Utah
The profile of skiing resorts in Utah, USA, has certainly increased since the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in
Salt Lake City. Many ski areas in Utah are now considered world class resorts as they continue to develop their infrastructure.
Utah claims they have the “Greatest Snow on Earth”. With characteristically light dry powder, and at least four resorts renowned for an average of 12.7 metres (500 inches) of annual snowfall, Utah is certainly up there as a great powderhound ski destination.
Where are the Ski Resorts in Utah?Many of the resorts are within close vicinity of each other so it’s possible to get a taste of multiple ski areas during your holiday. Ease of access is also a feature of many of the resorts considering that Salt Lake International airport is not far away.
Use the following table for distances and times between Salt Lake City, the SLC airport and between ski resorts in Utah.
Some of the resorts are grouped together. There are three resorts in the Park City area which are
Park City Mountain Resort,
Deer Valley (snowboard free) &
The Canyons. The Eastern slope of the Wasatch range receives less snowfall than the Cottonwood canyons. In Little Cottonwood Canyon which is the southeast corner of the Salt Lake Valley are
Alta (snowboard free) and the interconnected
Snowbird, which has some very challenging terrain. Big Cottonwood Canyon is also in the southeast corner of the Salt Lake Valley to the north of Little Cottonwood Canyon, and has the resorts of
Solitude and
Brighton. There are also resorts in the Ogden Valley including
Powder Mountain and
Snowbasin, and the Provo area features the Sundance resort. Furthest north in Utah is Beaver Mountain, and Brian Head is in southern Utah just 2.5 hours from Las Vegas.
Skiing in UtahThe resorts all vary significantly. Some resorts such as those around
Park City have a high profile and subsequently have crowds that flock there. Conversely some resorts fly under the radar with fewer visitors. Some of these lower profile resorts also have undeveloped infrastructure, but with fewer people on the slopes the chances of skiing or boarding untracked powder is much greater. Another plus is that the lesser known resorts have much cheaper lift tickets. Our
USA resort comparison document outlines the difference in lift ticket prices and other mountain statistics such as vertical, hectares of terrain, and annual average snowfall.
A great way for experienced skiers (only) to sample multiple resorts and the backcountry of the Wasatch Mountains is to take a one day
Utah Interconnect Tour.
Snow and Weather Conditions in Utah
Utah is the dry state in many respects. It’s a misconception that it’s not possible to get a drink in Utah, but the desert air is so dry that you’ll need to apply Chapstick every 5 minutes. The snow is also incredibly dry and the infamous Salt Lake Effect is partly attributable for this. The salt lake never freezes, and as storms blow over the lake, moisture is picked up and dropped on the mountain ranges in the form of super dry powder. The snow at
Alta typically contains only 5-7% water, which is lovely in comparison to the Sierra Cement of the Lake Tahoe region that typically has snow with 10-15% water content.
Utah can receive all types of weather, but generally the temperatures are not too cold. White-outs are not a major problem, and all the resorts have a major component of the terrain below the tree line, so if there is inclement weather there’s always somewhere to hide.
Utah's Liquor Laws
So is Utah really a dry state? The answer is “no” although Utah has some ridiculously archaic liquor laws that have originated from a government that has been dominated by Mormon church members. Domestic beer is limited to 3.2% alcohol, and many bars have to serve food in order to serve drinks. You can order a shot and a beer, but not a double shot. And two funny laws that are set to be abolished (as of April 2009) are the necessity to buy a membership to private clubs (ie bars) and the Zion Curtain rule whereby a bartender in restaurants cannot reach across the bar to give a customer a drink – weird! The liquor laws are really a tourist attraction in themselves.
See the
official Utah state website for more information on the liquor laws, but the other option is not to figure them out, and just go with the flow. In essence, it’s not difficult to get a drink in Utah, but you might just have to giggle first to get one.
The profile of skiing in Utah is much lower than in neighbouring
Colorado. Many attribute this to the stereotype that one cannot get a drink in Utah, and that the state is not quite “normal”. Of course this is far from the case, and the low profile of Utah skiing is of benefit to powderhounds who don’t have to share the fresh powder with many people.
For a state that tries to limit alcohol consumption, it’s amazing how many local beers are brewed in Utah. Examples of great beers are the Wasatch Evolution Amber Ale for its taste, and the Polygamy Porters for its silly name.
On the topic of the Mormons, you won’t find many of them skiing on Sundays, and considering that about 60-70% of the state population are Mormons, Sundays can be a great day for powderhounds to go skiing.
How to Get There and Travel Information Salt Lake City international airport is the gateway city for most Utah ski resorts. Delta Airlines have over 300 daily flights in and out of Salt Lake City servicing many cities in the US, Canada and Mexico.
From Australia most flights will go via Los Angeles, but they may also stop off at San Francisco or even Las Vegas on the way to Salt Lake City. Carriers include Qantas and United Airlines. Alternatively you can use any carrier to get to Los Angeles, and then get a Delta flight to SLC.
Flight times from the east coast of Australia will be about 20 hours depending upon your flight route.
As for most flights to North America, the cost will be greater around the Christmas period and during early January, get a little cheaper from mid-January onwards, and become cheaper again after February. As a general rule, the cost of accommodation will follow the same pattern, although accommodations during the Sundance Festival in Park City will be at a premium. If you are not visiting Utah specifically for the Sundance Festival, it’s probably wise to avoid travelling during this time due to the cost and the crowds. The festival is in mid-January for two weeks.
It may be worthwhile to use a travel agent to assist with the booking of flights and the planning of your vacation. They can help you negotiate the best route, but they also have access to cheaper flights when booked as a ski package with accommodations and lift tickets.
Why Ski In Utah?
It’s pretty obvious really - Utah is the powder skiing capital of
USA.