Forget staying indoors this year – winter's wonderland awaits! Boise and the surrounding areas have some of the best Winter activities for all ages.

Take a look at our guide to Winter fun near Boise.

Winter Sports

Bogus Basin is the closest mountain for anyone in the Boise area, but if you want to drive just a little farther you could enjoy all the amenities resorts like Tamarack and Brundage Mountain Resort have to offer. Sun Valley is another great option as well, from fine dining to luxury hotels you can do a lot more than ski in Idaho mountain towns.

Rent a Yurt

Glamping is still available to those who enjoy winter mountain air. There’s many places near Boise to rent Yurts for a fun family getaway.

McCall Winter Carnival

The increasingly popular McCall Winter Carnival returns January 30th – February 8th with dazzling snow sculptures, vibrant local art, live music, a vendor court overlooking Payette Lake, and a full slate of festive events to brighten the snowiest season. Indulge in savory food and drinks, enjoy days filled with winter fun, and cap it all off with the Mardi Gras Parade—a highlight not to be missed.

The Winter Carnival is an annual community tradition that celebrates the spirit of McCall and aims to bring together visitors, local businesses, and neighbors to enjoy the magic of winter. Founded in 1924, the event began with a crowd of 2,000 locals, but has since grown to accommodate visitors from around Idaho and beyond. With festive community events, live entertainment, irresistible food and drink, and an iconic parade, the McCall Winter Carnival returns in 2026 with as much life as the day it began.

Check the events calendar here.

Hot Springs

If you want a quick trip to the mountains, head up to The Springs Resort in Idaho City. The Springs has natural hot springs pools overlooking the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains.

Here are our favorites:

Bergdorf Hot Springs: A rustic, historic resort nestled in the mountains of the Payette National Forest in central Idaho, 32 miles north of McCall.

Boat Box: right on the Salmon River, Boat Box Hot Springs is a single-tub. Fitting precisely two people, it’s one of the smallest and most unique hot springs in Idaho.

Kirkham: These hot springs are located along the banks of the South Fork of the Payette River next to the campground (of the same name). A trail with a staircase leads to the soaking pools and steaming waterfalls.

The Springs: A luxury hot springs retreat 45 minutes from downtown Boise in the crisp, clear mountains. They offer public and private springs.

Pine Flats: Named for the forest service campground it’s part of, Pine Flats Hot Springs sits along the South Fork of the Payette River. A geothermal waterfall adds to the allure of this location.

Mountain Village Resort: Escape to this natural hot spring, where relaxation is the only requirement. The semi-indoor pool allows you to enjoy the serenity while still surrounded by nature.

Terrace Lakes: Located in the Boise National Forest just 1 hour north of Boise. This mountain resort offers a large geothermal pool that the whole family can enjoy!

Snowshoeing

If you’re missing your beautiful summer hikes never fear, you can swap out your hiking boots for snowshoes and get the same thrill! And don’t worry, if you don’t own a pair you can always rent some for you and the whole family From McU Sports here.

Some beautiful trails you can hit include:

Snow Tubing

Even if there isn’t snow on the ground Eagle Island’s Gateway Park and Bogus Basin Ski Resort doesn’t let that stop them! They’ll just make their own snow.

Bogus Basin’s Tubing Hill is open daily 9 am to 4 pm and they encourage you to make a reservation.

Gateway Park in Eagle, ID offers world-class tubing as well as the ski & snowboard hill right in their local community.

Sledding

There’s a couple sledding spots locals favor when it snows here in Boise, One of them is Camel’s Back Park, which offers not only a great hill but tons of local coffee shops and eateries to warm up at after. Another great option that has a pretty steep incline is Simplot Hill on Bogus Basin Road. Steamboat Gulch in Idaho city is another favorite although you do have to pay to park, but the views and hill size more than make up for it.

Idaho Steelheads Game

The Idaho Steelheads are scheduled to play into early April so it’s not too late to get the family together for a night of hockey in Downtown Boise! To buy tickets and view their schedule click here.

Skijor Boise

Skijor Boise makes its Boise debut at the Ford Idaho Center - fast horses, fearless skiers, and flying snow bringing the Frontier Tour energy to the Treasure Valley for the first time ever. To learn more or buy tickets click here.