Family Ski Resort Guide | Beaver Mountain

Tucked away in the quiet Bear River Range, Beaver Mountain is a resort to get away from it all. The cell service is poor, the snow is deep, the slopes are empty and the food is delicious. The Beav’ is the perfect place for families looking to unwind, enjoy skiing and snowboarding together and reconnect. Consider escaping to Beaver Mountain for the weekend with ample lodging available in nearby Garden City or Logan.

Beaver Mountain is located along scenic Highway 89 in Logan Canyon in Northern Utah. Approximate driving times (in favorable driving conditions) and distances are listed below:
Logan: 30 miles - 35 minutes
Ogden: 77 miles – 1 hour, 30 minutes
Salt Lake City: 112 miles – 2 hours
Provo: 155 miles - 2 hours, 45 minutes
St. George: 412 miles – 6 hours


In a 5th Grader’s Words:
"Beaver Mountain is small, but what it lacks in size it makes up in fun!" - Jonah, Age 10

TERRAIN & MOUNTAIN STATS

Skiable Acres: 828 Acres
Vertical Drop: 1,700 Feet
Number of Runs: 50
Terrain: 35% Beginner, 40% Intermediate, 25% Advanced, 2 Terrain Parks
Chairlifts: 4 and 1 Magic Carpet Surface Lift
Night Skiing: Yes, 5:00-9:00 PM

The wide variety of terrain makes Beaver a suitable destination for families with differing ability levels. Expect to find steep and deep powder runs swooping groomers, exciting backcountry access, terrain parks, and a sizable beginner’s area with a 215-foot long magic carpet and 25 feet of vertical drop. Beaver is ideal for families with a wide spectrum of skiing or snowboarding experience, there is enough varied terrain at the ski area to keep everyone smiling.

The best chairlifts for beginner or intermediate terrain are the Little Beaver Lift and the Magic Carpet. The runs Cottontail, Little Beaver, and Tiny Tim are all gently sloping green runs that are perfect for exploring after a warm-up lap on the Magic Carpet surface lift.

The Beav’ is all about creating a fun and relaxing environment for young children to learn the art of skiing or snowboarding. You’ll find a small swing set down by the Magic Carpet surface lift to provide kids with diversion or a short break between runs. This amenity helps to keep kids engaged in the lesson for a longer period of time.

When the need for a snack or hot chocolate arises, head down the Little Beaver run to catch the Goat Trail cat track back down to the Beaver Mountain Grill in the Main Lodge.

Note that Beaver Mountain is also home to a fantastic program with lessons for adaptive skiers with Common Ground Outdoor Adventures. Contact Common Ground for more information, scholarships, lesson availability, and volunteer opportunities. 

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

For transportation to Beaver Mountain and to better enjoy the beautiful scenery of Logan Canyon, consider ‘The Beaver Bus’. This daily shuttle service departs from the ‘First Dam’ parking area at the mouth of Logan Canyon at 8:00 AM sharp each morning. At 4:00 PM each day, the shuttle will depart Beaver Mountain at 4:00 PM to return to the mouth of Logan Canyon. A round trip fare is $15.00.

BASE AREA & MAIN LODGE

The smaller size of Beaver Mountain makes it an ideal destination for families. Park as near to the Main Lodge as you can (often not a challenge since Beaver Mountain is seldom crowded). If it does happen to be busy, there is short-term parking directly in front of the small ticketing office and the Main Lodge for gear drop off. On the rare days when Beaver Mountain is crowded, there is a lower lot available for overflow parking. It is commonly used by local snowmobilers.

The Main Lodge near the base area includes ski school, restrooms, the rental shop, the retail shop, and the grill. Note that the lockers on the lower floor are reserved for the season by locals and passholders. There are cubbies for guests to stash gear or bags both inside and outside of the Main Lodge. Up near the Harry’s Dream chairlift there is also a small lodge for Ski Patrol and the Common Ground Lodge where adaptive students gather for their lessons. All public amenities can be accessed in the Main Lodge adjacent to the parking lot and the small cabin where ski tickets are purchased.

Head to the main floor of the Main Lodge with its two roaring fireplaces and big windows to find plenty of room to don all your layers and equipment for the day’s adventure. If there are family members who don’t plan to ski or snowboard, this is a fantastic area to enjoy the scenery, relax, or read a book.

In the lodge, you will also find the Beaver Mountain Grill, offering huge portions at a great value. On most days, the lodge will also feature a delicious street taco stand or when the weather is fine, grilled food options will be offered outdoors on the patio.

SNOWSPORTS SCHOOL

Beaver Mountain offers certified ski and snowboard instructors in addition to a variety of group lesson options or private lessons. Lessons are available for all ages, ability levels, and interests. Click Here for further information and lesson FAQs.

Private Lessons
Private lessons are available in hourly increments for all ability levels. Reservations are highly recommended. Telemark lessons are available upon request.

Rugrats (Ski Ages 3-5, Board Ages 4-6)
This popular series of group lessons teaches youngsters the fundamentals of skiing or snowboarding over the course of 2 or 4-week sessions on Saturdays and/or Sundays from January through mid-March. Full or half-day lessons available.

Mountain Adventures (Ski Age 5+, Board Age 7+)
This series of group lessons for kids of all abilities are held on Saturdays and Sundays from January through March in full-day or half-day formats. Lessons can be booked in 2 or 4-week sessions. All levels of experience and ability are welcome and children are assigned to a class within levels 1-6. A freestyle class is also available.

Kid’s Holiday Lessons (Ski Age 3+, Board Age 4+)
This group lesson is offered daily during the holiday seasons. All levels are available and you can determine how many classes you’d like to attend. Lessons are offered daily over the Christmas holiday, Civil Rights Day, and President’s day.

Learn to Turn-1-2-3 (Ski Age 7+, Board Age 9+)
This all-inclusive package is ideal for the first-timer or someone who can’t remember the last time they picked up skis or a snowboard. Lesson includes equipment rental, lift access, and a 2-hour group lesson on holidays and Friday-Sundays in the morning and afternoon. Progressive lessons are offered for levels 1, 2, and 3 for students who wish to return and continue honing their skills. Students who complete all 3 levels are awarded a certificate and a season pass to the Little Beaver chairlift for the remainder of the season.

Wild Women (Ages 16+)
These classes for ladies are designed to welcome women to the mountain in an inclusive learning environment free from pressure and anxiety. Top instructors lead students in effectively managing risk, facing fear, and confidently exploring the mountain. This half-day clinic is available for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels and includes a light breakfast and lunch.

USU Ski & Snowboard Class (Ages 18+)
This series of lessons from Utah State University (USU) is available to the general public. Adults are welcome to join the 7-week series at the cost of $100. You do not need to be a USU student participate. Classes run Tuesday-Friday afternoons and do not include the price of passes. 

SKI SHOP & EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Beaver Mountain offers a full-service ski and snowboard shop, equipment rentals, and repairs in the Main Lodge. The knowledgeable staff at Beaver Mountain Rental & Repair can help you find the perfect rental gear for a memorable day at The Beav. Skiers and snowboarders of every age may select gear from six different brands of high-quality equipment. Try several different models during the day at no added charge. The shop offers rental packages by the day or the season. The rental shop offers the following accessories in addition to skis, poles, boots, and snowboards:

• Goggles
• Helmets
• Gloves
• Socks
• Cold-Weather Gear

The ski shop at Beaver Mountain offers tons of fun and unique logo gear including tees, hoodies, beanies, stickers, souvenirs, and more. A visit to The Beav’ wouldn’t be complete without grabbing a fun sticker or some logo gear.

More info on layering and dressing your kids for skiing here. 

LODGING AND DINING

In the Main Lodge, the hearty Beaver Mountain Grill offers hamburgers, grilled food, salads, and sandwiches without the sticker shock you’ll see at most ski resorts. On most days, delicious street tacos are also available. During weekends with events, warm afternoons, or crowded weekends, there will also be BBQ options available outdoors on the patio. There is ample seating to enjoy your meal indoors or outside admiring the mountain views. A designated brown bag lunch area can be found near the street taco station. Families often gather on the patio and enjoy the sunshine or circle up chairs in the parking lot for an informal BBQ or camp meal. Tailgating in the Beaver Mountain parking lot is a popular pastime among locals and regulars.

There is only one, small lodging option at Beaver Mountain. Book the Beaver Mountain Yurt for first tracks with its convenient slopeside location. The entire yurt is available to rent for a reasonable fee and is big enough to host family reunions, company parties, meetings, retreats, etc.

The closest town is Garden City, Utah (13 miles to the east) where a handful of lodging options can be found. Additional options and budget motels can be found 27 miles to the west in Logan. Click HERE for current options. 

CHILDCARE

There are no childcare services at Beaver Mountain, however, children as young as 3 may enroll in lessons with the Snowsports School. Book a lesson and watch a youngster’s confidence and love for the mountains grow at The Beav’. 

POINTS OF INTEREST

For a memorable visit, consider these unique points of interest when planning a trip to Beaver Mountain.

Bear Lake
A 15-minute drive up Highway 89 leads deposits you atop the stunning Bear Lake Overlook. Bear Lake is often fondly dubbed “The Caribbean of the Rockies” due to its striking turquoise blue color. The unlikely hues result from the refraction of limestone particles suspended in the lake water.

The American West Heritage Center
Southwest of Logan lies a 160-acre center for families to experience living history. The preserve celebrates the lifestyle and history of the Old West from 1820 to 1920. Hands-on workshops, festivals, and exhibits offer non-stop diversion for children, families, and history buffs.

Antelope Island State Park
If traveling north to Beaver Mountain, this exciting state park is an easy side trip to view bison and antelope in their natural habitat. There are several hiking trails, a scenic drive, campgrounds, and a marina. Views of the lake at sunrise or sunset are unparalleled. Winter is the perfect time to pay Antelope Island a visit while avoiding the notorious bugs that plague the island in warmer months. Expect to pay a daily fee to access the park as well as a $2.00 charge to use the causeway.