Soldier Mountain is making it easier for small groups of skiers and snowboarders to explore its expansive Idaho backcountry, introducing two new snowcat options designed to deliver more runs, more vertical and a more personalized experience.
The southern Idaho ski resort announced Monday, November 2, that it is expanding its popular TRAX backcountry program for the 2026-27 winter season. The new options include a TRAX vehicle accommodating four to five guests and a Mini-TRAX designed for private groups of just three.
The expansion builds on the success of Soldier Mountain’s existing TRAX program, which allows smaller groups to move more efficiently through backcountry terrain than they would aboard a traditional 12-passenger snowcat.
“With just three, four, or five guests, the group moves efficiently through the mountains,” said Soldier Mountain general manager David Alden. “Less time loading, unloading, and regrouping means more runs, more vert, and the flexibility to explore terrain that larger groups may not be able to reach.”
Smaller Groups, More Backcountry Skiing
The concept behind Soldier Mountain’s expanded TRAX program is straightforward: Fewer passengers means less time spent waiting for everyone to regroup and more time skiing and snowboarding.
Every TRAX trip is privately booked, allowing guides to tailor the experience to each group’s abilities, interests and preferred terrain.
Experienced backcountry skiers looking for steep slopes and deep powder can pursue more challenging terrain, while groups looking for a less aggressive experience can explore moderate terrain at a more comfortable pace.
“We’ve learned that small groups can have a completely different experience in the backcountry,” Alden said. “When everyone knows each other and shares similar goals, we can cover more terrain, ski more runs, and really tailor the experience to the group. That’s what makes TRAX special.”
The smaller vehicles complement Soldier Mountain’s traditional 12-person snowcat operation, which will continue offering individual seats and private bookings for larger groups.
All Soldier Mountain cat-skiing experiences include professional guides, avalanche safety equipment and lunch at the resort’s backcountry yurt.
The resort’s guided backcountry operation encompasses more than 2,000 acres of terrain with approximately 3,000 vertical feet. Skiers and snowboarders can explore everything from open alpine bowls and rolling glades to steep trees and technical chutes when conditions allow.
For those interested in spending more than a single day exploring the backcountry, Soldier Mountain also offers overnight rentals of its Smokey Dome Yurt for cat-skiing guests and touring groups.
Soldier Mountain’s 250-Acre Bridge Creek Sidecountry
Beyond its traditional backcountry operation, Soldier Mountain continues to offer access to the Bridge Creek Sidecountry, a 250-acre area featuring moderate glades, steep north-facing trees and ridgelines.
The Bridge Creek Sidecountry opened in 2025, giving skiers and snowboarders access to terrain that visitors had admired from the resort for decades but previously couldn’t ski.
Located within Soldier Mountain’s permitted boundary, the area can be reached by snowcat on select days or under human power using established bootpacking routes and skin tracks.
The combination of lift-served skiing, sidecountry terrain and more than 2,000 acres of guided backcountry gives Soldier Mountain an unusually extensive selection of terrain for an independent Idaho ski area.
Snowmaking Improvements for Soldier Mountain’s 79th Season
The resort has also been making improvements to its lift-served terrain as it prepares to celebrate its 79th winter.
Over the summer, Soldier Mountain upgraded its snowmaking intake pond, increasing its ability to deliver water to the mountain’s snowmaking system.
According to Alden, the improvements should help the resort establish a dependable early-season snow base more efficiently and consistently when temperatures allow.
The project is part of Soldier Mountain’s continuing investment in mountain operations, helping support its traditional groomed trails, bowls, glades and terrain parks alongside the growing backcountry program.
Adaptive Ski Camps, Snowmobile Racing and Elite Athlete Training
Soldier Mountain has also lined up a busy calendar of events for the upcoming winter, including the return of the NubAbility Snow Camp, which provides skiing and snowboarding instruction for children with limb differences.
The camp brings together NubAbility’s limb-different coaches and adaptive instructors from WAVES Idaho, an organization that helps veterans build connections and confidence through snowsports.
The Rocky Mountain States Hillclimb Association will also return to Soldier Mountain for the second consecutive year to stage the Soldier Mountain Uphill Battle, a professional snowmobile hillclimb competition streamed on FloRacing. The event will feature a children’s racing class and opportunities for fans to meet participating athletes.
Competitive skiing and snowboarding will remain an important part of the mountain’s winter calendar as well. Soldier Mountain plans to host youth race camps and USASA Masters Racing on its homologated slalom, giant slalom and downhill courses.
The resort will also continue serving as a training location for U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s slopestyle teams.
You Can Even Rent the Entire Ski Resort
One of Soldier Mountain’s more unusual offerings has nothing to do with snowcats. The ski area is among a relatively small number of mountains in the country that allow guests to rent the entire resort for a private ski day.
The My Mountain private rental program gives groups exclusive access to the ski area’s lifts and terrain on days when it would otherwise be closed to the public, generally non-holiday Mondays through Wednesdays.
Guests can also arrange customized food service at the lodge, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. The lodge is available for separate private dining events as well.
With a range of guided backcountry experiences for groups of three to 12, extensive sidecountry terrain, a growing events calendar and the option to rent the entire mountain, Soldier Mountain continues to offer experiences that are difficult to find at larger destination resorts.
The resort is currently accepting reservations for its 2026-27 backcountry snowcat season. Guests can contact Soldier Mountain’s Powder Desk at 208-541-8738 for trip information, availability and reservations.
