BRIAN HEAD RESORT

The best snow on Earth, a family environment and affordable pricing make Brian Head Resort ideal for everyone. And with a mini zip-line, mountain biking, alpine slide and more in the summer, the fun never stops. While Brian Head Resort has recently gone through major renovations to modernize their amenities and base lodges, they still take an old-school approach to running the mountain. Which means Brian Head has everything you want in a Utah ski resort — champagne powder and expertly groomed runs, minus the crowds, short lift lines and ticket prices that don’t break the bank. The resort prides itself on providing a relaxed, super friendly ski experience perfect for first-timers and families. Don’t be surprised if you’re greeted with a “how’s it going?” or a “hey there, what’s up?!” because staff recognizes you from your visit. Here you’re just like family—minus the head noogies.

Covering over 650 acres, the resort has two connected mountains, Giant Steps and Navajo, offering 71 runs and 8 chair lifts, two of which are high speed quads. The newly branded terrain parks, named collectively The Training Grounds, feature a construction theme with 20-plus new features. Training Grounds consists of two progressive park areas, Detour and Bypass, allowing visitors to improve their park skills with a state-of-the-art setup. Brian Head Resort has partnered with Snow Operating LLC to bring you Terrain Based Learning™. Simply put, Terrain Based Learning™ uses shaped and sculpted snow to make learning to ski and snowboard easier, quicker, and more fun. Here’s the real scoop—powder days at Brian Head are truly awesome. With very few hardcore locals to ski it out, you can ride fresh powder run after run. It’s not uncommon to be riding powder days after the storm has passed.

Entertain your inner adrenaline junkie with zip-line, chairlift rides, disc golf, and bungee trampoline. If you are up for a physical challenge, spend the day at the climbing wall and then ride your cares away at the alpine tubing. The mountain bike season is short but sweet and generally begins mid-June and runs through mid-October. Round-trip shuttle service is available by local shuttle companies to take you to over 200 miles of backcountry and downhill trails, and the Brian Head Resort chairlift provides access on weekends to incredible trails featuring ups, downs, jumps, bank turns and freestyle elements.

CEDAR BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT

The early Paiute people called Cedar Breaks National Monument the “Circle of Painted Cliffs” referring to multicolored stone ridges of this naturally carved amphitheater. Home to curious wildlife and Bristlecone pines that have been hanging around since the last millennium, time seems to stand still at Cedar Breaks and that’s really not a bad thing. Situated about two miles south of the town of Brian Head, this giant amphitheater sits high atop the Markagunt Plateau, over 2,500 feet deep and more than three miles across. The spectacular colors of Cedar Breaks National Monument are formed by an abundance of mineral deposits, making it breathtaking to behold.

The formations in Cedar Breaks consist of ridges, pinnacles and buttresses carved from the steep cliffs by wind and water erosion over more than 30 million years. From the highest point of 10,662 feet to the lowest at 8,100 feet, guests are treated to spectacular views of dense forests of subalpine fir, Engleman spruce and quaking aspens, plus fields containing more than 150 species of wildflowers. Bristlecone pine, one of nature’s oldest living trees, grows along the rim of the amphitheater and can be seen in abundance throughout the area.

A six-mile scenic drive leads past four overlooks, each offering a different perspective of the amphitheater. A log cabin constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937 still serves as the visitors’ center.

For those who want to get off the beaten path, two hiking trails near the rim provide an added appreciation of the geology and flora and fauna of Cedar Breaks National Monument. The Spectra Point/Ramparts Overlook Trail is a four-mile round-trip hike along the rim with spectacular views of the amphitheater. The Alpine Pond Nature Trail is a self-guided, double-loop trail through forests and meadows. The lower portion offers excellent views of the Breaks.

NATIONAL PARKS

In all the world, you couldn’t find the stunning beauty of Southern Utah’s six national parks anywhere else. All within a day’s drive, nonetheless.

From looking up at Zion’s Court of the Patriarchs’ tall peaks to staring down the pinnacle of the Grand Canyon’s Vishnu Temple, from Lake Powell’s twisting goosenecks to Grand Staircase’s steep canyon slots, from Bryce Canyon’s hypnotizing hoodoos to Kolob Canyon’s mesmerizing sandstone, you’ll be able to come for a few days and leave with a lifetime of memories.