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800-367-4387; 208-332-5100
Like British Columbia’s Red Mountain,
Bogus has 360-degree skiing around its highest peak. Shafer Butte,
at 7,582 feet, is reached on the front side by the Superior lift,
and on the back by Pine Creek lift. Don’t miss the back side.
It’s like the front, only pumped up. The other peak, 7,070-foot
Dear Point, is accessed by the Deer Point lift from Bogus Creek
Lodge and via the Showcase lift. Here's a trail
map. What about the name Bogus Basin? Legend has it that
fool’s gold—iron pyrite—was mined there and marketed
to gullible city folks as the real thing. There was real stuff in
the area, however, and all the ski runs are named after legitimate
mines. Bogus also has a complete Nordic program: 37km of groomed trails, rentals, lessons and a waxing bench all at the Nordic Center at Frontier Point Lodge, 332-5390. . The mountain also has two restaurants and the 70-unit, mid-mountain Pioneer Inn. Child care starts at 10 months. The 800-foot tubing
runs give you a good run for your money. All tubers must be at least
36 inches tall. Tubing is a great kick-in-the-pants if you haven’t
done it in a while, especially on a groomed course without the pesky
trees that normally get in the way. Even getting back up the hill
is made easy—the paddle tow does the work while you kick back
in the tube and watch the scenery unfold. Lift tickets (2007/08 prices):
Adults, $46; children (7–11), $20; ages 6 and younger and ages
70 and older, free. Distance from Boise: About 16 miles north.
Coming east or west on I-84, take the City Center Connector to River
Street exit, then 15th Street to Hill Road to Bogus Basin Road.
Lodging information: Pioneer Condominiums (800-367-4397; $$–$$$$) are on the mountain. In Boise, the elegant Grove Hotel (800-426-0670; $$$) is central to downtown.
Lodging Legend:
(double room) $$$$–$200+; $$$–$141–$200; $$–$81–$140;
$–$80 and less Photo courtesy of Bogus Basin |
Bogus
Basin is much more than the day hill skiers would expect of a seven-chair
mountain so close to a city (16 miles from Boise). Bogus is a community-owned,
full-service destination resort. Boise’s Amtrak station brings
in the destination skiers and lodging both at the base and on the
mountain keeps them on the slopes. Basically, Bogus is big. 
