You must’ve encountered the trademarked slogan “Greatest Snow on Earth.”
But have you heard of the nickname “18 Monster dumps”?
Both of these phrases describe Utah’s legendary snow.
Utah’s resorts receive high seasonal snowfalls of dry powdery snow from some 40 snowstorm events. The great snowfalls are bolstered by the Great Salt Lake effect and the red sandstone deserts.
Utah is a snow mecca and a skier’s paradise with 14 world-class ski areas. 10 of these ski fields are located within an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City, allowing easy access from the city and the airport. Utah’s resorts offer dynamic terrain that suits snow lovers of all abilities and levels. They also treat thrill-seekers to picturesque views of the mountainous landscape.
So are you ready to hit the slopes? Your next winter holiday destination is definitely on this list of the best ski resorts in Utah.
Park City Mountain Resort
This is one of the largest ski resorts in the US and is famous for its superb ski village. It is also one of the best places to ski in Utah.
Skiers and snowboarders flock to the resort due to its extensive terrain, awesome terrain parks, superb alpine fresh air, and great après-ski.
The expansive ski resort consists of two ski areas: Park City Mountain and Park City Canyons. The two ski areas are lift-linked and each provides its own brand of snow adventures.
In 2002, the resort was put on the world map when it hosted that year’s Winter Olympic Games.
How To Get to The Park City Mountain Resort
The resort is located about 45 minutes (60 kilometers) away from the Salt Lake International Airport. The airport has many direct flights to and from major cities in the US and the world.
Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) is located right in the heart of Park City. The resort’s base and village are about 1.5 kilometers from the city’s downtown. The Canyon Ski area’s village is 7 kilometers from Park City’s Main Street.
If you’re arriving through the airport, you’ll find many transfer options to the resort. You can either rent a car, take a taxi or take public or private shuttles. Some hotels also provide private transfers for their booked clients to their premises.
Park City Mountain Resort’s Terrain
PCMR is famous for its legendary dry powder. It receives a seasonal average snowfall of 9.1 meters. Even though the resort’s snow quantity is quite high, it has powerful snow-making capabilities to complement the natural snow.
The ski field has an expansive skiable terrain measuring 7,300 acres with 341 marked trails. It has an excellent modern lift system that includes 41 lifts that ferry thrill-seekers up the resort’s 975 meters of vertical.
The ski field’s terrain stats are as follows:
- 8% beginner
- 41% intermediate
- 28% advanced
- 23% expert
The resort is favorable to novice skiers with its groomed runs located on a gentle slope. It is also great for intermediates who love the over 115 wide runs that are groomed each night. Advanced skiers also love tree skiing, 8 terrain parks, and 13 bowls.
Where to Stay and Dine in Park City Mountain
There is ample accommodation at the resort’s base in the iconic town of Park City. You can stay in either Canyons Village or Mountain Village. The historic town offers many accommodation facilities including apartments, hotels, restaurants, bars, and townhouses.
Main Street town is perfectly situated in the town and is near the Town Lift, which provides easy access to the slopes. Main Street has a vibrant nightlife with a great après ski.
Powder Mountain
This is the largest ski resort in the USA. It is further from Salt Lake City than the other resorts on this list. However, it has modern world-class facilities where you’ll find the best skiing in Utah.
This resort is often less crowded because of the lack of tourists.
How To Get to The Powder Mountain Resort
The Powder Mountain Resort is situated in Ogden Valley, 88 kilometers north of Salt Lake City (about an hour’s drive).
To get around the resort, you can take the UTA Ski bus at the Park & Hide lot in Eden. The bus provides transport between Ogden and the Powder Mountain Resort. You’ll also find private shuttle services from Salt Lake City to the resort. Some of the accommodation facilities may also arrange private airport transfers to their facilities.
Powder Mountain Resort’s Terrain
The resort is renowned for its great natural snow, and the fact that it does not need artificial snowmaking infrastructure. It receives a consistent average seasonal snowfall of over 12.7 meters, covering the slopes with deep, dry powder.
Powder Mountain features a vast 8,464 acres of skiable terrain, with 154 trails. The 135 kilometers of slopes are accessed via 9 lifts that transport thrill-seekers up the 672-meter vertical. The terrain is classified as follows:
- 22% (30 kilometers) easy runs
- 37% (50 kilometers) intermediate runs
- 41% (55 kilometers) advanced black runs
Where to Stay and Dine in Powder Mountain
The resort has limited lodging facilities. However, you’ll find on-mountain cabins at the Left’y Canyon Area. These cabins are self-contained and are ski-in/ski-out. More accommodation can be found in Wolf Creek and Eden which are about a 15-to-20-minute drive from the resort. You’ll also find more lodging, dining, and shopping options in Ogden
Deer Valley
This resort is close to the Park City Mountain Resort and is a favorite destination for an upscale market. It is a skiers-only paradise with first-class facilities and excellent terrain which caters to all abilities and levels.
The resort is part of the Ikon Pass which allows you to ski all Ikon-sponsored ski fields all year round.
It is a perfect getaway for families to experience deluxe service. And even though services in Deer Valley are pricier than in other resorts on this list, it is worth every penny.
How To Get to The Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley (DV) is situated on the Wasatch Range about 59 kilometers east of Park City. Access to the resort is via the Salt Lake City International Airport which is 38 kilometers away. Deer Valley’s main village is located about 5 kilometers from the Park City Mountain Resort.
There are various transfer options from the airport including shuttle buses, (both public and private), rental cars, and private transfers to specific facilities. Hotels also offer private transfers for booked guests. The Park City transit system also operates free buses that link Deer Valley to Downtown Park City.
Getting from Salt Lake City is also convenient via public and private shuttle buses. You can also board a bus from downtown Salt Lake City and alight at the Kimball Junction. From here, you can connect to the Deer Valley resort via another bus or taxi cab.
Deer Valley’s Terrain
This resort receives an impressive seasonal average snowfall of about 7.6 meters. Even though this snow volume is quite remarkable, it is the lowest in all of Utah’s resorts. To keep the slopes covered in the good white stuff, snow machines dump copious amounts of man-made snow to complement the natural precipitation.
The ski resort’s 2,026 acres of snow-covered terrain sprawls across six mountains. On this are 103 impeccably groomed runs accessed via 21 modern lifts. The lift infrastructure is remarkable and conveniently stationed to allow access to every part of the vast slopes. They include high-speed quad chairs and a gondola.
Even though the resort is a family-faced facility, it has a varied terrain that caters to different abilities and levels. It is an intermediate skier’s haven with lots of challenging features. However, it also has fantastic glades, moguls, and bowls that advanced skiers love.
Where to Stay and Dine in Deer Valley
The resort has a capacity to hold about 50,000 people. However, to limit crowdedness, the management imposes a limit of 7,500 people per day.
The following are some of the best places for eating and lodging:
- Deer Valley’s J & G Grill (for fresh and tasty seafood)
- Mariposa Seafood
- Stein Eriksen Lodge
Alta Ski Area
This is one of the oldest ski areas in the US. It has a rich history that dates back to 1939 and is famous for its avalanche mitigation system. Like the Deer Valley Ski Resort, Alta Ski Area is a ski-only resort and skiers regard it as one of the best ski resorts in Salt Lake City.
The resort’s base is fairly compact and has two lift-linked main base areas, the Albion and the AltaBird.
How To Get to The Alta Ski Area
The Alta Ski Area is nestled within the Wasatch Mountains, overlooking the Little Cottonwood Valley. It is about 41 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. The closest airport is Salt Lake City International Airport which is a 45-minute drive, with favorable road conditions. It is situated adjacent to the Snowbird Ski Resort.
Select lodges and hotels offer free transport to and from the slopes to their premises. If you chose to drive and spend the night at the resort, it offers parking at a fee. However, you’ll need to reserve your spot during peak periods such as holidays and weekends.
Alta Ski Area’s Terrain
This resort has impressive high amounts of seasonal snow, rivaled only by ski resorts in Niseko or Kiroro in Japan. It receives a high average seasonal snowfall of 13.9 meters. The snow is also well-preserved and deep, allowing advanced skiers to try out crazy stunts.
The Alta Ski area has 2,614 acres of skiable terrain, with 116 kilometers of trails that carve the slopes. These are accessed via 7 lifts that include primary chair lifts and express quads. The lift whisk thrill seekers up a 616 -meter vertical.
The ski area’s 116 kilometers of trails are classified as follows:
- 25% (29 kilometers) beginner blue runs
- 40% (46.4 kilometers) red intermediate runs
- 35% (40.6 kilometers) black trails for advanced skiers
Where to Stay and Dine in Alta Ski Area
There are five lodges that provide accommodation facilities for weary snow lovers. You’ll also find well-equipped condos around the resort which are just a few minutes away from the slopes. For cheaper lodging and a wider variety of accommodation and dining options, you try Salt Lake City which is further from the ski field..
Snowbird
Snowbird is one of the most scenic resorts in Utah, with great views of the jagged mountain peaks. The Snowbird ski area borders the Alta Ski Area.
Snowbird and Alta Ski Area join at the top at the Sugarloaf Pass. Combined, the two ski fields offer a large ski area with activities for everyone.
How To Get to The Snowbird
The resort is situated in the Rocky Mountains and nestled in the Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Mountain range.
It is about 47 kilometers away from the Salt Lake City International Airport (about a 45-minute drive). There are various transfer options from the airport including private transport options, rental cars, and shuttle buses.
Snowbird’s Terrain
Snowbird resort’s snow is among the best in North America and comparable to that in Japan’s ski fields. It receives an impressive seasonal average of about 12.7 meters. The skiing season is said to be one of the longest in Utah, starting from mid-November to May.
The Snowbird Ski And Summer Resort has an expansive 2,500 acres of skiable terrain. It is accessed via 10 chairlifts, 1 tram, 6 high-speed quads, and 4 double chairlifts. They transport skiers up a 987-meter vertical. The terrain’s 603-kilometer pistes are classified as follows:
- 26% (27 kilometers) easy
- 37% (38 kilometers) intermediate
- 37% (38 kilometers) advanced
Where to Stay and Dine in Snowbird
You have five different lodging options to choose from depending on your budget needs. Some great places to stay and dine include the Cliff Club and the Cliff Lodge where you can stay and enjoy superb room service.
Find All the Information You Need to Plan Your Winter Getaway on Brealpa
Planning a winter holiday can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Our site has all the information you need to plan the perfect snow sports holiday. Brealpa curates up-to-date helpful information to guide you as you prepare for a fun-filled snow adventure. We provide hands-on information on:
- Resort seasons, opening, and closing times
- Inspiration for snow activities to keep your whole family engaged
- Best times to visit various ski fields to avoid crowdedness or for immersive experiences where you can also make friends.
