SUSTAINABILITY

Bogus Basin is committed to mountain stewardship and sustainability. We encourage you to join us in this continuous effort.

2024 Sustainability & Stewardship Achievements

CardboardRecycled
16,340Lbs
AluminumRecycled
2,037Lbs
DedicatedVolunteers
214
SeedlingsPlanted
3,234
Bird BoxesInstalled
33
HummingbirdsBanded
98

As the Treasure Valley continues to grow, so does the need for greater awareness of how we impact the land. A great place to start is with the seven principles of LNT. Leave No Trace (LNT) principles are as relevant at your local mountain recreation area as they are in the wilderness. Look them up, learn them, and put them to use on your next outdoor adventure.

How Bogus is making the world a little bit greener:

GREEN ENERGY

On-site Solar

In 2024, Clēnera generously donated 210 solar panels which will be installed in a multi-phase project on the mountain. Phase 1 will begin in 2025 with a 71-panel array on top of our Rental Shop. This will offset the equivalent energy usage of 10 households annually.

Idaho Power Renewable Energy

2024 marks the fifth year in a row that Bogus Basin has purchased 100% renewable energy from Idaho Power’s Green Power Program. Green Power is Green-e Energy® certified and meets the environmental and consumer protection standards set forth by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions. Each year this offsets the equivalent of removing 545 vehicles from the road, avoiding 5.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, or growing more than 42,000 tree seedlings for 10 years.

recycling efforts

  • Aluminum Can and #1 Plastic Bottle recycling receptacles are located around J.R. Simplot, Pioneer, and Frontier Point Lodges. This program is made possible by our participation in Cirqu, a partnered program with PepsiCo and Replenysh to bring transparency and increased resources to a circular economy. Track our progress on our dashboard.
  • Bogus Basin partners with Timber Creek Recycling to bring composting to the mountain. Compost bins are located in all lodges where food waste (including meats and dairy products) and certified compostable products may be disposed.
  • All cardboard from vendors is recycled, keeping over 16,000 lbs annually out of the landfill. 
  • Our Vehicle Maintenance Department reuses all used motor oil to heat their facilities in the winter.
  • Vehicle, Building and Lift Departments recycle all used and old steel and aluminum whenever updating infrastructure.

Restoration Efforts

  • Each summer, Bogus Basin staff and volunteers collect seeds on the mountain from native plants. These seeds are sent to our partners at the Boise National Forest’s Lucky Peak Nursery where they are grown into seedlings to be planted the following year. 
  • In 2019, a wetlands restoration project below the Snowmaking Pond brought in 8,300 native plant seedlings to restore crucial wetland habitat. This area is used to educate participants during Bogus Basin Environmental Education programs on the importance and resiliency of degraded habitats.
  • Dozens of bird boxes have been erected around the mountain to create a habitat for cavity-nesting birds.

Transportation

  • Public transportation is available Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays. This reduces the number of vehicles travelling to our mountain which is our largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The Carpool to Crush CO2 challenge began in 2023 to incentivize carpooling to the mountain. Participants in the challenge can win an assortment of prizes, including a winter season pass. Carpoolers also receive priority parking on weekends and holidays.  
  • Daily vanpool transportation to and from the mountain is provided to all seasonal staff during summer & winter operations.