If you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of large ski areas and blowing your family recreation budget on one day of skiing, get off the beaten path and head up to a down-home mountain.

There are several of them in Eastern Oregon and Southern Idaho.

You’ll find homey lodges and a friendly, family atmosphere where old-timer and new visitors mix and mingle. You also might find a hidden skiing and snowboarding heaven with great runs and powder stashes.

Here are some to check out this winter:

SOLDIER MOUNTAIN

Getting there: Take Interstate 84 east from Boise to the second exit at Mountain Home. Take U.S. 20 for 58 miles to Fairfield. Turn north and go 10 miles. It is about 1 1/2 hours from Boise.

What’s cool: It’s affordable and real homey, but also has plenty of terrain with 1,150 acres and 1,425 feet of vertical drop.

The area boasts 36 runs accessed by two double chairlifts and one hand tow.

It’s a great place for people who want to avoid the glitz and the prices of larger resorts.

With a top elevation of 7,200 feet it also offers cat skiing.

Actor Bruce Willis is the former owner of the ski area, and he donated it to a local nonprofit group this year. For a complete story see page 6.

Prices: Daily lift tickets are $35 for adults; $19 for ages 7 to 17, and seniors, 62 to 69; free for over 70 and under 6.

Information: soldiermountain.com.

ANTHONY LAKES

Getting there: Take Interstate 84 past Baker City to the West Powder Exit 285. The resort is 19 miles on a maintained, all-weather road. It's about 150 miles from Boise and takes about 2 1/2 hours.

What’s cool: Anthony Lakes has the highest ski area base elevation in Oregon (7,100 feet) and a summit elevation of 8,000 feet to offer plenty of snow and great scenery.

When you think that it takes almost the same amount of time to drive to Anthony Lakes from the Treasure Valley as to get to Sun Valley, it’s a good option for exploring a different ski area.

The mountain has 1,100 acres of terrain with access to the slopes by one triple chair, and a handle tow and a surface conveyor.

Anthony Lakes also offers cat skiing at $199 per person. Skiers and boarders can access 2,000 acres of steeps, bowls, and glades with 1,000-1,700 vertical feet per run. Half-day trips are $89 per person.

The ski area also has about 30 kilometers of Nordic trails.

Prices: Daily lift tickets are $35 for adults, $29 for ages 13 to 18, $21 for ages 7 to 12, $5 for ages 6 and under, and $25 for ages, 70 and older.

Information: anthonylakes.com.

LITTLE SKI HILL

Getting there: Take Idaho 55 north from the Treasure Valley to McCall and continue on Idaho 55 about 2 miles past McCall to the lodge.

What’s cool: Built in 1937, the Little Ski Hill has served local alpine and Nordic skiers with an emphasis on affordable skiing for youth and the community and teaching youth to ski.

The ski hill and cross country trails are operated by the nonprofit Payette Lakes Ski Club.

The hill has a T-bar providing 405 vertical feet of terrain and the only night downhill skiing in the McCall area.

There are also 30 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails and a yurt located in nearby Little Bear Basin.

Prices: Daily lift tickets for the T-bar are $13 for adults and $11 for ages 5 to 17.

Information: littleskihill.org.

MAGIC MOUNTAIN

Getting there: Take Interstate 84 to Twin Falls and then U.S. 30 east to Hansen. The ski area is located 26 miles south of Hansen on Rock Creek Road.

What’s cool: It has 11 trails, two surface lifts and a double chairlift.

The base is at 6,500 feet and the summit is 7,240 feet. Vertical drop is 700 feet with 120 skiable acres.

The longest run is 5,200 feet.

Prices: Full day adult, 18 and up, $31; ages, 7 to 17, $22; and 6 and under free with a paying adult.

Information: magicmountainresort.com

POMERELLE

Getting there: It’s about 3 hours or 190 miles from Boise. Take Interstate 84 east to Exit 216 (Declo-Albion) and take Idaho 77 for 25 miles to the ski area.

What’s cool: With a top elevation of 9,000 feet, you can always find powder at this resort.

The base of the ski area is at 8,000 feet, so it typically gets lots of light, fluffy snow.

The slopes are served by two chairlifts and a surface conveyor. You probably won't find long lift lines, but you will find a fun terrain park.

Pomerelle caters to families who are learning to ski or snowboard.

Prices: Daily lift tickets are $37 for ages 13 and up; $27 for ages 7 to 12 and, $25 for 70 and older. Ages under 6 are free with paying adult.

Information: pomerelle.com.

Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445, Twitter: @Zimosoutdoors

If you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of large ski areas and blowing your family recreation budget on one day of skiing, get off the beaten path and head up to a down-home mountain.

There are several of them in eastern Oregon and Southern Idaho.

You’ll find homey lodges and a friendly, family atmosphere where old-timers and new visitors mix and mingle.

You also might find a hidden skiing and snowboarding heaven with great runs and powder stashes.

Here are some to check out this winter:

SOLDIER MOUNTAIN

Getting there: Take Interstate 84 east from Boise to the second exit at Mountain Home. Take U.S. 20 for 58 miles to Fairfield. Turn north and go 10 miles. It is about 1 1/2 hours from Boise.

What’s cool: It’s affordable and real homey, but also has plenty of terrain with 1,150 acres and 1,425 feet of vertical drop.

The area boasts 36 runs accessed by two double chairlifts and one hand tow.

It’s a great place for people who want to avoid the glitz and the prices of larger resorts.

With a top elevation of 7,200 feet it also offers cat skiing.

Actor Bruce Willis is the former owner of the ski area, and he donated it to a local nonprofit group this year. For a complete story, see page 6.

Prices: Daily lift tickets are $35 for adults; $19 for ages 7 to 17, and seniors, 62 to 69; free for over 70 and under 6.

Information: soldiermountain.com.

ANTHONY LAKES

Getting there: Take Interstate 84 west past Baker City to the West Powder Exit 285. The resort is 19 miles on a maintained, all-weather road. It’s about 150 miles from Boise and takes about 2 1/2 hours to get there.

What’s cool: Anthony Lakes has the highest ski area base elevation in Oregon (7,100 feet) and a summit elevation of 8,000 feet to offer plenty of snow and great scenery.

When you think that it takes almost the same amount of time to drive to Anthony Lakes from the Treasure Valley as it does to get to Sun Valley, it’s a good option for exploring a different ski area.

The mountain has 1,100 acres of terrain with access to the slopes by one triple chair, a handle tow and a surface conveyor.

Anthony Lakes also offers catskiing at $199 per person. Skiers and boarders can access 2,000 acres of steeps, bowls and glades with 1,000-1,700 vertical feet per run. Half-day trips are $89 per person.

The ski area also has about 18 miles of Nordic trails.

Prices: Daily lift tickets are $35 for adults; $29 for ages 13 to 18; $21 for ages 7 to 12; $5 for ages 6 and under; and $25 for ages 70 and older.

Information: anthonylakes.com.

LITTLE SKI HILL

Getting there: Take Idaho 55 north from the Treasure Valley to McCall and continue on Idaho 55 about 2 miles past McCall to the lodge.

What’s cool: Built in 1937, the Little Ski Hill has served local alpine and Nordic skiers with an emphasis on affordable skiing for youth and the community and teaching youth to ski.

The ski hill and cross country trails are operated by the nonprofit Payette Lakes Ski Club.

The hill has a T-bar providing 405 vertical feet of terrain and the only night downhill skiing in the McCall area.

There are also about 18 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails and a yurt located in nearby Little Bear Basin.

Prices: Daily lift tickets for the T-bar are $13 for adults and $11 for ages 5 to 17.

Information: littleskihill.org.

MAGIC MOUNTAIN

Getting there: Take Interstate 84 to Twin Falls and then U.S. 30 east to Hansen. The ski area is located 26 miles south of Hansen on Rock Creek Road.

What’s cool: It has 11 trails, two surface lifts and a double chairlift.

The base is at 6,500 feet and the summit is 7,240 feet. Vertical drop is 700 feet with 120 skiable acres.

The longest run is 5,200 feet.

Prices: Full-day adult, 18 and up, $31; ages 7 to 17, $22; and 6 and under free with a paying adult.

Information: magicmountainresort.com

POMERELLE

Getting there: It’s about 3 hours or 190 miles from Boise. Take Interstate 84 east to Exit 216 (Declo-Albion) and take Idaho 77 for 25 miles to the ski area.

What’s cool: With a top elevation of 9,000 feet, you can always find powder at this resort.

The base of the ski area is at 8,000 feet, so it typically gets lots of light, fluffy snow.

The slopes are served by two chairlifts and a surface conveyor. You probably won’t find long lift lines, but you will find a fun terrain park.

Pomerelle caters to families who are learning to ski or snowboard.

Prices: Daily lift tickets are $37 for ages 13 and up; $27 for ages 7 to 12; and $25 for 70 and older. Ages under 6 are free with paying adult.

Information: pomerelle.com.

Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445, Twitter: @Zimosoutdoors