That’s snow biz: Bogus Basin lightens rules for pass holders amid weak winter
The Boise area is experiencing one of its warmest Decembers ever recorded, and it’s left the surrounding ski slopes with far less snow than usual.
As a result, Bogus Basin announced Monday that it would be changing the rules for many of its skiers’ season passes.
The lack of snow has meant “conditions haven’t been ideal,” but Bogus Basin wanted to find new ways to get its season pass holders back on the slopes, spokesperson Bridgette Johnson told the Idaho Statesman.
“Season pass holders are at the core of Bogus Basin’s culture and our community, and we really want to do everything that we can to support our season pass holders,” Johnson said by phone.
Ski times expanded for pass holders
Night and twilight pass holders may now ski during the day from noon to 4:30 p.m.
Value passes no longer have holiday restrictions through Jan. 4. Value skiers are allowed to access Bogus Basin from open to close through Jan. 9. Then, beginning Jan. 10, value pass holders may ski on weekends from noon to 4:30 p.m.
For midweek season pass holders, Bogus Basin has removed the remaining five holiday blackout days and added open-to-close access for the upcoming weekend, Jan. 3-4.
Recreation area holds off on night operations
Bogus Basin reminded skiers in its announcement that these adjustments are temporary and regular restrictions will return once the ski area begins night operations.
The recreation area has held off on opening its night operations because Bogus has seen low visitor numbers so far this season, according to Johnson. She said the plan is to open at night when additional snow allows the resort to open more terrain.
“With the limited terrain available, we’ve chosen not to open at night, just because we have the coach chair lift and the three conveyors running,” Johnson told the Statesman. “Basically, night operations add a lot of labor costs, and we just aren’t seeing the visitation that we’d like to yet to be able to open tonight.”
For similar reasons, Bogus Basin has postponed its New Year’s Day Torchlight Parade and fireworks celebration.
Sadly, there isn’t much on the horizon when it comes to winter weather to help Bogus Basin and Boise-area skiers.
National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Groenert told the Statesman that the Treasure Valley is under an air stagnation advisory that is expected to keep the area dry through Wednesday. There is a slight chance of snow Thursday and Friday, but experts are predicting less than an inch will fall on Bogus, according to Groenert.
But the recreation resort’s snowmaking team, known as the Snow Sorcerers, has taken advantage of newly arrived cold weather by using machines to add snow to the mountain’s front side. Johnson said the Snow Sorcerers have made snow out of five million gallons of water since Friday.
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM.
