Sun Valley vs Schweitzer
One clear look at snowfall, elevation, and access, so you know which to ski.
Sun Valley
ID · 9,150 ft
Schweitzer
ID · 6,400 ft
Side-by-Side
| Metric | Sun Valley | Schweitzer |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Idaho ID | Idaho ID |
| Summit elevation | 9,150 ft 5,750 ft base | 6,400 ft 4,709 ft base |
| NWS forecast bias | Pending grade pending | Pending grade pending |
| Season snowfall | — season building | 0" 1 storm |
| Avg storm-day rate | — | 0.3"/day |
| Best storm | — no storms yet | 7/100 Tracked |
| SNOTEL record | 0 storm-days measured | 1 storm-days measured |
| Community reports | — no local intel yet | 60 TGR posts |
| Nearest airport | SUN | GEG |
| Drive time | 0.25h 12 mi · SUN | 1.5h 80 mi · GEG |
| Access difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Pass | Ikon | Ikon |
Snowfall totals come from each resort's tracked storms. NWS forecast grades read “pending” everywhere: six winters of checking found no per-mountain bias we can honestly correct, so we show the raw NWS number and do not grade it.
The Verdict
StormDrop shows the raw NWS forecast for both Sun Valley and Schweitzer and does not grade it. Six winters of NWS-against-SNOTEL checking found no per-mountain bias we can honestly correct (it turns on an unresolved snow-measurement question), so we show the number NWS publishes and tell you that is what it is.
Schweitzer has logged 0" across 1 tracked storm this season; Sun Valley's season total is still building.
Sun Valley is the easier trip — about 0.25h from SUN (Hailey), versus 1.5h from GEG for Schweitzer.
Best for
Sun Valley — quick-strike trips — the easier drive at ~0.25h from SUN.
Best for
Schweitzer — Ikon pass holders weighing where to point a trip, with flight prices and drive timing side by side.
Local Knowledge
TGR Community IntelSun Valley
Local intel is still being compiled for Sun Valley.
Schweitzer
Storm days at Schweitzer produce heavy cloud cover ("Schweitzer cloud") with visibility down to 3 chair length.
FAQ
Does Sun Valley or Schweitzer get more snow?
Schweitzer has logged 0" across 1 tracked storm this season; Sun Valley's season total is still building.
Is Sun Valley or Schweitzer easier to get to?
Sun Valley is the easier trip — about 0.25h from SUN (Hailey), versus 1.5h from GEG for Schweitzer.
Which has the more accurate snow forecast, Sun Valley or Schweitzer?
StormDrop shows the raw NWS forecast for both Sun Valley and Schweitzer and does not grade it. Six winters of NWS-against-SNOTEL checking found no per-mountain bias we can honestly correct (it turns on an unresolved snow-measurement question), so we show the number NWS publishes and tell you that is what it is.
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