Picking the Best Utah Ski Resort for Your Winter Vacation
Utah is more than skiing, even in winter. Each of its 15 resorts has a vibe as distinct as its terrain. Get a local’s insight on where to go.
With 15 ski resorts to choose from, Utah visitors often ask, “Where should I go?” With a straight face, locals will reply, “Where the snow is.” Yes, Utahns have a sense of humor, but we take snow sports and the outdoors seriously and have very strong opinions about where to go and when. Getting to Utah resorts is easy. There are 10 resorts within about an hour’s drive of Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), and others are just a morning jaunt from Las Vegas's airport (LAS). (Read: Utah’s Easy Access)
So, the big question is, “What kind of vacation do I want?”
Combining its silver mining town heritage, an artistic vibe and a deep appreciation for the outdoors, Park City strikes a balance between luxury and comfort
Photo: Kevin Winzeler
Park City: Deer Valley, Park City Mountain and Woodward
If you’re reading this article, then you’re wondering, “What’s beyond Park City?” The eponymous Park City Mountain resort and its next-door neighbor, Deer Valley, are two of Utah’s best-known and most-lauded attracting thousands of skiers annually. This mountain town is growing fast. A third resort, Woodward Park City, opened in the winter of 2019 and has quickly become a local favorite. This world-class facility offers kid and adult training and camps centered around action sports, with a special focus on ski and snowboarding activities in the winter. In addition to terrain parks, half pipes and ski runs, the resort includes lighted and lift-serviced tubing.
In the last 20 years, Ogden has advanced a reputation as an outdoor recreation mecca.
Photo: Courtesy of Snowbasin Resort
Ogden: Nordic Valley, Powder Mountain and Snowbasin
For world-class slopes without the crowds, Salt Lake locals make the short drive 45 minutes north to the bucolic Ogden Valley. Only in a state where there are so many great resorts could this place — with towns literally called Eden and Paradise — be hidden in plain sight. Home to the ritzy Snowbasin (venue for the 2002 Olympic alpine skiing events), family-friendly Nordic Valley and if-Austin-was-a-ski-resort Powder Mountain, Ogden Valley offers some of the country’s best skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing and just about anything else you can think of in the most laid-back atmosphere (Read: Top Ski Towns in Utah). It makes a great base camp for families and powder hounds looking for a place to connect with one another and disconnect from everything else. There are fewer restaurants than its urban or trendy cousins, and some of the best nightlife may be viewing the cosmos at North Fork Park, an IDA-accredited International Dark Sky Park. But the Ogden Valley also boasts Utah's oldest bar, The Shooting Star Saloon, and one of the state’s premium distilleries, New World, are nearby allowing folks from all over to swap tales of who had the best run of the day.
Sundance is an intimate resort that defines “rustic elegance.”
Photo: Adam Clark
Provo: Sundance Mountain Resort
If you want a more romantic getaway complete with skiing, hiking, dining, year-round outdoor relaxation pools and more, then Sundance Mountain Resort near Provo is a great choice. Perched on the back of Mount Timpanogos, the giant, flat-topped behemoth visible from as far away as Park City and the Cottonwoods, Sundance is an intimate resort featuring a base area surrounded by trees and ponds and cabins (and great food and wine) that absolutely define “rustic elegance.” Yes, the skiing is great, too, but Sundance is so ridiculously beautiful, you’ll be blown away just riding the lift.
Little Cottonwood consistently has deepest snow and the longest season in Utah.
Photo: Scott Markewitz
Salt Lake City: Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude
For those that want the best snow in the West but are overwhelmed by all the options, then why not let go and just live like a local. The Salt Lake City metropolitan area is the home to almost a million people who work, learn, eat, drink and play here — and not necessarily in that order. After dropping the kids at school, parents can sneak in a few runs at Snowbird, Alta, Brighton and Solitude (no, of course, no one tells the kids), enjoy a great meal at Urban Hill, head to the symphony, grab drinks at Post Office Place, ice skate at the Gallivan Center and then crash before doing it all again (yes, this is the most ridiculous lifestyle). Located in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, these resorts are the closest to SLC airport. Even haters agree the Cottonwoods have the deepest snow and the longest season, and with your pick of slopeside or downtown hotel options (time to cash in those Marriott points), lodging is plentiful and very affordable. This is the turn-key, last-minute, I-can’t-believe-I-didn’t-do-this-before vacation. This is also how many decide to move to Utah (if you’re scrunching up your nose thinking, “Really?,” then you obviously haven’t been here).
Though modest in size compared to other Utah resorts, some runs at Beaver Mountain have a length of over two miles.
Photo: Jay Dash
Northern Utah: Beaver Mountain and Cherry Peak
If family-fun is what you're after, consider Utah's northern-most resorts. As a family-run ski resort, Beaver Mountain is a place for people to come together and enjoy The Greatest Snow on Earth. Skiers and snowboarders can find lodging in Logan or Garden City, both great base camp options for all types of winter adventure. This resort offers the same incredible fall-line skiing of larger resorts with fewer crowds and lower prices. With 400 inches of fluffy, dry powder every season, Beaver Mountain Resort is the perfect place for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. Cherry Peak Resort features a state-of-the-art snowmaking system, three triple chair lifts, a large night skiing area, a 500-foot magic carpet area for learning and more. The resort also offers snow tubing as a fun option for the entire family. It's the perfect ski spot to appreciate the Bear River Mountains, just over three miles from downtown Richmond and 15 miles from Logan.
Brian Head is the only Utah ski resort to showcase snow-dusted red rock hoodoos.
Photo: Adam Clark
Southern Utah: Brian Head and Eagle Point
For those that want to ski and do a lot of other things, then look to Southern Utah, home to Brian Head and Eagle Point resorts as well as Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks. Only three hours north of Las Vegas (which often has the cheapest flights to anywhere, anytime) or four hours south of Salt Lake, these resorts make the most of the region’s otherworldly terrain (seriously, the place looks like the set for a sci-fi movie). What many visitors don’t realize is that Brian Head’s summit is over 10k feet making it one of the highest ski resorts and base areas in the state and the beneficiary of southwestern storms (read: powder). Coupled with the nearby desert oasis of St. George, Southern Utah is a popular warm-weather destination for golfers, hikers, mountain bikers and sun lovers of all ages (skiing + golfing + hiking in one day = The Utah Hat Trick). Salt Lake residents routinely head to St. George for a weekend to thaw out but can’t resist the great family skiing Brian Head (kids 12 and under ski free) or the legitimately undiscovered slopes of Eagle Point on the way home (Read: Your Own Private Ski Resort). So, if you can’t decide or can’t agree on what to do for your holiday, then choose Southern Utah and make everyone happy.
The bottom line is that before settling on a destination, think about what type of experience you, your family or friends dream about. Utah has choices to fit everyone, every time frame and every budget.
01
Ski City Downhill + Downtown
Big city amenities support 10 different resorts within an hour of SLC International, which means the best in downhill meets the best in downtown.
Highlights
- Craft coffee, dining and spirits
- Alta Ski Area or Snowbird Ski Resort
- Solitude Mountain Resort or Brighton Ski Resort
- Performing arts, après-ski and live music
02
Your Ikon Ski Trip Made Easy
Your Salt Lake City plane ticket is booked. Here’s a 6-day itinerary for making the most of your multi-pass.
Highlights
- Snowbasin Resort
- Solitude Mountain Resort
- Brighton Resort
- Deer Valley Resort
- Snowbird
- Alta Ski Area
03
Weekender Ski Park City
So you've decided to ski in Park City for a weekend. That decision alone will be rewarded with three resorts that eclipse over 9,000 acres of Utah's renowned skiing and riding.
Highlights
- Ski City Urban Lifestyle
- Park City Mountain
- Deer Valley Resort
- Park City Experiences
04
Ski Southern Utah: High Alpine Trails + Red Rock Wonder
Southern Utah is home to two high-elevation ski areas with generous helpings of what we call (with authority) The Greatest Snow on Earth®. Things can be a little quieter down here this time of year. Give yourself at least five days to combine the thrills of Southern Utah skiing and boarding with exploring the wintertime wonders to be found in Utah’s red rock country.
Highlights
- Brian Head Resort
- Eagle Point Resort
- Cedar Breaks National Monument
- Southern Utah Ski Vacation
- Winter Hiking in Southern Utah
Utah Ski Resorts
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Alta Ski Area
Nestled near the top of one of Utah's best canyons, Alta is a storied paradise for skiers. Even riders leave their boards at home for a chance at the 2,600+ acres of Alta's renowned slopes featuring 118 runs.
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Beaver Mountain Resort
Beaver Mountain Resort sits in the northeast corner of Utah with 828 acres of prime mountain terrain. This is a great ski resort near Logan, Utah and Idaho.
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Brian Head Resort
Surrounded by contrasting evergreen spruce and aspen, Brian Head Resort boasts the highest base among Utah's resorts, and is the only ski and snowboard resort to showcase snow-dusted red rock hoodoos from the nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument.
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Brighton Ski Resort
Located at the very top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton averages over 500 inches of snow a winter. The resorts well-balanced 1,000+ acres features 66 runs, three terrain parks and 1,875 feet of vert, all accessible from five high-speed quads.
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Cherry Peak
Cherry Peak is located just 15 miles from Logan, near the Idaho border. The family-owned, nearly 400-acre resort, features three triple chairlifts, a comprehensive snowmaking infrastructure and a 1.25 mile-long run.
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Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley Ski Resort is a skier’s paradise with superb guest services, luxury amenities and impeccable trail systems. Come winter or summer, slopeside fun abounds.
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Eagle Point
Escape the crowds and enjoy an intimate, family-friendly skiing experience on Utah’s third-highest mountain range at Eagle Point Resort in Beaver, Utah.
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Nordic Valley
Discover what Nordic Valley, the budget-friendly ski resort near Odgen, has to offer. The valley feels wonderfully secluded and offers the best of The Greatest Snow on Earth® at a budget-friendly price.
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Park City Mountain
Park City Mountain is one of Utah’s world-class ski resorts, with more than 7,300 acres of winter fun and countless things to do off the slopes.
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Powder Mountain
Powder Mountain superlatives include "terrain for days," "massive," "super fun" and "more than 500 annual inches of snow." Powder Mountain is located about 60 miles north of Salt Lake City International Airport.
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Snowbasin
Boasting world-class snow, lifts, dining and more, Snowbasin is just under an hour from SLC International Airport and 30 minutes from the vibrant city of Ogden.
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Snowbird Ski Resort
Snowbird boasts the longest ski season in Utah, often opening before Thanksgiving and staying open through Memorial Day. The resort's generous season means more time on its award-winning terrain, which includes 140 runs spread across 2,500 acres and 3,240 vertical feet.
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Solitude Mountain Resort
They say Solitude isn't just a name, it's a promise. It's crazy to think that peaceful seclusion is possible, with 1,200+ skiable acres, 82 runs, 2,494 feet of vert and the canyon's average 500 annual inches of snow. Nevertheless, solitude is very much a reality.
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Sundance Mountain Resort
Rustic, elegant and handmade are some of the words that capture the feeling of Sundance Mountain Resort. This log cabin-esque skiing resort that Robert Redford built is only an hour from Salt Lake International Airport.
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Woodward Park City
Woodward Park City is Utah's first all-in-one action sports mountain center, located just 25 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City.
