Winter in North Idaho

Winter is just around the corner and that means snow.  Coeur d' Alene is located between the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Bitterroot mountains to the east.  In recent years, there have been some rough winters with record snowfalls.  Coeur d' Alene has several ski resorts that offer some excellent runs for snow boarding, downhill skiing, and cross-country skiing.  Silver Mountain Resort is located approximately 30 miles east of Coeur d' Alene.

Mount Spokane to the west offers snow boarding, downhill, and cross-country skiing opportunities.  I personally found the cross-country trails to be well groomed.  In addition, for those who do not ski, there is a tubing run that is quite popular to the locals.  

Schweitzer Mountain Resort is north of Coeur d' Alene near the city of Sandpoint, Idaho.  Located in the Selkirk Mountains, Schweitzer offer world class skiing.  As of this writing, they have snow!  Interestingly, they have a movie theater for those who need a break from a day of skiing. If you are looking for a great outing on the slopes, this is a great place.

The Coeur d' Alene Resort sponsors a lighting festival each year before Thanksgiving. This popular event brings a number of visitors from the Spokane area. There is a parade, with the lighting ceremony and a fireworks show on the lake.  Dress warm!