Pebble Creek, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pebble Creek |
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 Pebble Creek
Location in Idaho
Pebble Creek
Location in the United States
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| Location | Caribou National Forest Bannock County, Idaho, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Inkom Pocatello |
| Coordinates | 42°46′41″N 112°09′36″W / 42.778°N 112.160°W |
| Vertical | 2,911 ft (887 m) 2,200 ft (671 m) - lifts |
| Top elevation | 9,271 ft (2,826 m) 8,560 ft (2,609 m) - lifts |
| Base elevation | 6,360 ft (1,939 m) |
| Skiable area | 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) |
| Runs | 54  - 12% beginner - 35% intermediate - 53% advanced |
| Longest run | 1.1 miles (1.8 km) |
| Lift system | 3 triple chairlifts |
| Snowfall | 250 inches (640 cm) |
| Snowmaking | lower runs added 1990s |
| Night skiing | Aspen beginner area Friday & Saturday nights, January to March. hours |
| Website | Pebble Creek |
Pebble Creek is a fun ski area located in southeastern Idaho, in the Caribou National Forest. It's found in the Portneuf Range, east of Pocatello. This popular spot is currently owned by the well-known internet personality, Shay Butler.
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Exploring Pebble Creek Ski Area
Pebble Creek is built on the side of Bonneville Peak, which is also called Mount Bonneville. This mountain reaches 9,271 feet (2,826 m) above sea level, making it the highest point in the Portneuf Range. The ski lifts take you up to 8,560 feet (2,609 m), giving you a thrilling vertical drop of 2,200 ft (671 m) when you ski down.
You can even hike to the very top of Bonneville Peak! This adds another 711 vertical feet (216 m) to your adventure, making the total possible vertical drop 2,911 ft (887 m). The mountain is named after Benjamin Bonneville, a U.S. Army officer who explored the western United States in the 1830s.
A Look Back: Pebble Creek's History
Pebble Creek has a long and interesting past, starting way back in 1949.
Early Days: Skyline Ski Area
The ski area first opened in 1949 and was known as Skyline. Back then, it was much simpler, with just two rope tows and a small hut to warm up in. Over the years, more lifts were added. A Poma lift was put in place in 1958, and another in 1960. The very first chairlift (a double chair) arrived in 1966, which allowed skiers to reach steeper and more exciting parts of the mountain. The main building you see today, the day lodge, was built in 1968.
Becoming Pebble Creek
The ski area changed hands a few times. In 1978, it was sold, and then again a year later to a company called Pebble Creek Land Company. This company decided to change the name to Pebble Creek in 1979. More improvements followed, including a new CTEC triple chairlift in 1980, which opened up even more skiable terrain. In 1981, a group of local investors bought the area, forming Pebble Creek Ski Area Ltd. Later, in 2001, an older double chairlift was replaced with a new triple chair, extending the lift-served summit by another 200 vertical feet (61 m).
Skiing and Snow at Pebble Creek
Today, Pebble Creek has three chairlifts, all of which are triple chairs. These lifts give access to 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of skiable terrain. The trails are rated for different skill levels:
- 12% are for beginners (easy green circle trails).
- 35% are for intermediate skiers (blue square trails).
- 53% are for advanced skiers (challenging black diamond trails).
The mountain gets a lot of natural snow, with an average of 250 inches (640 cm) of snowfall each year. To make sure there's always enough snow, especially on the lower runs, Snowmaking equipment was added in the 1990s.
Pebble Creek might not be as famous as some other ski resorts, but it's definitely a hidden gem! It was even listed as one of the top 30 ski areas in SNoBoard Magazine's annual "Where to ride guide" (volume 5, issue 2).
