Cottonwood Butte Ski Resort

Cottonwood Butte Ski Resort is kind of a throwback to the old days: 1 rope tow, 1 T-bar, a few runs and some good powder in the trees. This isn't your big urbanized, commercial ski slope, just a quiet, friendly, down-home place to enjoy the winter outdoors on some uncrowded slopes. The slopes are on the northeast flanks of the mountain so they tend to hold the snow better. The views: well, the mountain is located in the heart of the Camas Prairie, made famous by the Nez Perce.

There is a base lodge with ski and snowboard rentals, a repair shop, lunch counter, and ski lessons are available. They also offer night skiing on Fridays in January.

To get there: About 0.2 miles south of Cottonwood on US Highway 95 turn west on Cottonwood Butte Road. About 4 miles in you'll come to the intersection with Radar Road and the "Escape to Cottonwood Butte" sign. Take that left fork (onto Radar Road) and go about 2 miles past the Correctional Center. The lodge will be on the left, parking on the right.