The local crowd at Sundance is always strong. With two large universities (BYU and UVSU) and many growing families looking for an inexpensive and fun place to ski, Sundance has a lot to offer. When you try to compare Sundance with other resorts to the North, there's a huge X-factor that Sundance has going for it. That X-factor is the sheer beauty of the place.
During my college days, I had two years with a full season pass to Sundance, so I know the place pretty well. Hitting it again today conjured up many of those long-forgotten memories like seeing Robert Redford standing in a lift line, watching the kids from the Sundance Ski Team rip up the mountain (US Ski Team Member, Steven Nyman grew up skiing at Sundance) and hucking off what we call Bishop's Rock.
Just 15 minutes from Provo and Orem, Sundance is a great local's hill with plenty going for it. The upper mountain houses some great glades, groomers and some great bowl skiing off the summit. Though it only tips the scales at 450 skiable acres, there's enough variety and amenities to keep the whole family entertained--all for a reasonable $45 lift ticket (only $35 midweek non-holiday!).
If you hit it on a cold (4 degrees in the parking lot today) or snowy day, you'll likely have the entire upper mountain to yourself--like we did. The little secret of Sundance is when we get the occasional southern storm. Instead of pummeling Little and Big Cottonwood, Sundance and Deer Valley are the ones that get pounded from the southwest flow. So, check the weather... if we're getting snow from the south, hit Sundance and you'll have one of the most beautiful resorts in the state all to yourself.
