A tour de Beaver Mountain, Cherry Peak, Nordic Valley, and Powder Mountain
This three-day trip lets you experience four of the region’s most lovable locally owned resorts.
Day 1 – Beaver Mountain & Cherry Peak
About a two-hour drive north of Salt Lake City, you’ll start your weekend at the northernmost resort of your trip, Beaver Mountain.
Opened in 1939, Beaver Mountain is one of the oldest family-owned resorts in the United States. At the ticket office, you’ll be greeted by Marge, a Beaver Mountain legend who has worked the ticket window for over 60 seasons. The Beav prides itself on the multi-generational visitor base where your entire family can have a great day together, and you’ll leave with locals like Marge knowing your name.
After enjoying a lunch at the Beaver Mountain Grill or Marge's Cabin, which has some of the best grilled lodge food available in Utah, head down through Logan, then back up to Cherry Peak.
Transitioning from the oldest resort in Utah to one of the newest, next on the list is Cherry Peak. Enjoy a half day checking out some of their fun black diamond mogul runs or their Nordic trail system adjacent to the resort. Cherry Peak offers night skiing, which gives you time to hit both resorts in one day. If you’re tired of skiing for the day, you can also check out their tubing park, which gives discounted packages for families.
After your big double-resort day, spend the night in Logan, UT, exploring the quaint local scene and getting some rest before the second day of your adventure.
Day 2 – Nordic Valley & Ogden Nordic
After having a leisurely morning in Logan, drive the one-hour scenic route to Nordic Valley. On your way, swing by The Mercantile in Ogden to grab some espresso and either a quick grab-and-go snack or a full sit-down meal. Once you get to Nordic Valley, make sure to sign up for one of their super affordable ski lessons! Your day there is a great opportunity to have a family-oriented ski day with beautiful views of Huntsville.
After a half day at Nordic Valley, switch skis and head to Ogden Nordic. Tucked between Nordic Valley and Powder Mountain, this community-run trail system offers endless options for skate skiing, classic skiing, biking, or hiking, all for a small donation.
If you’re a skate skier like me, the grooming here is some of the best in the state. It’s also dog-friendly, and last time I showed up without my dog’s harness, they even had extras to lend. That kind of generosity sums up the place perfectly.
For the night, cozy up at the Compass Rose Lodge. Dinner at the Shooting Star in Huntsville is a must. It’s quirky and filled with enough taxidermy to keep you guessing what critters you spot long after the food arrives. Bonus points if you can name every animal on the walls.
Day 3 – Powder Mountain
Wake up early and head to First Lift Coffee in the Compass Rose Lodge before heading up to Powder Mountain.
Pow Mow is the largest resort you’ll ski this weekend, but don’t be fooled by its size; it still very much has a locals vibe. The skiing is great, with wide open powder fields and steep tree skiing. My favorite part is doing bus laps, where you can ski down Woody’s World, then hop on a bus that brings you right up to the Hidden Lake Cantina. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, don’t miss the ramen and live music at the Powder Keg.
The Ride Home
From Powder Mountain, the drive back to Salt Lake City is easy. You’ll descend through Ogden Canyon and drop into the scenic Salt Lake Valley.
Whether you’re catching a flight out of Salt Lake City International Airport or just heading home, this kind of weekend is full of memories that feel like a bygone era full of mom-and-pop ski areas. Utah skiing isn’t only about big names and big terrain sometimes; the best weekends come from smaller mountains, quaint lodges, and people who treat you like family at every turn.
