Idaho Ski Destinations Earn USA Today Award Nominations
The state secured nominations across every available category in the annual USA Today 10Best Ski & Snowboard Awards.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Skiing
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Idaho ski areas and towns have been named as nominees in every category for the USA Today 10Best Ski & Snowboard Awards. Public voting for these industry honors remains open until early November.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the breadth of the states winter offerings across its 19 alpine ski areas. The nominations serve to bolster the visibility of local resorts and mountain towns to a national audience of outdoor enthusiasts.
Idaho maintains 19 alpine ski areas that collectively span more than 22,000 acres of terrain. The state currently holds multiple contenders in every available USA Today 10Best category.
The players
Ski Idaho
Founded in 1982, this organization promotes the state's skiing industry and its network of alpine resorts.
USA Today
This national media organization publishes the annual 10Best Awards series to recognize excellence in travel and recreation.
Tamarack Resort
This resort features The Reserve, which is currently nominated for a best ski restaurant award.
Sun Valley Resort
Located in Idaho, this destination is home to multiple nominated lodges, resorts, and ski schools.
Bogus Basin
This Idaho ski area is currently nominated for its cross-country skiing and snow tubing facilities.
The details
Industry experts nominated the contenders, including The Reserve at Tamarack Resort for best ski restaurant and various facilities at Bogus Basin and Sun Valley Resort. USA Today removed the best place for snowboarding category this year, which previously featured Bald Mountain as a winner in 2023.
Timeline
Ski Idaho was founded in 1982.
Bald Mountain won best place for snowboarding in 2023.
Public voting ends at noon EST on November 9, 2026.
Award winners will be announced November 18, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Comparing current nominations to the 2023 USA Today 10Best Ski & Snowboard Awards provides a baseline for tracking how Idaho resorts maintain their competitive standing in the travel industry. This recognition influences the upcoming winter season by drawing greater attention to the state's varied alpine offerings.
Readers can influence the final standings by casting one vote per category daily until the deadline. These nominations serve as an indicator for potential visitors to evaluate the most highly-regarded services and amenities within the state's mountain resorts.
The takeaway
The broad range of nominations reflects the state's commitment to maintaining diverse and high-quality winter sports amenities. Travelers looking to plan a winter vacation should check the current rankings to identify top-rated resorts and dining experiences.
What happens next
The public voting period for the awards concludes on November 9, 2026, at noon EST, with the winners scheduled to be announced on November 18, 2026.
Further reading
Discover more about the state's slopes in our Idaho Skiing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Idaho Business Review.
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