A Winter Road Trip to Utah's Top Ski Resorts Guide

Oct 10

Utah is busy during the winter season with tourists from all over the country flocking to its mountains to experience the top ski resorts. It’s not surprising why tourists love Utah since this is an affordable ski destination with plenty to choose from in terms of ski resorts and snow activities. In fact, it is a popular alternative to the ski resorts of Colorado, which are much more expensive.

Top 5 Salt Lake City Ski Resorts

This is a list of the best Salt Lake City ski resorts that you need to add to your list of options for your next winter road trip.

Deer Valley Resort

When talking about the list of the best Salt Lake City ski resorts, Deer Valley is one that you can’t afford to miss. It is a true skier’s paradise that is popular for its prime ski conditions and a wide array of summer activities.

This world-class facility has a good mix of terrains suited for all levels of ski enthusiasts. It is a skiers-only resort that is located approximately 45 minutes from Salt Lake City (or 2 miles from downtown Park City). This is also a well-known family resort with an equally world-class customer service. You will truly appreciate the small details that they offer to ensure comfort and convenience for guests, such as free ski storage, well-maintained facilities, and more.

As mentioned above, advanced skiers will have enough variety of terrains to choose from to challenge any skill level. But there are also training slopes for those who are still learning the sport. You have plenty of room to practice because the entire resort spans 2,000 acres. All the runs are properly laid-out with impressive fall lines.

To ensure that every guest can maximize their ski experience, Deer Valley limits the number of skiers per day to 7,500. This means that you can go there, even during the holidays, and not have to worry about it being too crowded.

If you like to enjoy great food during your travels, you will be in for a pleassant surprise, as Deer Valley Ski Resort is also known for its impeccable food selection.

Park City Mountain Resort

When you are traveling to Utah and looking for the best ski resort, make sure to add Park City Mountain Resort to your list. It is popular among avid skiers because of the extensive array of terrains to choose from. Recently, the resort also expanded its snowmobiling capabilities along with the addition of après ski infrastructure and more terrain parks.

It is also recommended because this is one of Utah’s largest ski resorts with 7,300 acres of terrain. Skiers of all skill levels flock to this resort during winter to make the most of the snow (approximately 30 feet of snow during winter).

There are two bases for Park City Mountain Resort: Park City Mountain Village and Canyons Village. These two bases have their distinctive characteristics that appeal to a wide range of tourists. Canyons Village is larger, with more variety in terms of ski terrain. You can also find a wide selection of gourmet restaurants for those with a discerning taste in food. Overall, it is livelier, as concerts are held during peak seasons.

Alta Ski Area

The Alta Ski Area is a special place for avid skiers in Utah; it is known as the first ever ski-only resort in Utah. It is located at the end of the Little Cottonwood Valley and has an average of 42 feet of snow annually. There are plenty of groomed runs and terrains that are best suited to intermediate and experienced skiers.

The resort boasts over 2,000 skiable acres with two distinct bases: Wildcat and Albion. In Wildcat, you can find lots of parking spaces and skier facilities. In Albion, you have limited parking, but this is where the ski school is located.

The facilities and restaurants available at Alta Ski Area are quite basic. Those who come here do so mainly for skiing. However, there are plenty of accommodation options for those who want to stay here for a few days.

Snowbird Ski Resort

Snowbird Ski Resort is another high-end resort in Utah that avid skiers flock to. The terrains here are far more challenging than the ones already mentioned on this list. Therefore, it is a haven for experienced skiers and snowboarders. The extreme terrains here are targeted for expert skiers.

If you’re a beginner, you might want to consider other ski resorts in Utah. The popularity of Snowbird Ski Resort is attributed to the fact that it has the longest opening times out of the ski resorts on this list. It also gets a tremendous amount of snow every year, which creates the perfect condition for skiing.

The Snowbird Ski Resort is approximately 35 minutes away from Salt Lake City. If you plan on staying here for a few nights, you have plenty of accommodations to choose from. You can even find ones that offer après-ski, for those who want to explore dining, spa, and other facilities.

Brighton Ski Resort

On the opposite end of the spectrum from Snowbird Ski Resort (made for advanced skiers), Brighton Ski Resort is the best choice for beginners. Its history dates back to 1963 when a team of engineers put together a rope tow that enabled folks to get up to the mountain. Nowadays, this method of exploring the mountains remains the same, but this resort has greatly evolved to include high-tech facilities and over 1,000 acres of terrain for skiing and snowboarding.

Brighton Ski Resort is not intimidating for beginners and those looking to hone their skills. However, there are some parts of the terrain that will really challenge you. It is not as crowded as other Salt Lake City ski resorts, but that does not mean it is any less beautiful than them. In fact, the lack of crowd will give you more reasons to marvel at the tall evergreens and towering mountains.

It does lack the luxury amenities that you would expect to find from bigger resorts, but you can get no-frills basic facilities such as restaurants, bars, and shops. This resort is all about getting you to the slopes. With 22 runs, you will surely get a lot of practice here!

Brighton Ski Resort is located approximately 40 minutes from Salt Lake City. It is the best option for skiers who are looking for a budget-friendly alternative with fewer crowds.

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