Where the Winter Things Are – Utah’s Ski and Snowboard Resorts Roundup

Utah Ski & Snowboard Resorts Roundup

Though there has been much vicissitude in Utah’s ski industry over the past year or two, what hasn’t changed is that Utah remains a spectacular place to ski. With the addition of Utah’s newest resort, Cherry Peak in Cache Valley, we now have 15 easily accessible resorts with slopes to slide down. Nevermind the lawsuits and exchange of property deeds—focus on waxing your shredding devices and building up your quad muscles because very soon we will be blessed with that white fluffy stuff that falls from the sky. Here’s Where the Winter Things Are!

Alta Ski Resort
Alta is best known for the quality and quantity of snow as well as the scenery and wide variety of terrain with ample cliffs and chutes. Alta remains one of the last three snowboarding-free resorts in the country. Alta’s loyal community members are part of the group, Altaholics Anonymous, and proudly admit to a deep powder addiction.

Open: November–April

• Year Opened: 1938
• Number of Vertical Feet: 2,020 feet
• Average Snowfall: 551 inches
• Classic Runs: Alf’s High Rustler
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 25%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 40%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 35%
• Terrain Parks: None
• Number of Runs: 116
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 7
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $1,199
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $84

Beaver Mountain
Beaver Mountain is the last remaining resort that is still owned and operated by the same family who opened it in the United States. Guests at Beaver Mountain often remark that they feel like they are part of the family while visiting, perhaps because by your third run the lifties have learned your name.

Open: December–March/April

• Year Opened: 1939
• Number of Vertical Feet: 1,600
• Average Snowfall: 400 inches
• Classic Runs: Harry’s Hollow, Stan’s Bonanza
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 35%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 40%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 25%
• Terrain Parks: 2
• Number of Runs: 48
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 4
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $535
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $48

Brian Head Resort
Brian Head Resort is now celebrating its 50th season and has just opened an express quad. The resort rests among the red rock canyons in Southern Utah and has outstanding views of Cedar Breaks National Monument. This low-key, family-friendly resort is great for newbies and has one of the most affordable day lift ticket prices in the state.

Open: November–April

• Year Opened: 1964
• Number of Vertical Feet: 1,320
• Average Annual Snowfall: 360 inches
• Classic Runs: Engens, Bear Paw
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 30%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 35%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 35%
• Terrain Parks: 3
• Number of Runs: 71
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 8
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $679
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $35–$60

Brighton Ski Resort
Brighton is a family-friendly resort, but also beckons some of the steeziest snowboarders and skiers around. Many-a-native-Utahn learned how to ski or snowboard at Brighton’s Ski School. For those who are avy-savvy, there’s also great sidecountry access. Brighton fans love the après-work turns option with 200 acres of night skiing terrain available.

Open: November–April

• Year Opened: 1936
• Number of Vertical Feet: 1,475
• Average Annual Snowfall: 500 inches
• Classic Runs: Backdoor, Western Trail
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 20%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 45%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 35%
• Terrain Parks: 5 + 1 Half-Pipe
• Number of Runs: 66
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 6
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $899
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $72

Canyons Resort
Canyons is the largest resort in Utah and has 4,000 lift-accessed skiable acres. Unique to the resort is the Orange Bubble Express—a heated chairlift. Every spring, the resort hosts Spring Grüv, 10 days of events including an epic Pond Skimming Contest, the Canis Lupis Challenge, and a series of free concerts in the Resort Village that draw thousands.

Open: November–April

• Year Opened: 1968 (Park West) 1997 (Canyons)
• Number of Vertical Feet: 3,190
• Average Annual Snowfall: 355
• Classic Runs: Murdock’s Bowl, Doc’s Run, Ninety-Nine Ninety
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 10%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 44%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 46%
• Terrain Park: 3
• Number of Runs: 182
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 19
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $589 (Epic Local) $769 (Epic)
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $105

Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley is known worldwide as a classy ski resort that offers excellent customer service and attention to detail. The founders of the resort wanted to create a place where skiers could receive the kind of service you might expect at a five-star hotel. Deer Valley also does not allow snowboarding and limits daily lift ticket sales to 7,500 to prevent overcrowding on the slopes.

Open: December–April

• Year Opened: 1946 (Snowpark Ski Area)
• 1981 (Deer Valley)
• Number of Vertical Feet: 3,000
• Average Annual Snowfall: 300 inches
• Classic Runs: Ontario Bowl, Stein’s Way
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 27%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 41%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 32% (27% Black, 5% Double Black)
• Terrain Parks: None
• Number of Runs: 101
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 24
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $2,320
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $114

 

Eagle Point Resort
Eagle Point opened its doors in 2010 with the intention of creating a boutique ski resort with modern amenities, lively entertainment, and opportunities for fresh tracks all day. This resort is never crowded and has some of Utah’s steepest runs.

Open: December–April

• Year Opened: 2010
• Number of Vertical Feet: 1,500
• Average Annual Snowfall: 450 inches
• Classic Runs: Vertigo, Big Horn
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 25%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 30%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 45%
• Skills Park: Yes
• Number of Runs: 39
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 5
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $409–$489
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $30–$58

Nordic Valley
With more than 100 skiable acres, Nordic Valley is famous for its night skiing and family-friendly atmosphere. The resort dominates night skiing with 100% of the mountain terrain under lights. Nordic Valley is a budget-friendly 500-acre boutique ski area. The resort is currently cutting new runs so total vertical feel will increase to 2,200.

Open: November–March

• Year Opened: 1968 (Nordic Valley) 2005 (Wolf Mountain) 2014 (Nordic Valley)
• Number of Vertical Feet: 1,000
• Average Annual Snowfall: 300 inches
• Classic Runs: Ephraim’s Revenge, Stray Dog
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 36%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 45%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 19%
• Terrain Parks: 1
• Number of Runs: 22
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 3
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $395
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $39

Park City Mountain Resort
Park City Mountain Resort is considered one of North America’s most popular premier family resorts. It earned national recognition in 2002 as one of the venues for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games where the men’s and women’s giant slalom, men’s and women’s snowboarding parallel giant slalom, and men’s and women’s half-pipe events were hosted.

Open: November–April

• Year Opened: 1963 (Treasure Mountain)
• 1966 (Park City Mountain Resort)
• Number of Vertical Feet: 3,100
• Average Annual Snowfall: 360
• Classic Runs: Silver Skis, Comstock
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 17%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 52%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 31%
• Terrain Parks: 4 + 1 super-pipe + 1 mini-pipe
• Number of Runs: 116
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 16
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $589 (Epic Local) $769 (Epic)
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $104

Powder Mountain
Powder Mountain has more than 2,800 lift-served skiable acres and 4,200 cat skiing acres together totaling more skiable terrain than any other area in the United States. The extra 20-minute hike to the summit of James Peak (9,422 feet) from the top of Lightning Ridge is well worth it. Powder Mountain also offers all-day Snowcat Powder Safaris, Single-Ride Cat Skiing, and backcountry guided tours.

Open: December–April

• Year Opened: 1972
• Number of Vertical Feet: 2,000 (Lift-Served)
• Average Annual Snowfall: 500 inches
• Classic Runs: James Peak
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 25%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 40%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 35%
• Longest Run: James Peak
• Terrain Parks: 2
• Number of Runs: 144
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 4
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $965
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $69

Snowbasin Resort
Snowbasin Resort is one of the oldest continually operating ski resorts in the country. The resort underwent a major facelift before hosting the 2002 Winter Olympic alpine skiing races. At Snowbasin, skiers and snowboarders can get powder turns, ride groomed terrain, and practice park skills from the same run—Needles to Sweet Revenge to Bear Hollow.

Open: November–April

• Year Opened: 1940
• Number of Vertical Feet: 3,000
• Average Annual Snowfall: 300 inches
• Classic Runs: Wildflower, Grizzly, Elk Ridge
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 20%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 50%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 30%
• Terrain Parks: 6
• Number of Runs: 104
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 9
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $1149
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $86

Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort
Snowbird features much steep and deep terrain and is the only place you can ski inbounds in Utah on the 4th of July. Though that has only been possible three times, the Bird is still unrivaled for longest ski season because they are usually open through Memorial Day Weekend. The Peruvian Tunnel is a 600-foot long conveyor belt that provides access to Mineral Basin and is the only ski tunnel in North America.

Open: November–May

• Year Opened: 1971
• Number of Vertical Feet: 3,240
• Average Annual Snowfall: 500 inches
• Classic Runs: West Baldy, The Cirque
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 27%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 38%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 35%
• Longest Run: Chips Run
• Terrain Parks: 1
• Number of Runs: 168
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 13
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $1,199
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $95

Solitude Mountain Resort
Solitude is aptly named. Skiers and snowboarders delight in the short or non-existent lift lines and the down-to-earth atmosphere. Locals rank Honeycomb Canyon high for powder stashes. Solitude’s Challenger Trail is the steepest groomed run in the Wasatch.

Open: November–April

• Year Opened: 1957
• Number of Vertical Feet: 2,047
• Average Annual Snowfall: 500 inches
• Classic Runs: Challenger
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 20%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 50%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 30%
• Longest Run: Woodlawn
• Terrain Parks: None
• Number of Runs: 66
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 8
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $799
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $77

Sundance Resort
Sundance is the go-to resort for skiers and snowboarders at the south end of the Salt Lake Valley who like wide bowls and steep terrain. It has some of the most profoundly beautiful scenery because it’s set against the backdrop of Mount Timpanogos. Robert Redford founded the resort in 1969 with a vision for a community committed to the balance of art, nature, and recreation.

Open: December–April

• Year opened: 1969
• Number of Vertical Feet: 2,150
• Average Annual Snowfall: 300 inches
• Classic Runs: Far East, Bearclaw
• Percentage of Beginner Terrain: 20%
• Percentage of Intermediate Terrain: 40%
• Percentage of Expert Terrain: 40%
• Terrain Parks: 1
• Number of Runs: 44
• Number of Quads/Chairlifts: 4
• Price for Adult Season Pass: $599
• Price for Adult Day Pass: $65