Written by: Team Schweitzer | October 21, 2025
Photo taken: October 13, 2025

From Sunrise to Snowcat: Schweitzer Adds New Summit Dining and Youth Programs for Winter

Schweitzer, Idaho’s largest mountain resort and an Ikon Pass destination, is preparing for the 2025/26 winter season with a tentative opening date of Nov. 21, conditions-permitting. Guests can look forward to new experiences, expanded instructional programs, and unique dining events atop the mountain. These enhancements build on more than $75 million invested at Schweitzer over the last five years, including the 31-room Humbird boutique hotel, Cambium Spa, a new high-speed lift, and Schweitzer Backcountry Adventures, offering guided snowmobiling and cat-skiing access to over 4,000 additional acres of terrain.

“Each winter brings new opportunities for our guests to experience Schweitzer in fresh ways,” said Tom Chasse, president and chief operating officer of Schweitzer. “From unique dining at the summit to expanded youth programs, these additions complement the significant investments we’ve made in recent years and underscore our commitment to delivering an exceptional mountain experience.”

Summit Sunrise Breakfast at Sky House
Beginning in January 2026, Schweitzer will launch Summit Sunrise Breakfast at Sky House on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Guests will load lifts early for access to Sky House, located at Schweitzer’s summit with sweeping views of Lake Pend Oreille and across Idaho, Washington, Montana, and Canada. After enjoying a themed pre-fixe breakfast, with the option to add a mimosa bar, participants will be among the first to ski or ride down as lifts open to the public.

Sky House Snowcat Dinners Return
Also returning in 2026 are Sky House Snowcat Dinners, memorable full-moon evenings featuring a champagne reception at the Clock Tower in Schweitzer’s Village, followed by a chairlift ride to the summit, and a multi-course dinner paired with wine. Guests then descend the mountain by snowcat under the night sky.

Family & Travel Promotions
Families will once again enjoy Kids Ski Free Week, Dec. 6–12, 2025, when children 17 and under can ski or ride at no cost with preregistration online. Schweitzer has also renewed its Fly Alaska, Ski Free partnership. Guests arriving on Alaska Airlines into Spokane can show their same-day boarding pass for a complimentary lift ticket valid on their arrival day. Alaska Airlines offers non-stop service to Spokane from six markets including Boise, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle and–new this season–San Diego.

Expanded Ski & Ride School
Schweitzer is also expanding its Ski & Ride School offerings this winter making it easier for families to enjoy the mountain. New full-day group lessons for kids ages 6–12 begin Nov. 29 and include lunch, snacks, and lift access. The resort is also launching Freestyle Camp, a multi-week program running Jan. 3–Mar. 22, 2026, focused on teaching kids freestyle and freeride skills in terrain parks and natural terrain with an emphasis on safety and confidence building. In addition, Mountain Xplorers now welcomes both skiers and snowboarders ages 6–13 across all ability levels. This long-standing multi-week program groups participants by skill and runs weekends and holidays throughout the season.

Community Partnership
Schweitzer continues its support of local youth through the Numerica Read to Ski Program, in partnership with Numerica Credit Union and the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Seventh and eighth grade students who log 10 or more hours of reading before Thanksgiving break will receive a free single-day junior lift ticket during the 25/26 season.