main parking lot. The lot is not paved, so be prepared for mud if it’s been warm.
We were at Soldier Mountain for their last day of the season, and the parking lot only reached about half of its capacity.
Using Your 2021/22 Indy Pass at Soldier Mountain
At the ticket office, there are two signed windows. One for Indy Pass holders on the left and one for everyone else on the right.
Bring your photo ID and be prepared to pay $5 for an RFID card that can be reloaded upon a future visit, including future seasons.
Tips on How to Ski/Ride Soldier Mountain
See Soldier Mountain’s Trail Map.
The Bird’s Eye chair might close at noon. We drove to Soldier Mountain from Heyburn, ID, after spending time at Pomerelle. It’s a solid two-hour drive without stopping and 113 miles. We weren’t rushing for first chair, so we arrived at the ski area just before noon. I didn’t realize the Bird’s Eye chair that takes you to Soldier Peak would be closing early that day. I was bummed to miss it since it was the last day of the season.
Working Remotely at Soldier Mountain
We could not get a signal using AT&T or Verizon. I had AT&T service in downtown Fairfield.
Where to Sleep in Your Van/RV
Soldier Mountain offers dry camping in the north end of their parking lot furthest from the lodge. For more information, go to their Places to Stay page.There is a 14-day stay limit. No fee, no reservations, and no permit required. You don’t have to check in either. There was plenty of space for everyone during our visit.
There were two port-a-potties available. I was scared to use one of them as it was very unlevel in the snow.
We could not get AT&T or Verizon cell service. We downloaded some movies ahead of time for entertainment at night.
Mountain Home RV Park – 68.4 miles / 75 minutes in Mountain Home – This RV park is part of the G7 family of RV parks. There are seven of them, and we’ve stayed at four. We love them for their clean facilities, well-maintained grounds, and friendly staff.
We last paid $55 per night plus tax for a paved, pull-through site with full hookups.
The bathhouse closest to us had five private restrooms, each with a toilet, sink, shower, and entry from outside. I love G7 RV resorts as they provide cotton floor mats. I haven’t been to any other RV parks that offer this amenity. When you live on the road, and you’re used to always showering in flip-flops, it’s the best feeling to step out of the shower and onto a clean and cozy floor mat. The little things!
Quarter-operated top-loading washers and dryers are available. You can pick up quarters from the front desk during their business hours.
Dumpsters are also available.
AT&T and Verizon work great. We can text, email, stream entertainment, and participate in online video calls without a cell booster. The RV park also offers WiFi.
Tip: If you stay here, Albertsons (Meridian) is a great place to stock up on groceries as there are limited food options near Soldier Mountain.
Closest Ski Areas to Soldier Mountain
- Rotarun Ski Area – 53.8 miles / 60 minutes in Hailey
- Sun Valley (Ikon 2023/24, Mountain Collective 2023/24) – 62.4 miles / 75 minutes in Sun Valley
- Magic Mountain Ski Resort – 114 miles / 2.25 hours in Kimberly
- Bogus Basin (Powder Alliance 2023/24, Freedom Pass 2023/24) – 130 miles / 2.5 hours near Boise
- Pomerelle Mountain Resort (Indy Pass 2023/24) – 141 miles / 2.5 hours in Albion
Other Winter Activities
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve – 79.4 miles / 90 minutes near Arco – Craters is one of the more interesting places we’ve been to in our travels. As we criss-cross the West, we’ve managed to revisit in every season.
Craters’ Loop Road is closed to motorized vehicles during winter but is still open for skiing and snowshoeing. You can learn more here.
We took out our backcountry gear on Christmas Day 2019 to appreciate the volcanic landscape covered in snow. It was such a great way to spend the holiday in the middle of nowhere.
Note: Weather can change rapidly at Craters. As we ended our day on Christmas, freezing fog moved in within minutes. I was grateful we weren’t still out on the trail as it would’ve been challenging to see, and we might’ve instantly become popsicles. Since this area gets freezing fog, it’s also worth noting that you might not want to drive the highway when that happens. We quickly moved to the Big Lost River Rest Area and skipped driving for the night.
Bruneau Dunes State Park – 87.9 miles / 90 minutes in Bruneau (19.9 miles / 20 minutes from Mountain Home RV Park) – Hike The Dunes 6 Mile Hiking Trail or go sandboarding.
Camping is available during winter with limited amenities.
