Cottonwood Butte Snow Report
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Cottonwood Butte
Cottonwood Butte Ski Resort in Idaho is a family-friendly ski area with six runs, one lift, and a vertical drop of 550 feet. The best trail is the Bonanza run, a long and winding intermediate trail with fantastic views. An interesting fact is that Cottonwood Butte Ski Resort was founded in 1967 by a group of local residents who wanted to create a ski area for their community. For beginner skiers, the Easy Does It run is a great option to practice their skills. The resort does not have an apres ski bar, but The Hangout in Cottonwood is a popular spot for drinks and food after a day on the slopes.
Terrain mix: Cottonwood Butte Ski Resort, located in Idaho, is situated in the Clearwater Mountains. The resort offers skiing and snowboarding opportunities on the slopes of Cottonwood Butte, a prominent peak in the region. The mountain aspect of Cottonwood Butte provides a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels to enjoy. The resort features a vertical drop of approximately 845 feet and offers a range of runs, from beginner slopes to more challenging terrain. With stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, Cottonwood Butte Ski Resort is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts in Idaho.
Plan your day down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the snow column the morning of a storm to know when to call in sick.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & snow
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- start of next storm cycle, end of last one.
What forecasters are seeing
Plain-English forecast narrative from the local NWS office. Issued by NWS MSO.
Nearby SNOTEL stations
USDA NRCS SNOTEL stations within driving range. Cross-check whether the snow at Cottonwood Butte is a one-off accumulation or a regional storm cycle.
| Station | Snowpack | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brundage Reservoir | 1 in | → |
| Elk Butte | 1 in | → |
| Moscow Mountain | 2 in | → |
| West Branch | 3 in | → |
| Lost Lake | 1 in | → |
| Shaw Twin | 5 in | → |
| Nohrsc West Branch | 2 in | → |
| Nohrsc Elk Butte | 1 in | → |
| Nohrsc Moscow Mountain | 2 in | → |
| Granite Mountain | 9 in | → |
Beyond the slopes
Other ski areas, basecamp options, alpine fishing, and scenic stops near Cottonwood Butte -- worth knowing whether you're in for a day, a long weekend, or a season pass.
Mountain & avalanche safety
- Know before you go
- Check today's avalanche bulletin from the regional avalanche center before any off-piste / side-country / backcountry travel. Conditions can shift dramatically between morning and afternoon on storm days.
- Carry the gear, know how to use it
- Beacon, shovel, probe. Practice companion rescue on a calm day, not during a real burial.
- Mind the weather window
- Heavy snow + wind builds wind slabs at ridgelines. The day after a storm is often the riskiest in the backcountry, even if the resort itself is open.
- Respect closed terrain
- Ropes are there for a reason. Even in-bounds, ducking a closure can trigger a slide that catches you and others below.
Track Cottonwood Butte in the Snoflo app
Save this resort as a favorite, set push alerts when snowfall crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Cottonwood Butte reports 6″ new"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment the SNOTEL station crosses.
About Cottonwood Butte
Where does the snow data for Cottonwood Butte come from?
Snowpack, SWE, 24-hour snowfall, and air temperature come from the nearest USDA NRCS SNOTEL station. Forecast comes from the National Weather Service / yr.no feed that Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the snow report updated?
Snowpack and SNOTEL data are updated continuously by NRCS (typically hourly). The 15-day weather forecast is refreshed throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- look for the "as of" timestamp on the snowpack hero.
What's the elevation at Cottonwood Butte?
See the Resort Metrics panel above for base / summit / vertical drop. The summit elevation drives snowpack accumulation -- higher summits hold snow longer through spring.
How is "% of normal" calculated?
Today's snowpack is compared to the average snowpack on this calendar day across every recorded year at the nearest SNOTEL. 100% means right on average; 130% is a big year; 60% is thin.
What ski resorts are near Cottonwood Butte?
See the Other Ski Areas pill grid at the bottom of the page for resorts within driving distance. The sister Other Ski Areas card in the Plan-a-longer-trip grid above shows the closest few.
Can I get alerts when fresh snow hits?
Yes -- snow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this resort, set a snowfall threshold (e.g. "alert me when 6+ inches"), and you'll get a push the moment the SNOTEL crosses.
Other resorts near here
Snoflo-tracked ski areas within driving distance of Cottonwood Butte.