Ski days or out of town trips can feel daunting, especially if you’re new to Utah or visiting for the first time. Our helpful guide for folks unfamiliar with Utah and our 16 unique, world-class resorts will ensure that you make the most of your time here. Whether you’ve skied all over the globe and are considering new destinations or are just gearing up to take on the beginner slopes for the first time, there is something to “WOW!” everybody in your group. Take it from me: once you make your way to Utah and realize we do indeed have The Greatest Snow on Earth®, the only questions left will be, “When do we go back?” and “How the heck have we taken this long to experience these slopes?!”
Where are Utah’s resorts?
With multiple mountain ranges across the state that ski areas and resorts call home, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder where to begin. Fret not; below is an overview of where these resorts are located, conveniently broken into areas by geography, moving north to south.
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Northern Utah is home to Beaver Mountain
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Ogden Valley boasts three resorts, including Nordic Valley, Powder Mountain, and Snowbasin Resort
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Salt Lake/Cottonwood Canyons are home to Alta Ski Area, Brighton, Snowbird, and Solitude Mountain Resort
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Park City offers options at Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain, and Woodward Park City
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Provo and Heber Valleyare just a short distance away from Sundance Mountain Resort
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Southern Utah’s gems include Brian Head Ski Resort and Eagle Point.
- Central Utah is home to Utah's newest resort, Snowland
Dive more into our resorts and regions here.
Ski-Season Timeline
September–November
Get prepared for the season. This means getting your fitness and gear in order before the snow starts flying. It’s easy to think of ski season as a long way off when you’re sweating and playing in the late summer sun, but the early season turns are just around the corner. Find out more about Utah's ski season length and other details here.
First question is: where are you skiing this season? We’ve already done an extensive breakdown of pass options here to aid your decision.
Staying active in the mountains and beginning to mix in some skiing-specific workouts to make sure the body is ready for the rigors of the season are investments that will pay handsome dividends come those big, midseason days on the hill.
In addition to your anatomical preparation, it’s important to make sure your gear is good to go. Here’s a good checklist to help get the ball rolling. Take the opportunity while shops aren’t as busy to pick a ski tech’s brain about where/how to upgrade your gear, bring your quiver in to get that preseason tune (better yet, bribe your friend who used to be a ski tech with a six pack!), and make sure none of your softgoods and outerwear are too worn out for another season. Nobody wants to realize that the bases of their skis are dry as a bone and they can only find one mitten as you’re booting up for the first time of the season. Additionally, a lot of brands are keen on liquidating past seasons’ stock to make way for their newest and shiniest, so make the most of this time to find some new gear on the cheap
December–Mid-January
Most of Utah’s resorts begin operations in some fashion by the first week of December. Think early season snow, a few groomers open, and the highest peaks starting to look frosty while the foothills are still trying to trick you that it’s fall. These are the days when you get to try out that new set of skis or boots that you’re rocking, remember that skiing truly is just like riding a bike, and get reacquainted with the amazing speed-friending event that a chairlift ride can be! Think limited crowds, an opportunity to get outside amidst the craze of the holidays, and a return to what many of us think of as synonymous with Utah winter.
Mid-January–March
Now we’re getting into the meat and potatoes of the season. Think multi-day storm cycles, increasing coverage/terrain openings (looking at you, Mineral Basin and Honeycomb Canyon!), and both locals and visitors flocking to the resorts. By this point, you hopefully have the first few ski days under your belt and have all of your gear dialed in. These are the days where longevity behooves you. If you can stay out on the slopes later in the afternoon, you’ll see shorter lift lines and if you’re lucky, cash in on a couple of last chair, best chair storm days. Also, pack a couple of extra snacks and drinks in the car, since mid-season days attract lots of folks and can make commutes to and from the resort a bit longer than usual.
March–May
Think longer hours of sun, trading goggles for oversize sunnies, and occasionally snapping back to winter and powder skiing when a late-season storm decides to bless us with a bonus deep day! The frozen fingers of February are but a distant memory as parking lot parties begin popping up, colorful tutus and costumed crews dot the slopes, and pocket stashes of handwarmers have been swapped for sunscreen and glitter.
There are also common pitfalls that are easy to fall into if you’re not looking out for them. So take heed, and you’ll be sure to succeed this ski season!
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DON’T buy day passes and talk yourself out of going skiing
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DO buy a season pass (options for every budget and appetite; even out-of-towners can benefit from season passes or multi-resort passes)
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DON’T get caught up in feeling like you NEED new gear each year. You definitely don't need a whole new kit each season.
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DO perform a pre-season assessment of your gear, identify a few items that you’ve worn out and need to replace, seek out lightly used or new gear on the secondary market to get great value on good gear
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DO explore new resorts at your own pace without presuppositions and find YOUR favorite spots, on and off the slopes
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DON’T put too much weight on others’ takeaways from a resort, establishment, or style of skiing/riding.
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DO strike up lift line and chairlift conversations with locals to get ideas for favorite runs, the unique amenities offered at different resorts, and any other insider tips that they may have
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DON’T bury your head in your phone and rely exclusively on social media, sponsored content, and ads for recommendations. Get out and explore for yourself!
While making the commitment to skiing or snowboarding can be intimidating from the outside looking in, from a knowledge and financial perspective, having a good lay of the land and knowing where to pick your punches will hopefully lower the barriers to entry and get you out laughing, playing, and building memories in the mountains!
