Where is Schweitzer Mountain Idaho?

Schweitzer Ski Resort is situated about 12 miles northwest of the town of Sandpoint, in the Idaho panhandle, about 60 miles south of the Canadian border and 90 minutes drive from Creston BC. The Schweitzer ski resort is located in the Selkirk Mountains and part of the trio of the Selkirk Powder Triangle.

Flying

The Spokane Airport in Washington is only 94 miles southwest of Schweitzer, a drive that takes under 2 hours (depending on road conditions). Spokane has direct flights from a variety of US cities including Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Salt Lake City.

From the Spokane Airport, there are shuttle transportation options available or you can rent a car at the airport. If you’re staying on-mountain, you won’t need a car, but if you’re staying in one of the Sandpoint hotels, a car would be advantageous because the local bus system is a little clunky.

Train to Sandpoint

It’s possible to catch an Amtrak train to Sandpoint from various major North American cities including Chicago, Vancouver, Seattle and Portland.

Driving to Schweitzer Ski Resort from Sandpoint

The drive between Sandpoint and Schweitzer takes about 25 minutes. From Sandpoint, head north to the intersection of US95 and the Schweitzer Cut-off Road and turn left. At the T-intersection turn right on North Boyer Road and go for about half a mile and then turn left onto Schweitzer Mountain Rd. This road travels uphill for about another 9 miles. There are lots of switchbacks up to Schweitzer (try saying that 20 times over quickly!) and even though the road is paved, you’ll definitely want winter tyres or chains in the event of a snowstorm.

Parking

Complimentary underground parking is provided for overnight guests at the Selkirk Lodge and White Pine Lodge.

For a fee, day trippers can park at the Lakeview parking lot. Alternatively there are free parking lots further down the hill which are serviced by the Musical Chairs lift and a shuttle bus.

Bus Between Sandpoint and the Schweitzer Ski Resort

Getting between Sandpoint and Schweitzer is possible via bus but it requires two bus rides. The S.P.O.T. (Selkirk Pend Oreille Transit) buses are free and provide transport between the towns of Sandpoint, Dover, Ponderay and Kootenai. The blue route for Sandpoint and Ponderay includes a stop at the Schweitzer Park and Ride.

The Schweitzer Park and Ride is located at the base of Schweitzer Mountain Road. A shuttle runs from here up to the Schweitzer Village every half hour (generally) and costs a few dollars for the uphill ride.

The other option to get between Sandpoint (or Ponderay) and the ski resort is to catch a local taxi.

Ski Resorts Nearby

Silver Mountain Idaho is about a two hour drive (94 miles) to the southeast. Whitefish Mountain Resort Montana (formerly Big Mountain) is a 4 hour drive to the east, whilst Red Mountain Canada is 3.5 hours to the northwest.