Brighton
Brighton was the first ski resort in Utah and is one of the oldest in America. It might be old, but it’s far from old-fashioned. It was the first Utah resort to allow snowboarders, and it continues to be popular with funky snowboarders who make the most of the terrain parks, natural freestyle hits and the abundance of powder. Brighton doesn’t have any of the trimmings, but the atmosphere is incredibly family-friendly, and it offers good value skiing and snowboarding.
Many a crack is visible at Brighton, but not the kind that are related to avalanches. Even though it’s cold, the young dudes are happy with the pants slung low. The fashion is distinctively different to other Utah ski resorts and anyone who wore designer ski gear would get laughed at. The population of Brighton is predominantly Gen Y, so the vibe and language is very unique. Also distinctive is the way in which snowboarders travel around the resort in big packs, with the occasional skier joining the posse.
Ski and Snowboard Terrain
There are two main sides to the resort. The Majestic side consists of forested areas with plenty of opportunities for tree skiing, whilst the Millicent side has more open spaces, bowls and drop-offs. The spread of terrain for ability levels makes it attractive for families and others learning to ride, and all of the terrain is accessible via high speed chairlifts. For many shredders, the four terrain parks are the highlight of Brighton. Night skiing is available which includes illumination of the park and pipe areas.
Brighton is a compact resort with only 425 hectares of
skiing terrain. However with an open-boundary policy there is plenty of accessible backcountry terrain, and Brighton is also interconnected with
Solitude ski resort which provides another 486 hectares. Solitude also has awesome snow and is also very family oriented, but that’s about where the similarities end. As the name suggests it is a peaceful resort with incredibly uncrowded slopes. Solitude has plenty of expert steep terrain with great fall line tree skiing.
Where is Brighton Mountain Resort?
Brighton is located at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, just next to
Solitude, only 45 minutes southeast of
Salt Lake City and 56 km from the SLC airport.
Brighton Accommodation and Facilities
Whilst Brighton has reasonable
facilities such as eateries, equipment rental and a
shop, Brighton can generally be described as a no-frills resort. In regards to
accommodation, there is some very affordable lodging at the slope-side Brighton Lodge and Brighton Chalets, but that’s about it. There are
accommodation options at Solitude, so you can either ski over to Brighton, or there are cheap Utah Transit Authority (UTA) buses to get you there. Alternatively you can
stay in Salt Lake City and commute via the UTA buses. If you’re a shop-aholic,
stay in Park City.
Why Ski or Board at Brighton?
Unlike high profile resorts such as
Snowbird and those around Park City, Brighton and the neighbouring
Solitude don’t get much attention from out-of-towners. The locals are happy for it to stay that way because the 12.7metres (500 inches) of annual snowfall at Brighton is the same awesome dry Utah powder that falls at the other resorts.