history of Lookout Pass

Lookout’s original historic base lodge is the second-oldest ski lodge in the northwest.
Here are a few key chapters from Lookout's rich past.

Winter 1935-36

• The Idaho Ski Club is born. A few ardent ski pioneers built a rope tow powered by the engine from an abandoned car they found on the old Yellowstone Highway, which is now I-90. They used a highway maintenance shed on Lookout Pass as a warming hut.

1940

• Lookout’s Famous Free Ski School founded. Over 80 years, volunteer instructors have introduced more than 75,000 kids to the world of skiing and riding.

1941

• Lookout’s historic lodge built. The U.S. Forest Service commissioned the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)  to build the original phase of the expanded lodge still in use today, the second-oldest ski lodge in the Pacific Northwest next to the Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood in Oregon.

1950s

• The Idaho Ski Club, the group of volunteers that operated Lookout Pass, sold lift tickets for 50 cents.

1980

• Lookout’s first chairlift – Chair One, was financed with contributions from local mining companies to provide winter recreation for their employees.

1992

• Idaho Ski Club sells out. With the mining industry in decline, Lookout’s volunteer staff dwindled. A group of locals who wanted to keep Lookout open takes over.

1999

• Lookout Associates LLC acquires the mountain. Lookout’s current owners launch a new era of expanding terrain and improving services for anticipated greater numbers of skiers and riders.

2003

• Timber Wolf double chairlift installed. The addition of Timber Wolf (chair 2) on the Montana side of the mountain added five named runs and glades, boosted the mountain vertical drop to 1,150 feet and opened spectacular views to the St. Regis and Copper basins.

2005

• Lodge expansion. A three-story, 6,000 square foot addition greatly expands food service seating and includes a retail shop, more restrooms, locker rooms, the Loft pub and grub lounge on the top level and panoramic slopeside views.

2007

• North Star double chairlift installed. North Star opens access to expert terrain on the prime north aspect of the mountain with expert terrain and a bird’s eye view of the Coeur d’Alene River Valley.

2011

• Phase One of new expansion accepted. In April the U.S. Forest Service accepted the first phase of a long-range plan to expand Lookout Pass.

2017

• Phase One of the new expansion was officially approved by the U.S. Forest Service. Trails remarked in July by Phil Edholm so the forest service can perform a lumber survey. Lumber survey took place in the fall of 2017. The Mtn. got two new trails cut & cleared and open for winter 2017-18. The other trails were cleared the following winter to come on board soon thereafter. In addition to the new trails there will eventually be two new chairlifts and an additional Base Lodge. Possibly with seperate road access and parking to serve the new and higher Eagle Peak area. This is the first phase of a long-range plan to expand Lookout Pass to two additional peaks encompassing a total of 2,000 acres. in addition a New roof was added to the Rentals Shop this season.

2018

• Finished the season with 503 inches of snow! Though not a record, it was a very strong season.
• Our summer attraction, The Route of the Hiawatha set a new record for summer attendance!

2019

• The American Made Peak 1 Quad Chairlift was installed over the summer and opened on 12/14/2019 officially replacing the older double chair that ran on the front face of the mountain. This new Skytrac Fixed Grip Quad lift doubles the uphill capacity on the front of the mountain in preparation for the expansion to Eagle Peak.  

2020

2021 

• Chair #2 the Old Timberwolf Double Chairs were converted into a Triple Chair increasing uphill capacity by 50%. 
• Clearing of remaining trails for the New Eagle Peak Expansion started showing the commitment to the new expansion plan. 
• More Demo Skis & Snowboards purchased. 

2022 

• Mountain Opens New Eagle Peak Expansion with 1,650ft vertical, 14 new trails and 3 glades, adding 500 more acres of skiable terrain. This brings our total skiable acres to 1,023 acres. Top Summit elevation was increased to 6,150ft (higher elevations also has the benefit of receiving more and dryer snow). All serviced by a fixed grip Quad Chairlift. 
• Parking area greatly expanded in anticipation of growing attendance. 
• Lots of new rentals skis, snowboards and boots purchased.
• Another Groomer added to the fleet. 

2023

• Lookout Pass invested in a new ticketing system for both Lookout Pass & the Hiawatha. 
• a New Sprung Structure measuring 50 x 100 ft was constructed for use in winter 2023-24 to provide more seating capacity. 
• Hiawatha - Additional busses added to our fleet, bringing us to 12 busses to transport guests from the trails bottom in Pearson, ID back up to the Roland, ID turnaround. In addition 200 new bikes from Marin & Schwinn were added to the Hiawatha Rental Fleet along with over 300 new 400 lumen ights. 
• The mountain purchased a NEW Prinoth Bison X Snow Grooming Machine 
• Our NEWEST Lift addition the Eagle Peak Quad Chairlift had the motor controls optimized over the summer. This important step has shortened the ride time by 2.5 minutes.  

2024

• Finished the winter season with 451 inches of snow! Though not a record, it was a strong season. Snow coverage allowed us to open in October and close the last weekend in April. 

2025 

Started Developing a New Website for both Lookout Pass and the Hiawatha Scenic Bike Trail.