How to Have Your Best Summer Ever in the Wasatch Mountains
words by Melissa Fields
Sure, there's plenty to love about winter in Utah. But while both locals and visitors maintain an unwavering devotion to snow in the cold weather months, when things warm up, they play the field, spreading their affection to hiking, pedaling, golf, live music and on and on. The Utah resorts serve up all these activities and much more with a robust, multigenerational menu of things to do. Best yet, summer lodging rates in the mountains are a fraction of what you'll pay during the busy winter months. Following is a rundown of what’s happening at Utah's 15 mountain resorts—along with a few other not-to-be-missed high-altitude destinations—for the 2022 summer season.
Summer opening dates
Alta Ski Area – June 25
Beaver Mountain – May 27
Brian Head Resort – June 17
Brighton – the Brighton Store opens in early June
Cherry Peak – Summer Concert Series only
Deer Valley Resort – June 17
Eagle Point Resort – June 17
Nordic Valley – TBD
Park City Mountain – Canyons Golf opening, May 21; early season opening, May 27; core season opening, June 17
Powder Mountain – mid-July
Snowbasin – June 18
Snowbird – June 17
Solitude Mountain Resort – June 16
Sundance Mountain Resort – May 20 for Scenic Lift Rides, Hiking, Ziptour, and Horseback Riding and June 15 for mountain biking
Woodward Park City – May 27
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Alta Ski Area
Chairlifts - no
Food & Beverage - yes
Summertime nature bathing is at its finest at Alta Ski Area, where you'll find 10 hiking trails covering more than 13 miles. Be prepared, however, for trail rerouting or closures at the Albion Base Area due to lift construction; stay up-to-date and download a summer trail map here. The Alta Camp Store—offering beverages, grab-and-go food and firewood—opens at the Cecret Lake Trailhead in early July. Please note that parking for Cecret Lake/Catherine’s Pass is $10 per vehicle. Elsewhere in the town of Alta, the The Snowpine Lodge hosts lodging guests, dining at its Swen’s Restaurant and Gulch Pub and a full menu of treatments at the in-house Stillwell Spa. The Alta Lodge welcomes lodging guests Thursday through Saturday nights and opens its popular Sunday Brunch service on June 5, 2022. Summer events at Alta include Wasatch Wildflower Festival (July 17), the Cirque Series trail running race (August 20) and a free weekly yoga class held at Alta's Our Lady of the Snows Center (Mondays, 5:30 p.m.), presented by Alta Community Enrichment.
Beaver Mountain
Chairlifts - no
Food & Beverage - no
Tucked into the mountains near the top of Logan Canyon at 7,200 feet, Beaver Mountain offers a cool, laid-back escape from the Wasatch Front’s valley heat. Camping options at "The Beav" span tent sites, the yurt, RV camping or—ideal for large groups—renting out the entire Beaver Mountain base lodge. Off-road enthusiasts can check out the nearby OHV trails and Beaver Mountain’s 5-mile “Bjoor” mountain biking single track loop. This summer, "The Beav" hosts the all-ages Cache Bash mountain bike race (June 25) and debuts the White Pine 50 Backcountry Run (August 20).
Brian Head Ski Resort
Chairlifts - yes
Food & Beverage - yes
One of Utah's best kept warm-weather secrets is Brian Head Resort, located at a cool 9,600 feet above sea level in southern Utah. Summer activities there—offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, beginning June 17—include its 18-hole disc golf course, the family-friendly Adventure Trail, zip lines, the bungee trampoline, climbing wall, summer tubing and lift-served mountain biking and scenic lift rides. When you're ready to refuel, the Giant Steps Café offers breakfast or lunch inside the Giant Steps Lodge or grab a brat and a microbrew outside on the lodge's sunny patio. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the Last Chair Grill serves up tasty food and live music. Brian Head's packed summer events schedule kicks off with the Women's Epic Race and Brian Shredder DH mountain bike race (June 25). Other events include its annual July 4th Celebration, Classic Car Show (July 16), Festival of Flavors (August 6), Country Music Festival (September 3) and Rocktoberfest (September 10).
Brighton
Chairlifts - no
Food & Beverage - yes (Brighton Store)
Brighton is a popular launchpad for multiple hiking adventures in the Central Wasatch. Grab provisions (or at least an ice cream cone) before you hit the trails for the day at the Brighton Store, which opens for the 2022 summer season at the beginning of June. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest's Silver Lake Visitor Center, located nearby Brighton Resort in the town if Brighton, is now open Wednesdays through Sundays for the 2022 summer season. Events this summer at Brighton include: National Trails Day (June 4), Wasatch Wildflower Festival and the first annual Brighton Days (July 9-10), the Brighton Flea Market (Sundays, June 5 to September 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) and the Brighton 4th of July Breakfast & Parade (July 4, 8 a.m.).
Cherry Peak
Chairlifts - no
Food & Beverage - no
Explore Cherry Peak's hundreds of acres this summer along its serene hiking trails. If you're looking for something a bit more festive, then join Cherry Peak for its summer concert series, a five-concert lineup featuring Daughtry with special guest Black Stone Cherry (August 2) and Josh Turner (August 11). Stay tuned for more summer concert announcements. 
Deer Valley Resort
Chairlifts - yes
Food & Beverage - yes
Some of the stellar activities guests can enjoy at Deer Valley Resort this summer beginning June 17 include: lift-served mountain biking, hiking and scenic rides; mountain bike instruction; once-a-month guided hike and yoga excursions; guided historic hikes; Summer Adventure Camp; horseback riding; and standup paddle boarding. The popular Tuesday Night Twilight mountain biking sessions run June 21 to August 16. Dining options include the Grocery ~ Café, which will host the NEW themed Dinners on the Deck series beginning July 8; Royal Street Cafe; The Brass Tag; the Goldener Hirsch and Goldener Hirsch Café; and grab-and-go items from Snowshoe Tommy’s, located at the top of the Sterling Express chairlift on the Bald Mountain summit. Music returns to Deer Valley’s renowned Snow Park Amphitheater with a full schedule of concerts, from free Wednesday night performances to big name acts and the Utah Symphony.
Eagle Point
Chairlifts - yes
Food & Beverage - yes
Pedal or walk Eagle Point’s 11 miles of singletrack mountain biking and hiking trails. (Eagle Point resort management is considering adding lift-served mountain biking on a few select weekends as part of the resort's summer 2022 operations. Check eaglepointresort.com for details.) The resort's Canyonside Lodge is open for lunch, Monday through Saturday and for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. Lodging is available seven nights a week throughout the summer months. Guests can book an exciting round of paintball, by appointment only. Eagle Point's summer 2022 event schedule includes the Don’t Trip Campout—a music, wellness and adventure festival (June 9-13); the all-ages Mountain Archery Festival (June 24 – 27); one of the country’s toughest—and highest—bike races, the Crusher in the Tushar (July 8-10); and the Tushars Mountain Runs (100K, 70K, marathon and half marathon, July 30).
Park City Mountain
Chairlifts - yes
Food & Beverage - yes
The opening of Canyons Golf—an 18-hole, par 70 course tucked into Canyons Village—kicks off Park City Mountain's summer operations on May 21. The Park City Mountain Village and Adventure Park open on May 27 with the alpine slide, mountain coaster, scenic lift rides on the PayDay chairlift, mini-golf; and gem panning. Lift-served mountain biking on the Town Lift, the Mountain Village's Crescent Express and Canyons Village Red Pine Gondola begins June 17. Hours of operation are seven days a week through September 5 and Thursday through Sunday from September 6-October 2. The resort's food and beverage offerings at the Park City Mountain Village span the Tombstone Taqueria, the Treat Shack, Legends Bar & Grill and the Adventure Shack. At Canyons Village, summer guests can find good eats and sips at the Umbrella Bar. Up on the mountain, the Red Pine Lodge will be open for lunch throughout the summer season. The popular Canyons Village Summer Concert Series returns on select Thursday and Saturday nights throughout the summer season (June 25 to August 27, 5:30 p.m.). Three days of festivities are on tap for the Canyons Village July 3 Celebration (July 1 to 3). Many of the events planned as part of the Park City Wine Festival will be held in Canyons Village (September 29 to October 1). And the Park City Farmer’s Market has returned to Canyons Village for the 2022 season and is held Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Powder Mountain
Chairlifts - yes
Food & Beverage - yes
This summer, Powder Mountain is rolling out lift-serviced, downhill mountain biking at the NEW Powder Mountain Bike Park (also known as "Dirt Mountain"). There, the Hidden Lake Express will service Falkor, a green flow trail, characterized by wide, singletrack with minimal technical rock features, berms and rollers; and Big Ern, an intermediate to advanced flow trail with jumps and technical terrain. Lift-served mountain biking will run Thursdays through Sundays (dates TBD).To keep the mountain bike experience uncrowded, day tickets sales are capped at 250 per day and only 500 season passes will be available annually. Powder Mountain also offers 30 additional miles of trails, open to hikers and cross-country mountain bikers free of charge. Tacos, refreshments, retail and bike rentals can be found inside Hidden Lake Lodge. Check out mountain biking and golf lodging deals with Powder Mountain Getaways. Powder Mountain is hosting multiple mountain biking events this summer including the women's-only Wildflower Trailfest (July 9), the 12-hour El Doce (July 16) and Intermountain Cup (August 6).
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Snowbasin Resort
Chairlifts - yes
Food & Beverage - yes
Snowbasin kicks off what’s sure to be a busy summer season beginning June 18. Activities there include: lift-served mountain biking and hiking on 26 miles of trails off the Needles Gondola; scenic lift rides; an 18-hole mini golf course; shopping in the Grizzly Center, Saturday lunch and Sunday Mountaintop Brunch at the Needles Lodge. The popular Blues, Brews & BBQ concert series returns on Sundays (August dates TBD) and SnowWiesn, Snowbasin’s weekly Oktoberfest celebration, runs on Sundays in September and October (dates TBD). And don’t forget to bring your pooch! Dogs are allowed on all of Snowbasin’s 26 miles of trails and in the Needles Gondola.
Snowbird
Chairlifts - yes
Food & Beverage - yes
After 50 years of transporting millions of skiers and snowboarders to the 11,000-foot Hidden Peak, Snowbird's iconic Aerial Tram will get new Tram cabins this summer. The sleek, new cars will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, summertime glass-panel floors and the country's first tram car summertime rooftop balcony. Visit snowbird.com for details about the Tram's grand re-opening. Other things to do at the 'Bird beginning June 17 include Peruvian chairlift rides, hiking and mountain biking, the alpine slide, mountain coaster, the Woodward WreckTangle, summer tubing, the vertical drop, ropes course and mini ropes course, bungee trampoline, climbing wall, the Tree Climb and Mini Tree Climb, Spider Mountain and other kids inflatables, gemstone mining and the kids fishing pond. SeventyOne, The Aerie and The Forklift are open for sit-down dining. Or choose from a myriad of grab-and-go items at General Gritts, Baked & Brewed, Tram Car Pizza and The Summit. Stay in Little Cottonwood Canyon and take advantage of these lodging specials. Snowbird’s jammed events schedule includes the Wasatch Trail Run Series (July 6), Wasatch Wildflower Festival (July 16), 25th Annual Cancer Survivors of the Summit (July 17), Speedgoat 50K and 28K (July 22-23), the Cirque Series (August 6) and Oktoberfest (Saturdays and Sundays, August 13-October 16). 
Solitude Mountain Resort
Chairlifts - yes
Food & Beverage - yes
Solitude has added an extra day to its summer operations schedule and will be open during the summer 2022 season Thursday through Sunday (plus Monday July 4, July 25 and September 5), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 16 to October 9, 2022. In addition to lift-served mountain biking and hiking and disc golf, NEW activities at Solitude this summer include a climbing wall, bungee trampoline and mini disc golf. A NEW beginner mountain biking trail is under construction on the Link run, completion date TBD. When open, the Link trail will be served by the Link lift and mountain bike rentals will move from the resort's main base village to the Moonbeam base area. Summer restaurant offerings include the Honeycomb Grill, Stone Haus Pizzeria and Creamery and the Thirsty Squirrel. Little Dollie's will open at the Moonbeam base concurrent with the opening the the new Link beginner trail, serving sandwiches, beverages and other grab-and-go items. Summer and fall events at Solitude include live music every Sunday, 4 to 6 p.m.; the Wasatch Trail Run Series (June 8 and 29, August 17); free yoga on the lawn at the Inn at Solitude on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. (June 25-October 8); Wasatch Wildflower Festival (July 10); Summer Fest (August 7), featuring live music, food, activities and a beer garden; the Thursday night Coca-cola Sunset Cinema (dates TBD); and the Salt Lake Climbing Festival (August 27 and 28).
Silver Fork Lodge and Restaurant
The iconic Silver Fork Lodge and Restaurant, located just 1.5 miles west of Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon, is open throughout the summer season for both dining and lodging. The lodge's restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 
Sundance Mountain Resort
Chairlifts - yes
Food & Beverage - yes
Summer at Sundance begins with the opening of scenic lift rides, horse-back riding and mountaintop yoga on May 20. Sundance's famous Zip Tours open on June 1. And lift-served mountain biking and hiking gets underway there on June 15. Sundance will debut two NEW mountain bike trails this summer: a beginner flow trail and an intermediate to advanced trail. Other activities available at Sundance the Sundance Art Studio, fly-fishing and the Sundance Spa. Dining options include the Foundry Grill, Owl Bar, Tree Room, Deli, The Lookout and the Bearclaw Cabin. The Sundance Theatre will present Cinderella (Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; July 21 to August 13). Other summer events at Sundance: the Bluebird Café Concert Series (select Fridays and Saturdays in July, August and September); live music at the Owl Bar (Friday and Saturday nights); the free Sounds of Summer Concert Series (Sundays beginning July 3) and the Low Key Vibes Concert Series (Wednesdays beginning July 6).
Utah Olympic Park
Summer kicks off at the Utah Olympic Park on May 28 with the alpine slide, extreme tubing, zip lining, air bag jumps, summer bobsled experience and the ropes courses. Guests are encouraged to purchase activity tickets or the all-access Gold Pass Session tickets online before they arrive, but purchase is also available onsite in the UOP Visitor Center. Admission to the UOP’s Alf Engen Ski Museum and Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum (open daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) is free.
Woodward Park City
Chairlifts - yes
Food & Beverage - yes
Though Woodward Park City's indoor trampolines and ramps are open year-round, this adventure destination's summer season outdoor activities will resume on May 27 with lift-served mountain biking; air bag jumps; scooter, skateboarding and BMX parks; rental, retail and lessons; and Woodward Park City’s popular summer camps. The Woodward Park City Race Series mountain bike races return this summer season as well, with categories for riders age six and up (June 14, July 19, August 16 and September 13).
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