January 2026
Happy New Year to our Priest Lake Snowmobile Community.
On your mark, get set, and soon to go.
If you are anything like me, we have been spending a large amount of time over the past few weeks looking at the Priest Lake weather reports. It’s all about snow.
As I write this report, I greatly see an improvement in our snow conditions over the next few days. Certainly, our wish, as well as yours, is that we get adequate snow to start grooming all or our trails. We are ready!
The Groomer Advisory Board is pleased to announce that we have two new Groomer Operators for this season. Leo will be working out of Nordman and Lyle will be working out of Coolin. They have been training with our Nordman Groomer this past week. Both Leo and Lyle have excellent background experience and are learning quickly the ins and outs of the operation.
Speaking of Groomers, we have been working with Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation seeking replacement of our 2016 Tucker Sno-Cat. Exciting news. We expect delivery of our new 2026 Tucker Sno-Cat by the 15th of January. The new groomer will go to our Nordman facility and will operate on the westside of Priest Lake. We will schedule an event at an upcoming date so you can get a close-up look at this very technologically advanced grooming equipment.
I wish to extend our appreciation to those of you who assisted with the cutting of trees on our groomed trails. Once they are cut it gives us the ability to efficiently push those trees off of the groomed trails. With your help we are able to spend more time grooming and less time clearing the trails.
And last but not the least, before you hit the trails, each snowmobile is required to have a current Idaho Snowmobile Registration. When you purchase the registration, be sure to select 9A, Priest Lake, as your riding area. By selecting 9A, 85% of your registration fee goes directly to support the grooming program here at Priest Lake. You can purchase your Snowmobile Registration online by using our link at priestlakegroomers.org. or at local vendors. See our Facebook post for more details.
Thank you for your support of the Grooming Program here at Priest Lake.
Larry Bryant, Chairman
Priest Lake Groomer Advisory Board
As we step into 2026, our hearts are full and our gratitude runs deep. We are truly blessed beyond measure.
Eighty years ago, George Hill followed a dream to Priest Lake and purchased a small fishing resort, one without running water or electricity, but filled with possibility. With perseverance, grit, and a deep love for this place, George and his wife Lois began building something far greater than a business. They built a gathering place. A legacy. A home away from home for generations of families.
Through hard work, determination, and an unwavering belief in what Priest Lake could be, George and Lois, along with their three children, grew Hill’s Resort into what it is today. Season by season, year by year, they poured their hearts into creating a place where memories that last a lifetime are made. Where mornings start with the lake, evenings end with laughter, and time seems to slow down.
Now, 80 years later, our family is deeply honored and incredibly grateful to still be carrying forward the dream that George and Lois began in 1946. As we look ahead to a year filled with celebrations, reflection, and gratitude, we are humbled by the legacy entrusted to us and excited for what’s still to come.
To our guests - many of whom have been visiting for decades, and some who are just discovering us - thank you for choosing to make Hill’s Resort part of your story.
To our staff, past and present - thank you for the heart, care, and dedication you bring to this place year after year. You are the soul of this resort, and each season is better because of you.
Here’s to honoring the past, celebrating the present, and looking forward to the future. Cheers to 80 years of memories, and to many more still ahead.
-The Hill Family
