Utah offers an immense amount of incredible terrain for skiing and snowboarding. Riders of all levels, from brand-new beginners who have never been on snow, to comfortable intermediates looking to improve their skills, to seasoned veterans who have been on snow their whole lives, everyone can find something in the state to explore, enjoy and challenge themselves.
Experts are especially spoiled in Utah because there is plenty to ride in-bounds at the ski resorts throughout the state, from steep and fast groomers to nerve-wracking chutes. Prepared and experienced experts can also take their skills outside the resort boundaries to the backcountry where they can enjoy adventures like cat skiing, backcountry tours, and more.
This expert guide to Utah offers a brief overview of the possibilities available to competent ski and snowboard enthusiasts who want to go to the extreme.
Powder Hounds
It would be a miss to start this expert guide to Utah by talking about anything but the incredible powder the state has to offer. Our license plates don’t read “Greatest Snow on Earth®” for no reason, after all! Utah is renowned for its incredible snow quality and the high totals that most of its resorts receive year after year.
It’s almost impossible to have a bad time powder skiing at any of Utah’s 15 ski resorts. There is no shortage of stoke on a Utah powder day wherever you ride. However, when it comes to the ultimate spot for powder skiing, Snowbird and Alta are the two resorts that come to mind first. Perfectly situated in Little Cottonwood Canyon, both resorts are hammered by storms all season long, and pow days with a foot or more of fresh snow are common.
Nothing compares to floating over some of the best powder in the world and taking your pick of untracked world-class lines throughout these resorts. With each resort receiving over 500” of snow each year on average, Snowbird and Alta are a bucket list must for any expert powder skier looking to ride in Utah.
Groomers
You can find some impeccable expert-level groomers at many of the resorts in Utah. Every resort has at least one steep, heart-pumping groomer to get even the most confident carvers excited. Some that come to mind include Challenger at Solitude, Regulator Johnson at Snowbird, Snowchaser at Powder Mountain and Cloud 9 at Park City. Check out all the topped ranked groomed runs at each resort here.
When it comes to groomed runs in Utah, though, Deer Valley is far and away the winner. Deer Valley’s grooming consistently ranks number one in the United States and boasts the largest fleet of snowcats in the state. Expert carvers will love digging their edges into a freshly groomed Stein’s Way, one of the steepest groomed pitches at the resort. Reward is another excellent option that doesn’t always receive a fresh corduroy cover, but if you’re lucky, you might catch it on a good day.
Snowbasin is another top-tier resort when it comes to expert-level groomers. As the host of the Downhill and Super G events in the 2002 Winter Olympics and the upcoming 2034 Winter Olympics, experts privy to groomed runs will love pointing their tips in the same directions as the Olympians of the past on the Wildflower and Grizzly Downhill Runs. These were the official women’s and men’s downhill courses of the 2002 Games, and Snowbasin continues to groom these runs regularly. Keep an eye on their grooming report - occasionally, they will groom the whole run. Take the John Paul Lift to the Allen Peak Tram and get the full top-to-bottom experience of these historic runs.
For a deep dive on the steepest and longest runs in Utah, check out Lexi's guide.
Chutes
Chutes are another go-to for expert skiers in Utah. You can find tons of technical terrain, including chutes and couloirs, around the state’s many resorts. Here is a list of great chutes for experts in Utah looking for some new lines to ride:
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Main Chute - Alta Ski Area/Snowbird: Mt. Baldy, the split between Alta and Snowbird, is accessible by a 500-foot boot pack and offers epic expert lines. The go-to option is Main Chute, a 750-foot vertical drop that starts steep and mellows out toward the end of the chute, providing some of the best inbound turns you can find.
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Cirque Traverse - Snowbird: If you’re willing to brave an audience, Cirque Traverse at Snowbird feeds many short but highly-exposed lines that can make even the most seasoned skiers and snowboarders feel a little nervous.
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Fantasy Ridge - Solitude Resort: Fantasy Ridge is accessed by an almost-vertical boot pack that provides access to three fixed lines on some excellent north-facing terrain. It’s probably best to take your first stab at Fantasy Ridge with a friend who can show you the way - it’s a rocky ascent, but the chutes are well worth the effort.
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Daly Chutes - Deer Valley: Although Deer Valley is known for its grooming, experts down to explore will find some excitement in the Daly Chutes. The chutes are lookers left of Empire Express. This north-facing section of the mountain provides choice lines through windblown snow that will get your heart pumping.
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Lone Tree - Snowbasin: Lone Tree gets its name from the single tree at the top of this inbound chute. Early season, the line is split down the middle by a ridge of rock, but as the season goes on, it fills in to become a wide but exciting chute with plenty of eyes on you from the Middle Bowl lift and the top of Needles Lodge.
*If you would like to attempt to ski any of these lines or chutes, please check in with the resort. Some of them require checking in with ski patrol and/or special equipment.
Cat Skiing
Cat skiing is another great way for expert skiers and snowboarders to explore the variety of terrain that Utah has to offer. You can choose from one of the private cat skiing companies available, or a few of the resorts offer their own cat skiing services. If you’re willing to pay for the service, you can access some unforgettable terrain where you’re treated to lap after lap of fresh tracks.
Snowbird offers snowcat skiing with a small group of up to 12 skiers and snowboarders. The day starts with breakfast at The Forklift and a pre-public Tram load for a warm-up lap before the resort opens. Riders then make their way through a resort boundary gate where they are greeted by the snowcat that will provide as many excellent laps as you can get in before 1PM.
Deer Valley also offers cat skiing tours with dedicated ski patrol and mountain hosts to provide an excellent day full of cat-accessed skiing. You can choose to ride with a group of up to 12 others by opting for a per-seat experience, or you can go all-out with the full buyout package and bring up to 12 guests with you. The full experience includes breakfast and lunch as well as a special-edition commemorative gift to remember your Deer Valley snowcat experience.
More on cat skiing in Utah can be found here.
Guided Backcountry Tours
Guided backcountry tours are a fantastic way to see sections of the mountains that Utah riders know and love but don’t get to experience. It’s a way to experience the backcountry while minimizing some of the risk. Going in with a guide who is familiar with the terrain, understands the area, and is prepared for the situations that may arise is a great way to get some untracked lines.
Powder Mountain provides guided backcountry tours in two areas of the mountain: DMI (Don’t Mention It) and Wolf Creek. These areas will eventually become lift-accessed, but for now, you can take a guided tour through what is still backcountry terrain. Their highly certified guides provide expert skiers with a great way to push their limits and explore new lines they could not otherwise access.
One of the best ways for expert skiers to experience Utah is with the Ski Utah Interconnect Tour. This once-in-a-lifetime tour (or as many times as you’re willing to purchase a reservation) allows expert skiers to explore the Wasatch Range in a new way: by riding up to six of the greatest resorts in Utah in one day. Ski Utah’s expert guides lead the way through a combination of ski resort terrain and backcountry terrain. Participants walk, hike, traverse, lift access and ski through Deer Valley, Park City, Solitude, Brighton, Alta and Snowbird, and all of the backcountry terrain in between.
Expert Skiing and Snowboarding in Utah
Utah’s expansive terrain, abundant snowfall, and world-class resorts make it a dream destination for expert skiers and snowboarders. From chasing powder at legendary spots like Snowbird and Alta to carving pristine groomers at Deer Valley or Snowbasin, to tackling adrenaline-pumping chutes and exploring untouched lines via cat skiing or backcountry tours, there’s no shortage of challenges and thrills for those seeking the extreme.
Whether you’re a seasoned rider looking to push your limits or simply chasing unforgettable moments on snow, Utah offers the ultimate playground for experts ready to take their skills to the next level.
