SKI UTAH

SkiUtah: YOUR PERFECT MOUNTAIN GETAWAY AWAITS WRITTEN BY: ANELISE BERGIN, SKI UTAH

When you think of the Greatest Snow on Earth®, a few things probably come to mind — deep, dry fluffy powder turns, perfectly groomed corduroy, that special crunching sound that only a perfectly fresh snow can make under your ski boot, and most of all … the big, happy smiles all around. But Utah doesn’t just provide the Greatest Snow on Earth® (and it does, based on empirical scientific research done at the University of Utah by atmospheric scientist, Jim Steenburgh), it also provides the greatest time on Earth (no research needed).

Finding a vacation spot that fits the bill for everyone in the group isn’t always an easy feat. One person wants to see local artists and experience the dining, another is an adrenaline-seeker looking for the next big adventure, and there’s always a few in the group who just want that perfect Instagram post. Tired of pulling your hair out trying to accommodate all these requests? Pile them all in the car, or on a non-stop flight (offered from over 98 cities around the world) and bring them to Utah. With 15 resorts in the state (10 less than an hour from the airport), 54 local breweries and distilleries, and an average of 229 sunny days in Park City, the possibilities are endless.

Stay in Salt Lake City and experience local restaurants, shops and history while others in the group head for a day on the slopes at one of 10 resorts located just 45 minutes away. Stay in the town of Park City and experience ski-in, ski-out mountain-town luxury with plenty to do for the whole family, from snowshoeing to spa experiences to gallery hopping. Find an off-the-beaten-path, artfocused experience beneath the towering Mt. Timpanogos at Sundance Resort. Ski in the desert red rock in Southern Utah at Brian Head Resort. Find quiet powder skiing and epic views at Snowbasin or Powder Mountain, then head back to Ogden to see the stars like never before at North Fork Park, a designated International Dark-Sky Association location, just minutes from downtown.

A true crowd pleaser, Utah’s resorts are ready to show your group a great time. Experience a getaway, and snow, unlike any other — only in Utah.

Sundance Ski Resort. © 2016 Marc Piscotty.

Average Annual Snowfall: 547” Highest Point: 11,068’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 2,614 Vertical Drop: 2,538’ Distance from SLC Airport: 37 miles Best Known For: Incredible powder for skiersonly since 1938. Alta is the second oldest ski area in America to have lift-served skiing and is one of only three resorts in the United States that does not allow snowboarding. Average Annual Snowfall: 400” Highest Point: 8,800’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 828 Vertical Drop: 1,700’ Distance from SLC Airport: 2 hours Best Known For: No crowds, affordable lift tickets and an old-school style. Thanks to a northeastern slope exposure and wellmaintained slopes, “the Beav” offers some of the best skiing and riding in the state.

BRIGHTON RESORT

Average Annual Snowfall: 500” Highest Point: 10,500’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 1,050 Vertical Drop: 1,875’ Distance from SLC Airport: 36 miles Best Known For: Where the locals learn to ski or ride. Brighton has excellent terrain parks, a variety of advanced terrain, and is one of the snowiest resorts in the state, with every run accessed by high speed quad.

EAGLE POINT RESORT

Average Annual Snowfall: 350” Highest Point: 10,600’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 650 Vertical Drop: 1,500’ Distance from SLC Airport: 3 hours Best Known For: A picturesque resort off the beaten path with affordable lift tickets. After the holidays, Eagle Point is only open Friday through Monday, reserving Tuesday through Thursday for private groups. Rent the entire resort for yourself and 200 of your closest friends.

POWDER MOUNTAIN

Average Annual Snowfall: 500” Highest Point: 9,422’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 8,464* Vertical Drop: 2,205’ Distance from SLC Airport: 57 miles Best Known For: You won’t find many lift lines or tracked-out runs at Powder Mountain. Only 1,500 tickets are sold daily, preserving an unprecedented ski experience with plenty of powder to go around. Over 8,000 acres when you include cat skiing and ski shuttled terrain.

CHERRY PEAK RESORT

Average Annual Snowfall: 322” Highest Point: 7,050’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 200 Vertical Drop: 1,221’ Distance from SLC Airport: 1.5 hours Best Known For: A refreshing, nonintimidating, affordable ski experience. Perfect for beginners and those who are looking for an intimate, unique experience hidden away in the Cache Valley. Open seven days a week for night-skiing.

NORDIC VALLEY

Average Annual Snowfall: 300” Highest Point: 6,400’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 120 Vertical Drop: 1,000’ Distance from SLC Airport: 53 miles Best Known For: All-access night skiing — ski 100% of the resort until 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Small and intimate, Nordic Valley offers an authentic experience with all its base services out of one lodge, an iconic red-roofed barn.

SNOWBASIN RESORT

Average Annual Snowfall: 300” Highest Point: 9,350’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 3,000 Vertical Drop: 3,000’ Distance from SLC Airport: 47 miles Best Known For: Despite being named as the most accessible resort in the West by Ski Magazine (2019), Snowbasin has remained of the best-kept secrets of Utah. The resort was also home to the downhill events in the 2002 Winter Olympics.

SOLITUDE MOUNTAIN RESORT

Average Annual Snowfall: 500” Highest Point: 10,488’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 1,200 Vertical Drop: 2,494’ Distance from SLC Airport: 34 miles Best Known For: A European-style base village with inviting lodging, incredible views and a variety of terrain from beginner to advanced. In addition to downhill, Solitude also boasts 20 kilometers of Nordic skiing.

SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN RESORT

Average Annual Snowfall: 300” Highest Point: 8,250’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 450 Vertical Drop: 2,150’ Distance from SLC Airport: 55 miles Best Known For: Nestled directly under Mountain Timpanogos’s 12,000 ft. peak, Sundance boasts some of the most breathtaking views in Utah. The resort also boasts two award winning restaurants and a charming village. Average Annual Snowfall: 360” Highest Point: 11,307’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 650 Vertical Drop: 1,707’ Distance from SLC Airport: 3.5 hours Best Known For: Utah’s southernmost ski resort with unreal red-rock scenery and dry powder. New for the 2019-20 ski season, the new high-speed Navajo Express quad chairlift has replaced the fixed-grip triple chair on Navajo Mountain.

DEER VALLEY RESORT

Average Annual Snowfall: 300” Highest Point: 9,570’ above ski level Skiable Acres: 2,026 Vertical Drop: 3,000’ Distance from SLC Airport: 39 miles Best Known For: An iconic, skiers-only, luxury resort experience with a friendly vibe, offering everything from a ski valet to ski-in, ski-out luxury accommodations, to a five-star dining reputation. Renowned for its expertly groomed runs and an exceptional ski school.

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN

Average Annual Snowfall: 355” Highest Point: 10,000’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 7,300 Vertical Drop: 3,200’ Distance from SLC Airport: 37 miles Best Known For: Expansive terrain, a worldclass ski and snowboard school, and historic, mountain-town charm. The most lift-served acreage in the United States, nestled right against the beautiful town of Park City.

SNOWBIRD

Average Annual Snowfall: 500” Highest Point: 11,000’ above sea level Skiable Acres: 2,500 Vertical Drop: 3,200’ Distance from SLC Airport: 32 miles Best Known For: Snowbird has the longest ski season of any resort in Utah, with its closing day often in May, and occasionally in the summer months. The mountain is home to Utah’s only aerial tram, a 125-passenger lift that whisks up 2,900 vertical ft.

WOODWARD PARK CITY

Indoor Area: 66,000 square feet Outdoor Area: 125 acres Highest Point: 6,812’ above sea level Distance from SLC Airport: 27 miles Best Known For: Woodward’s first Utah location offers a world-class, year-round, action sports and ski resort. Outdoor facilities will teach skiing and riding at every level and indoor activities will include trampolines, foam pits, parkour, skateboarding, a tumbling floor and more.