Skiing is our Nation’s second-leading winter activity, right behind snowboarding. It is a family-filled event packed with fun, thrill, and beautiful scenery. Utah is known for its vast landscapes and serene deserts, but also for its tall-majestic mountains. In the winter, you can find yourself immersed in the beauty of snowcapped mountains that are home to dozens of light and powdery ski resorts. This is a compilation of the 6 best skiing locations in and around Utah County.
1. Brighton Resort
This wonderful white mountain averages around 500 inches of snow every year. With day tickets starting at just $29, this resort should be on your winter adventure list. The mountain has 66 trails to run on with a vertical range of 1,875 feet. Brighton Resort offers camps and lessons for little kids including ski and snowboarding skills. The best part is that kids under the age of 10 ski free of charge! If you are seeking a less crowded ski resort to play with family, then this would be an ideal spot compared to some of the neighboring resorts. The terrain at Brighton Resort greatly varies which is good for all levels of experience, and you can’t beat the price.
2. Alta Ski Area
The opening day at this ski area is November 29th! Alta Ski Area is a Snowbirds neighbor with 2,614-acres, located in Alta, Utah. Alta Ski Area is a place for only skiers. You can also find one of the best ski schools in the U.S. with diverse terrain and high-volume snow. Alta Ski Area boasts natural trails and you can purchase a ticket to both Alta and Snowbird. For adults, the Alta-Bird pass is $160, and children are $100. Multi-day passes and season passes are also available for sale. When you are done hitting the slopes, stay at one of Alta’s lodges at the base of the lifts and dine on premier dishes. This is a must-see resort for skiers looking to immerse themselves in a natural ski environment.
3. Snowbird
Snowbird Ski Resort is near Salt Lake City and is a great place to run the slopes as it is not controlled by the Forest Service. This means that as long as there is snow here, it is open! This place is best for experienced skiers as most of the terrain is rugged and very steep. There are places for beginners here, but the areas are limited. The North face of the mountain gets the freshest powder and makes it a better area to ski on. The lifts are efficient, and Snowbird is a smaller resort that is not packed by city tourists. Ticket prices for half-day at Snowbird is $123 for adults and $62 for youth during peak season. Prices are subject to change but you can save and buy them discounted online.
4. Deer Valley Resort
This luxury ski resort near Park City delivers the best possible experience for its customers and members. The resort maintains the trails by grooming them like a champion. Their goal is to provide you with the best service so that you do not have to lift a finger once you arrive. Take the blue square run up the 9,570-foot slope and cruise back down to where you began. If you are seeking more a challenge, the Daly Chute #10 Black Diamond is wide at the top, narrow in the midsection, and opens back up towards the end of the run. During your run, you can encounter the crater-like cornice after a gentle slope, this ensures that you receive a challenge to build your skills. The luxury resort also offers snowshoeing and high-quality dining experiences. Prices vary for lift tickets depending on the month and day you plan to visit.
5. Sundance Mountain Resort
Sundance Mountain Resort is up Provo Canyon and only one-hour away from Salt Lake International Airport. The resort boasts over 450-acres of land with 42 ski runs. A full day pass - 9:00am-4:30pm - for adults ages 13 and older is $90 and children ages 6-12 are $61. From the sweeping curve of the blue square to the steep slopes and gullies of black diamond, you can rest assured that you will challenge yourself and gain new skills. The quiet resort is a beautiful place to get away in its log cabin exterior. When you get to the top of the ridge, you will be immersed in dramatic scenery that captures the very essence of skiing. Sundance also offers night skiing on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. At the Nordic Center, you can participate in other snow activities like snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
6. Park City Mountain
Named the #1 most accessible resort by Ski Magazine, Park City Mountain in Park City, Utah is home to 7,300 acres of peaks, bowls, and terrain parks. This park was first opened in 1963 when the last silver miner opened ski lifts on what is now Park City Mountain Resort. Some run highlights include the Aplande - a double blue squared trail where you can gain speed and come out onto the Lower Boa for a slower ride back. There is also Fool’s Paradise - a black diamond trail that hoards the best powder on the other side of the resort. It’s called Fool’s Paradise because it has fewer people on a busy day. A single-day pass to Park City Mountain is $121 for ages 13 and older and $63 for ages 5-12. Other pass options include Park City Youth Pass, Epic Pass, and Epic Local Pass.After reviewing some of these resorts, I'll bet you can't wait to run into your garage and load up the car with all your ski gear! From within the tall mountains that are home to luxury resorts like Deer Valley, natural resorts such as Alta, and the champion-groomed trails of Park City Mountain; these 6 best skiing locations in and around Utah County will fulfill that inner winter adventure seeker!