Road Trip: Northern Utah

By Yeti \ December 26 2018

Away from the hustle and bustle of the Cottonwood Canyons and Park City lie the undiscovered gems of Utah’s ski resorts. Head south and you’ll find Sundance, Eagle Point, and Brian Head. Venture north and you’ll discover Snowbasin Resort, Nordic Valley, Powder Mountain, and Beaver Mountain. Each mountain harbors a unique vibe and culture, waiting to be experienced by intrepid snow lovers who are willing to venture further afield.

The Ski Utah crew took a trek north to unwind and enjoy the mountains at a slower pace. Our journey coincided with a 30-inch storm cycle that kept us plenty distracted from anything but deep powder skiing and shredding.

Our first stop was the family-owned and operated Beaver Mountain, nestled near the summit of Northern Utah’s Logan Canyon, just over the hill from the shockingly blue waters of Bear Lake. Beaver first started serving skiers back in 1939 and the history of the mountain is a classic tale of tenacity and passion for the sport of skiing.

On Beaver Mountain, life unfolds at a slower pace. Leave your cell phone in the car; you won’t need it anyway since there isn’t a signal in these parts. The stoke for skiing and snowboarding at The Beav’ runs high and you’ll more than likely locate untracked stashes of powder days after a storm. We sure did...

After finding a parking spot mere steps away from the lift, we walked into the small chalet at the base area to greet Marge and grab our lift tickets. Marge is the matriarch of Beaver Mountain and her family owns and operates the place. After a morning of exploring the mountain (and plenty of powder-filled face shots) we tucked in for lunch and only one of our crew was brave enough to sample the ‘Big Beav Double Bypass Burger,’ two hamburger patties with cheese topped by bacon and a stack of french fries.

With no cell service and zero crowds at Beaver Mountain, we were able to completely unplug and focus on enjoying the snow, cracking jokes, scoping lines, and just being present in each moment. This special place encapsulates all that is sacred about skiing and snowboarding and the journey up Logan Canyon is well worth the stoke, snow, and friendly locals you’ll find in the Bear River Mountain Range.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared from Instagram

After an action-packed day at The Beav we turned the Ski Utah mobile back south for the infamous Shooting Star Saloon, in Eden, Utah. This is an obligatory stop for anyone visiting either Powder Mountain or Snowbasin. As the longest operating bar in Utah’s history, it’s packed full of quirky decor. Over 15,000 one-dollar bills grace the ceiling and a menacing looking St. Bernard named Buck looms over my favorite booth. We all snarfed down Shooting Star Burgers (topped with spicy knockwurst) before turning in early for the next day’s exploration of Powder Mountain.

The sinuous road up to Powder Mountain, or “Pow Mow” as locals call it, provides ample opportunity for anticipation to build. The sprawling terrain of Powder Mountain offers endless options for carving groomers, hitting the unusual features in the terrain park, powder skiing, cat skiing, or a vigorous hike up James Peak. We opted to hunt down numerous stashes of powder lurking in the stands of aspens and pines. Again, we felt as though we had the whole place to ourselves and there’s nothing quite as satisfying as spinning laps on empty lifts with friends when the sun is shining and the snow is fresh. A steaming bowl of ramen in the Powder Keg bar ended our day but only fueled the desire to soon return to Northern Utah.