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Erin Spong worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip.

Along the South Fork of the Snake River near Ririe, Idaho—just 30 minutes northeast of Idaho Falls—Kelly Canyon Road begins its stunning two-mile ascent into the Big Holes. Founded by E. Bud Johnson, Kelly Canyon Resort offers up 1,000 vertical feet of approachable skiing and riding across 640 acres of varied terrain. The summit of Kelly Canyon sits at 6,600 feet above sea level and provides a nearly 360-degree view of the Snake River Plain. Since 1957, Kelly Canyon has provided skiers and riders the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of winter in Targhee National Forest.

Kelly Canyon’s operating hours are a bit different than your average ski resort—typically running their lifts long after the sun goes down. Kelly is one of the only ski areas in Idaho to offer night skiing during the week—a coveted feature for school kids and nine-to-fivers—and with a recent switch-up in ownership, the ski area is making modern moves to elevate the Kelly Canyon experience.

A person in ski gear looks out over a snow-blanketed landscape during sunrise.
Golden hour at Kelly Canyon is a magical moment. Photo credit: Visit Idaho.

New snowmaking capabilities allow the ski area to make artificial snow so long as it is colder than 55 degrees Fahrenheit—giving Kelly the opportunity to open earlier in the season than ever before. With the ability to serve skiers and riders more days than any previous season, Kelly’s new, three-person Gold Rush Lift—complete with an RFID ticket-scanning system—and upgraded restaurant have been put to good use.

75 percent of Kelly Canyon’s terrain is rated as intermediate or beginner. You won’t find Bogner one-piece ski suits and luxury vehicles traipsing around the base area. Rather, kids and adults alike giving their Klim sled suits another use and strangers giving rear-wheel-drive pick-up trucks a friendly push out of the spacious parking lots.

What Kelly Canyon may lack in the glitz and glamor it certainly makes up for in hometown hospitality. No matter if it’s your first time or you’ve been riding the mountain for multiple decades, when you’re at Kelly Canyon you’re part of the family. 

A woman wearing a helmet, goggles and a coat sitting on a ski lift, with snow-covered mountains and trees in the background, at Kelly Canyon Resort.
From the ski lifts to the lodge, Kelly Canyon has cozy hometown hospitality. Photo credit: Visit Idaho.

If You Have An Hour

Grab yourself a half-day ticket, which allows you to ride from 4pm-8pm during the week, and enjoy the unique experience of skiing under the lights. The Gold Rush lift will be your home base to enjoy the terrain park, Sage Ridge and Kelly Bowl. Warm up inside the lodge and grab yourself a juicy burger from Half Cab Grill before heading back to town via Kelly Canyon Road. Remember to watch for wildlife!

Backview of a person on skis at Kelly Canyon Resort, with a ski lift and snow-covered trees on either side of them and snow covered mountains in the distance.
With stunning panoramic views of the Snake River plains, every ski break is a photoshoot opportunity. Photo credit: Visit Idaho.

If You Have A Day

Commit to a full day pass to explore every inch of Kelly’s offerings. A warm up lap on Stoney Mountain Ridge to Ernies will get the legs firing before a three-minute hike from the top of the Gold Rush lift will drop you into some of Kelly’s most sought-after terrain—Powder Bowl. If you’re feeling really adventurous, a lap in Kelly’s terrain park will put you right under the Gold Rush lift for a bit of added pressure to land that trick you’ve been working on. Take a break and fuel up at Half Cab Grill before changing out your lenses and adding a layer to head back out for night skiing.

A person standing in front of a ski lodge at Kelly Canyon Resort holding a ski pole and a pair of skis.
Enjoy a juicy burger from the Half Cab Grill and grab some sunshine before getting back on the mountain. Photo credit: Visit Idaho.

If You Have A Weekend

Grab yourself a hotel in Idaho Falls, just a 30-minute drive from the mountain, and pack your skis, fat bike and bathing suit. On your way up Kelly Canyon Road, you’ll find Heise Hot Springs—the perfect remedy for sore legs and a must-stop after a day of ripping up Kelly’s expert runs like Grandma’s House, Moose Face and Cliff Jump. With a full day ski pass, you can even break up the ski day with a soak before making your way back up to Kelly for moon-lit turns or a literal breath-taking fat bike adventure on the 12 miles of groomed Nordic trails. Don’t own a fat bike? No problem! Kelly Canyon’s rental shop not only offers skis and boards, but bikes too! Not into cross-country style riding? You can also load your bike on the lift and allow gravity to do the work on designated trails. 

Straddling county lines in Eastern Idaho, Kelly Canyon Resort offers up the best of what Targhee National Forest has to provide. Mellow groomers and quick hike-to terrain sets Kelly Canyon up as a beginner and fair-weather skier’s paradise with a breathtaking birds-eye-view of the Snake River Plain below. Should your crew be looking for a bit more of an adventure, there’s plenty to discover in this hidden Idaho gem.

Feature image is credited to Visit Idaho.

Erin Spong is a professional skier and freelance writer based out of Pocatello, Idaho. Born and raised on the mighty slopes of Minnesota, Erin chased her passion for skiing first to Denver, Colorado, where she worked at FREESKIER Magazine as the Assistant Editor before making her way to Pocatello in March of 2020. The mountain home she’s always dreamed of, there’s no place Erin would rather be.


Published on February 6, 2024