Kelly Canyon
Encyclopedia
Kelly Canyon is an alpine
ski area in eastern
Idaho
, in the Targhee National Forest
. Northeast of Idaho Falls
, it straddles the county line in the southeastern corner of Jefferson County
and also in southern Madison County
. The ski area opened in 1957, founded by E. Bud Johnson.
The summit is at an elevation
of 6600 feet (2,011.7 m) above sea level with a vertical drop of 1000 feet (304.8 m), on 640 acres (2.6 km²) of slopes. Lift service includes four double chairlifts and a rope tow
on the north-facing slopes. The terrain is rated at 35% easiest, 45% more difficult, and 20% most difficult.
The annual snowfall is 200 inches (508 cm), supplemented with snowmaking
. The ski area is open six days and nights
a week, but is closed on Sundays.
Kelly Canyon also has Nordic skiing and snowshoeing trails, just beyond the alpine lifts. The snowshoe trails are designated with Atlas Snowshoe markers for easy navigation.
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
ski area in eastern
Eastern Idaho
Eastern Idaho is a generic term used to describe areas of Idaho which lie east of the Magic Valley region. It is generally understood to include: Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Oneida, Power and Teton...
Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, in the Targhee National Forest
Caribou-Targhee National Forest
Caribou-Targhee National Forest is located in the states of Idaho and Wyoming, with a small section in Utah in the United States. The forest is broken into several separate sections and extends over . To the east the forest borders Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and...
. Northeast of Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
, it straddles the county line in the southeastern corner of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Idaho
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. The county was established in 1913, and was named after Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. President. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 19,155 . The county seat and largest city is Rigby...
and also in southern Madison County
Madison County, Idaho
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 27,467 . The county seat and largest city is Rexburg. Madison County is part of the Rexburg, ID, Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The area was originally settled by members...
. The ski area opened in 1957, founded by E. Bud Johnson.
The summit is at an elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 6600 feet (2,011.7 m) above sea level with a vertical drop of 1000 feet (304.8 m), on 640 acres (2.6 km²) of slopes. Lift service includes four double chairlifts and a rope tow
Ski tow
thumb|right|A rope tow or ski tow.A ski tow, also called rope tow or handle tow, is a mechanised system for pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill....
on the north-facing slopes. The terrain is rated at 35% easiest, 45% more difficult, and 20% most difficult.
The annual snowfall is 200 inches (508 cm), supplemented with snowmaking
Snowmaking
Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a "snow gun" or "snow cannon", on ski slopes. Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. This allows ski resorts to improve the reliability of their snow cover and to extend their ski...
. The ski area is open six days and nights
Night skiing
Night skiing is the sport of skiing or snowboarding after sundown, offered at many ski resorts and mountains. There are usually electric lights along the piste which allow for better visibility...
a week, but is closed on Sundays.
Kelly Canyon also has Nordic skiing and snowshoeing trails, just beyond the alpine lifts. The snowshoe trails are designated with Atlas Snowshoe markers for easy navigation.
External links
- Ski Kelly.com - official site
- Idaho Winter.com - official state tourism site - Kelly Canyon
- Idaho Ski Resorts.com - Kelly Canyon
- MSR Maps - USGS topo map and aerial photo
- Nordic & Snowshoe trails