The 8 Best Ski Resorts in Utah
As winter is rapidly approaching, the talk about skiing is heating up. It’s no secret that Utah is arguably the best place to ski in the country, and maybe even North America. The best part is that most of the resorts on this list are within 40 minutes of downtown Salt Lake City, making this city a phenomenal winter destination.
Some resorts on this list get over 500 inches of snow per year, meaning that all the snow you’re skiing on is natural. With several ski resorts located just minutes from Salt Lake City, the most difficult question can often be which one to visit. That’s exactly what we’ll answer. Here’s an extensive list of the best ski resorts in Utah to make planning your winter getaway that much easier.
1. Alta
We’re starting this list with arguably my favorite resort. In just 30 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, you can get to Alta. The ski resort got more snow than any other in the nation last year at over 900 inches. Although this number is abnormal, the resort can still see up to 500 inches of snow per year. Alta boasts 119 ski trails, tailored to experienced skiers. Trails like Alf’s High Rustler and Eagle’s Nest & Hourglass Chute are some of the most difficult in the country. Along these trails, you can see spectacular views of the nearby mountains and surrounding scenery.
The one downside (or upside depending on who you are) is that snowboards are not allowed, meaning that Alta is solely a ski area. If over 100 different skiing trails aren’t enough, you can upgrade to the AltaBird pass which allows you to ski Alta and Snowbird on the same day. The two resorts are easily connected through trails making it a seamless transition between Alta and Snowbird. Talking about seamless transitions between Alta and Snowbird…
2. Snowbird
Snowbird is a lot like Alta, as they share the same area and even share some trails. Deciding which one is better is an impossible task, meaning that if you go to Alta, you have to also check out Snowbird. This resort features around 140 trails mostly consisting of blacks and double blacks, an expert skiers paradise. Snowbird also features a ski tunnel named Peruvian Tunnel, the only ski tunnel on the continent.
14 lifts connect almost all trails in Snowbird, with one of these lifts being an aerial tram. Taking what’s called the Snowbird Tram is a 13-minute long journey that stretches 1.6 miles, taking skiers up 2,900 feet to the top of Hidden Peak. Here, you can find the highest restaurant in the state of Utah, named The Summit. Snowbird can generally see more crowds than Alta and most other resorts on this list, but it isn’t as bad as Deer Valley and Park City. Overall, the Alta and Snowbird combo is practically as good as it can get. With access to hundreds of ski slopes and world-class terrain.
3. Snowbasin Resort
Scott Catron from Sandy, Utah, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
We’re moving north to Snowbasin, parts of this resort were used for the 2002 Winter Olympics, meaning that this resort is the real deal. The resort features just under 120 slopes spread out on 3,000 acres of land. What’s special about this place is that 16 miles have been allocated specially for cross-country skiing. Snowbasin has an insane mix of intermediate and expert trails, giving experienced skiers plenty to do here.
The resort has several dining options scattered around the slopes, with a crazy selection of amazing food. Snowbasin doesn’t host many beginner slopes, so new skiers should look elsewhere. But if you’ve had experience skiing, and you want excellent views while skiing fantastic terrain, Snowbasin is a good choice.
4. Powder Mountain
Powder Mountain is rarely mentioned in the talk of Utah skiing, meaning that this resort is a true hidden gem. At over 8,000 acres, the resort is the largest ski area by acreage in the country. Combine this with the nonexistent crowds, and you’ve got the ultimate skiing destination. Powder Mountain limits the amount of tickets to 1,500 per day meaning that each person has over 5 acres to themselves, even on a fully booked day. This kind of seclusion is something that you can’t find in any other Utah ski resort.
As the name suggests, Powder Mountain is full of pow days. The over 500 inches of snow per year that falls in Powder Mountain goes relatively untouched due to the low crowds, making the pow here unlike anywhere else. The resort is also home to a diverse range of different slopes, so that beginners, intermediates, and experts can all ski at their comfort level. Not all of the 8,000 acres are connected by lifts and the resort is pretty secluded from anything else, but the benefits seem to far outweigh the drawbacks here making Powder Mountain one of the best ski resorts not just in Utah but in the country.
5. Park City Mountain
You haven’t truly skied Utah until you visit Park City. This was the main base of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and for good reason. More than the skiing, it’s the base that’s most impressive. There are endless hotels, restaurants, and shops. If you aren’t keen on skiing but want to visit a charming winter town, Park City is practically your only option.
Turning to the slopes, Park City has close to 350 slopes, rivaling resorts in the Alps such as Les 3 Vallees and Zermatt. The park is perfect for all ski levels and is extremely family-friendly. The major downside of Park City is the crowds: the lines for ski lifts are long and the sheer amount of people on the slopes can prove problematic. Still, if you’re traveling in a large group or you want somewhere ideal for multiple days, Park City is a fantastic option.
6. Deer Valley
Deer Valley is a resort targeted for wealthy individuals. The entire resort is luxurious with unbeatable customer service, multiple five-star hotels, and sit-down restaurants. With all this fanciness comes a hefty price tag, but if you don’t mind the hefty cost, this is the resort for you. The crowds are limited, the atmosphere is amazing, and the slopes are world-class. The resort is known for its groomed trails providing a skiing experience like no other. The resort has an extensive 103 trails and 25 lifts including a gondola. If money is not an issue and you’re looking for a luxurious skiing experience, Deer Valley is the place for you. Personally, I can’t justify paying that much.
7. Brighton Resort
Brighton is another fantastic resort situated between Alta and Park City. The resort sees a staggering amount of snow every year making for fantastic pow days. The park is also ideal for beginners, with many beginner slopes. Brighton is connected to Soltitude, another Utah ski resort, via the Solbright trail, meaning that your lift ticket is valid in both ski resorts.
Speaking of lift tickets, Brighton has the most affordable lift ticket out of anyone on this list. The drawback is that Brighton is the second smallest ski resort on this list, at around 1,100 acres of skiable land. The base is small too, with limited dining and accommodation. Overall, Brighton is a perfect resort for those who don’t want to break the bank while at the same time wanting to ski the Utah mountains.
8. Brian Head Resort
Courtesy of Brian Head Resort
The last resort on our list of the best ski resorts in Utah is Brian Head Resort, which I picked due to its location. If you’re planning to be around Salt Lake City, the resort shouldn’t even be considered as there are seven other resorts to choose from. This resort is for those who are in the southern part of Utah and don’t want to make the long drive north to any of the other resorts. I’d consider Brian Head Resort the best resort in southern Utah and for good reason. There are 71 trails to ski down along a total of 650 acres. Although this is the smallest number on this list, it’s quite impressive for southern Utah.
The resort is expected to over double this size in the next 30 years with a new expansion project, which will make this resort a worthy competitor to many of the Salt Lake City ski resorts. The resort is situated inside the town of Brian Head, so although there are no airports, there are still plenty of accommodations, restaurants, and shops. Overall, Brian Head is a fantastic choice for southern Utah but pales in comparison to the other seven resorts on this list. This means that I’d only recommend skiing Brian Head if you can’t make the trip north to one of the other resorts on this list.
Conclusion
There you have it, the best ski resorts in Utah covered for the 2024 season. I hope this article helped you with your search and you were able to pick a resort from this list that spoke to you.
