If you are touring at a ski resort during the preseason, it is at your own risk. The resort is not open for lift-serviced skiing, meaning they likely do not have ski patrol or other assistance available to help you should an incident occur. Be prepared with a beacon, shovel and probe, as well as a knowledgeable partner, no matter how casual the setting may seem. Check the Utah Avalanche Center's forecast (if they've started for the season when you go). Know the risks. These steps only feel unnecessary until they’re not, and it’s a great time to brush up on your backcountry habits for the rest of the season. Encourage your friends to do the same. 

Additionally, know that you are likely skiing on a thin base of snow. The resort is not open yet for a reason, and you're sure to encounter snow-making and potentially snowcats or other equipment while you are on the mountain. Ski and ride with caution, do not interfere with preseason setup and be respectful. It only takes a few seconds for a ski resort to change its uphill policy should it feel it has been taken advantage of or become dangerous. 

Each resort has its own policy, and it may change at any time, depending on conditions and operations and whether they are open for the season or not. Just because a resort is listed as allowing uphill travel on this page, does not mean that it is always allowed. While the following is a useful reference, please check each resort’s page to verify the current status of their uphill policy before embarking on your journey. 

Resort Uphill Travel Policies

Alta Ski Area

Beaver MountainPreseason uphill access: YES, with restrictions.

Beaver Mountain allows uphill travel not only during the pre and post-season but during the season on designated routes, too. Read their full policy on their Mountain Safety page to learn more about winter season routes and what to expect. 

Cherry Peak

Preseason uphill access: YES, with restrictions
Winter season uphill access: YES, on designated routes

Cherry Peak allows uphill travel between the hours of 4am–8:30am based on a "Green" or "Red" day rating. This rating is shared daily on their mountain conditions report and can also be accessed by calling their snow phone at 435-200-1234. Check out their full Uphill Policy, here. 

Eagle Point

Preseason uphill access: YES, with restrictions
Winter season uphill access: YES, on designated routes

Uphill travel at Eagle Point is permitted on Big Horn ONLY. This route gives backcountry access which is not regulated by the resort. Check out Eagle Point's Backcountry webpage to view where to park, tour, and descend. 

Nordic Valley

Preseason uphill access: YES, with restrictions
Winter season uphill access: YES, on designated routes

This Utah ski resort offers both pre-season and winter-season uphill access. Because of this, they have detailed guidelines as to where and when access is allowed, and how. Check their full uphill policy page for full details, including the requirement to “leave only beautiful lines on the mountain.” Bonus: dogs are allowed during non-operational hours!

Park City Mountain

Preseason uphill access: NO 
Winter season uphill access: YES, on designated routes

While it doesn't allow preseason access, starting on December 15, Park City Mountain Resort does allow uphill access during the winter season, before and after operational hours, from 6pm–8:30am. There are restrictions as well as set, designated routes, so be sure to check out their full policy, here. 

Powder Mountain

Preseason uphill access: YES
Winter season uphill access: YES, on designated routes

Powder Mountain allows both preseason and winter season uphill access. During the preseason, all uphill access on resort property is at your own risk. During the winter season, they have select routes that are approved, and still require a lift ticket to be on their terrain. Learn more about their designated winter routes and full uphill policies more, here. 

Snowbasin Resort

Preseason uphill access: YES, with restrictions
Winter season uphill access: YES, on designated routes

You’ll want to check Snowbasin’s conditions page before heading there to tour. The mountain has extensive guidelines on where and when uphill access is allowed, both before the mountain opens and during. Similar to Brighton, Snowbasin uses a rating system of red, yellow and green, that determines which terrain is available based on conditions. You can check the current status of these ratings on their conditions page. You will also need to sign a waiver for an uphill pass (it’s free!). Finally, check out Snowbasin's Uphill Policy page for a map of available trails for uphill use and hours. 

Snowbird

Preseason uphill access: YES, with restrictions
Winter season uphill access: NO

Snowbird will allow uphill access both pre and post season, depending on operations and conditions. When allowed, details can be found on Snowbird’s Mountain Report, which will share permitted areas and restrictions. 

Solitude Mountain Resort

Preseason uphill access: YES, with restrictions
Winter season uphill access: YES, with restrictions

During the preseason, Solitude may allow for uphill travel before they start getting ready to open, but once they begin to set up (running cats, snowmaking, setting up fencing, etc.), they close it. During the winter, uphill access is allowed from 4:30pm–10pm. Be sure to check Solitude’s Uphill Access page before heading up both during the preseason and winter season—it lists at the top of the page whether or not uphill travel is allowed, followed by their winter season uphill policy. 

RESORTS WHERE UPHILL TRAVEL IS NOT ALLOWED DURING PRESEASON OR THE WINTER SEASON

Brian Head Ski Resort - Read Brian Head's Uphill Policy, here.

Deer Valley Resort - Read Deer Valley's Uphill Policy, here. 

Sundance Mountain Resort - Read Sundance's Uphill Policy, here.