Joanna Orban
Staff Writer
Going to school at Idaho State means that you are in the perfect area for outdoor winter activities. From snowboarding to snowshoeing, here are several great activities to give you a break from studying.
Lava Hot Springs
Price: Varies by age and day of the week. For ages 12-59, it costs $6.00 during the week and $8.00 on weekends. Hours of Operation: Sunday-Thursday 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, Fridays and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. Address: 430 East Main St, Lava Hot Springs, ID. Lava Hot Springs is open year-round and is a great way to relax after a long week. The natural hot water pools contain no chemicals, sulfates, or odors and are only forty minutes away! Also, the area surrounding the pools are heated, so you won’t have to walk through the snow.
Joe Marmo/Wayne Lehto Ice Arena
Price: $4.75 for ages 12+, plus $3.50 for skate rentals. Hours of Operation: Times vary by day, refer to their website. Address: 390 Rogers St, Idaho Falls, ID. Unlike Lava Hot Springs, ice skating in Idaho Falls can only be enjoyed from October 5-April 5. Nothing beats ice skating inside where it’s somewhat warm, and for an affordable price, visiting the arena is sure to be an enjoyable activity during a snowy day. In addition to the indoor facility, there is also an outdoor rink at Tautphaus Park, with free admission. Skates for the outdoor rink can be rented at the ice arena. If you are wanting to skate on the outside rink, be wary of the weather.
East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center
Price: For ages 19-59, a day pass is $9.00. If you need equipment rentals, skis are $14.00 or $20.00 a day depending on what type of ski you get. Snowshoes can be rented for $7.00.
Hours of Operation: The office where equipment can be rented and season passes can be bought, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Friday-Sunday. If you don’t need lessons or equipment rental, the trails can be used at any time provided you have a pass or pay the fee at the parking lot. Address: Forest Rd 524, Pocatello, ID. The Nordic Center is located seven miles outside of Pocatello and is a great place to visit for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. There’s also a sledding hill and a yurt (Mongolian Snow Tent). The yurt can be rented for both day and overnight activities.
Pebble Creek Ski Area
Price: For adults (ages 18+) a day pass is $52 and a half-day is $41. The prices for rentals vary depending on how long you’re wanting to stay and what kind of equipment you’ll be needing. Hours of Operation: Open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Address: 3340 E Green Canyon Rd, Inkom, ID. Pebble Creek Ski area offers traditional downhill skiing and snowboarding. They also offer private and group lessons for both kids and adults. Prices vary.
ISU Outdoor Adventure Center
Price: It depends on the event or the equipment rental. Usually a discounted price for students. Hours of Operation: The office is open 8-5. Times of activities vary. Address: Located on the first floor of the PSUB. The ISU OAC offers multiple outdoor activities as well as low-cost equipment rentals for students and staff. The first trip you take with the ISU OAC is free, after the first you pay a discounted student fee. Throughout the coming months, the OAC offers many overnight ski activities as well as other daytime activities. Their website has all of the details on these trips.
ISU Theater and the Pocatello Reel Theatre
Price: The ISU theater is free for students. The Reel Theatre is $2.50 before 5:00 p.m. and $3.00 after. Hours of Operation: Showtimes vary. Address: PSUB, 310 E Oak Street, Pocatello, ID. If outdoor activities aren’t your thing, Pocatello has two very cheap theaters where you can see newly released movies for free, or for fairly inexpensive. Both the ISU theater and the Reel Theatre offer cheap concessions as well.
