Utah's Small Resort Scene

INSIDER'S GUIDE: UTAH'S SMALL RESORT SCENE

BY MONIQUE BEELEY

UTAH IS HOME TO 15 MOUNTAIN RESORTS, each having their own personality. But, finding the resort that syncs with your family’s vibe may take a bit of trial and error. Venturing out and exploring a new resort with kids in tow can be daunting. To help ease some of your planning woes when it comes to checking out a new resort here are some stats for exploring four of Utah’s finest smaller resorts. They could be visited individually or… better yet, combine two resorts for the perfect staycation (why not call it a Ski-cation). You can head north and visit both Beaver Mountain and Cherry Peak with an overnight in Logan, or head south for the Eagle Point and Brian Head combo with an overnight in either Beaver, Cedar City, or Brian Head. NUMBERS correspond with MAP on page 19

If you head north, you find BEAVER MOUNTAIN that has been family owned and operated since 1939. Located in Logan Canyon in the heart of the UintaWasatch-Cache National Forest. Skiing “The Beav” (as the locals call it), is like taking a few steps, or decades, back in time. The nostalgia vibe is high and it begins with the vintage wooden ticket office where you will most likely be greeted by Marge Seeholzer, the resort’s matriarch. At over 80 years old, Marge still loves to personally welcome skiers at the ticket office. The experience then comes full-circle when you exit Harry’s Dream Lift (elevation 8,860’) and take in the epic unobstructed and uninhabited views of miles and miles of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Resort Stats: Elevation – Base 7,160’, Summit 8,860’ Skiable Acres – 828 Vertical – 1,700’ Terrain – 35% Beginner, 40% Intermediate, 25% Advanced Lifts – 4 chairlifts + 2 surface lifts Runs – 48 Terrain Parks – 2 Ticket Prices – Adult $50 / Kids $40 / Little Beaver $25 Drive Time – 2 hours from Salt Lake City Hours – Monday-Sunday 9:00am-4:00pm Contact – SkiTheBeav.com, 435-946-3610 2

Beaver Mountain

Cherry Peak

CHERRY PEAK RESORT is located 15 miles north of Logan in Cherry Canyon near the Utah/ Idaho border This small family-owned resort is one of Utah’s newer mountain resorts, it opened in 2015. Beginners will want to check out the green Long Moxy run form the Gateway chairlift, and then venture over to the green runs accessed from Vista Chairlift. Both the Summit and Vista chairlifts are perfect for the intermediate skiers featuring some fun, long, cruising blue runs. Cherry Peak also has a five-lane tubing hill and night skiing six nights a week (Monday-Saturday).

Resort Stats: Elevation – Base 5,775’, Summit 7,040’ Vertical Drop – 1,265’ Skiable Acres – 400 Terrain – Beginner 30%, Intermediate 45%,

Advanced 25% Lifts – 3 chairlifts + 1 surface lift Runs – 29 Terrain Park – 1 Ticket Prices – Adult $40 / Kids $30 / Kids 5 and under are FREE with paying adult Drive Time – 1.5 hours from Salt Lake Hours – Monday-Thursday 5:00pm-9:00pm. Friday and

Saturday 9:00am-9:00pm. Sunday 9:00am-4:00pm Contact – Skicpr.com, 435-200-5050

Eagle Point

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Eagle Point

Heading south, our first stop is EAGLE POINT, located in the Tushar Mountain Range, which is the third highest mountain range in Utah, just east of the small town of Beaver. This small, independently-owned resort offers a variety of terrain as well as an opportunity to escape the fast-paced action of some of the larger mountain resorts in northern Utah. Eagle Point is only open Friday-Sunday which makes it a great place to go after an early week snow storm to find some untracked powder. The Skyline Chairlift is great for beginners with five green runs and one blue run. It provides the perfect play-ground for young skiers. The Big Horn run off the Monarch chairlift provides epic views of the surrounding valley below as well as the majestic Mt. Holly. Overnight options here start at just $89 for ski-in-ski-out accommodations. Resort Stats: Elevation – Base 9,100’, Summit 10,600’ Vertical Drop – 1,500’ Skiable Acres – 650 Terrain – Beginner 20%, Intermediate 36%,

Advanced 44% Lifts – 4 chairlifts + 1 surface lift Runs – 40 Terrain Park – 1 Ticket Prices – Pricing for the 2020/21 season will be on a sliding scale from $25-$65. For the best price, plan ahead and purchase tickets online. Kids 6 and under ski FREE. Drive Time – 3.5 hours from Salt Lake City Hours – Friday-Sunday 9:30am-4:40pm. Closed

Monday-Thursday Contact – EaglePointResort.com, 435-438-3700

BRIAN HEAD is Utah’s highest-elevation resort with a base elevation of 9,600’ and a summit of 10,970’. This southern Utah destination is also uniquely located in the heart of red rock country, providing majestic views of Cedar Breaks National Monument from the chairlift. The resort is divided into two areas: Navajo Mountain is the perfect beginner area, where you may even feel comfortable letting the kids do laps on their own; and Giant Steps, which offers a full range of terrain options and terrain parks. The resort also has two epic tubing hills, three terrain parks, and offers night skiing, perfect for those kids who don’t want to quit when the sun goes down. Overnight options here include ski-in-ski-out condos and two full-service hotels. The Best Western Premier Hotel is a favorite for families, featuring an indoor pool with a super cool red rock waterfall, and an outdoor patio with two fire pits that are perfect for making après ski smores! 4

Brian Head

Resort Stats: Elevation – Base 9,600’, Summit 10,920’ Skiable Acres – 650 Vertical – 1,320’ Terrain – 30% Beginner, 35% Intermediate, 35% Advanced Lifts – 8 Chairlifts + 2 Surface Conveyor aka Magic

Carpet Runs – 71 Terrain Parks – 3 Ticket Prices – Pricing for the 2020/21 season will be on a sliding scale from $38-$89. For the best price, plan ahead, visit mid-week, and purchase online.

Kids 10 and under are FREE with the new Power Kids

Pass. Drive Time – 4 hours from Salt Lake City Hours – Sunday-Thursday 10:00am-4:00pm. Friday and

Saturday 9:30am-9:00pm. Contact – BrianHead.com, 435-677-2035

A bluebird day at Brian Head

COVID Safety Protocols at Utah Ski Resorts-

All 15 ski resorts in Utah have adopted new safety standards for the 2020/21 season. Prior to visiting a resort be sure to check their website for specific information as some may vary depending on location. Ski Utah is a great resource for all 15 resorts throughout Utah.

Here is a message from Ski Utah highlighting some of new 2020/21 winter operations safety protocols - ALL 15 OF UTAH'S SKI AREAS WILL BE FOLLOWING THESE SAFETY STANDARDS:

• Face Coverings Required: Utah ski areas will require face coverings that align with CDC recommendations whenever physical distancing cannot be achieved. This includes both indoor and outdoor spaces, except when eating or drinking. • Physical Distancing: Utah ski areas will create operational plans that allow for appropriate spacing between parties. This includes but is not limited to the following parts of the operation: lift queues, ticket queues, ski and snowboard lessons, employee spaces and food and beverage outlets. • Cleaning & Disinfection: Utah ski areas have adopted cleaning and disinfection strategies for all areas of their operation, including high-touch areas such as restrooms, restaurants, dining facilities, ticket offices and rental shops. All cleaning products used will follow CDC and EPA guidance on agents which are effective against COVID-19. • Operating Plans: Utah ski areas will review and amend both their overall and individual departmental operating plans to: comply with local regulations; maintain physical distancing requirements; and adhere to cleaning and disinfection best practices.

For current conditions and COVID resort updates visit SkiUtah.com/covid19

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