The Best Skiing in Utah, from Deer Valley to Sundance Mountain

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Snowbasin Resort

If you’ve experienced Utah's best skiing before and are in on the now not-so-secret handshake, you know that some of best skiing in the world is only 45 minutes away from Salt Lake City International Airport. (That means you can take a 7 a.m. flight from New York's JFK, land at 10:30-ish and be on the mountain by 1 p.m.) That and the state’s maxim—The Greatest Snow On Earth—broadcasted on every souvenir item possible isn’t overselling how preposterously light and fluffy the powder is here, or how much of it falls annually (up to 500 inches).

Whether you're in search of the best family friendly ski resorts or stellar views (perhaps, riding down some swirling runs that are within driving range of Utah's national parks), the state offers no shortage of resorts home to tall peaks of fresh powder, or terrain diversity for all kinds of riders. And of course, there are fantastic lodging and après ski hotspots nearby.

Below, we've outlined the best skiing in Utah, with insight from two writers who have logged many hours studying up—plus, we share tips on how to navigate each of these ski resorts like an expert.

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Park City Mountain Resort

The 7,300-acre mega-mountain, owned by Vail Mountain Resorts, offers runs for everyone—from the skier who wants to clock ten runs in before lunch to the boarder who wants to hit a terrain park, or even the non-skier that just wants to enjoy time on the mountain at their newest offering: Ski beach, a snow-melt hangout area with fire pits and soft seating areas. The resort (which has 42 lifts and 330 trails) and the town proper retains its silver mining roots and ’80s ski-bum culture (expect to see lots of furniture made from old K2s), and if you’re a more advanced skier, you can’t beat the back bowls after a storm. Even if you only semi know what you’re doing on those rentals, you stay and ski in Park City to revel in the bohemian, cowboy-inflected vibe that thrums along Main Street. Look up and you’ll see a chairlift cruising above you—this is truly one of the last great American West ski towns.

The pass situation: At the window, prices start at $175 for a full day, adult ticket. Buy online in advance and you’ll get a better deal (especially if you buy in bulk for your trip). Also know Park City honors the Epic Pass if you’re holding.

Where to après, eat, and drink: High West Distillery is the only ski-in/ski-out whiskey distillery in the world and has a barrel aged, pre-made Manhattan that’s worth rerouting on the mountain for (same goes for the chicken pot pie). For dinner, head to Handle, and order the fried chicken and caramel pudding for desert. Your thighs earned it.

Where to stay: Nestled in the heart of Canyons Village at Park City Mountain, the Grand Summit Hotel is just steps away from world-class terrain served by the Orange Bubble Express Lift and Red Pine Gondola.

If you want to stay in Park City proper, the Washington School House is only two blocks from a chairlift to the resort, and is a lovely boutique option that serves a delicious complimentary breakfast (get the pancakes) and has a heated pool and outdoor fire pit. There are only 12 rooms here (the building dates back to 1889) and the all-white interiors and vintage rugs lend more Euro vibe than a rustic one.

Deer Valley

This is a “groomers-only” type’s paradise catering to out-of-towners and locals alike, where a ski valet will help you unload your equipment from the car at the base (no hauling those Vokls on your shoulders from the parking lot). The ski school is one of the best in the country, as it should be, since Stein Eriksen, the stylish, Norwegian alpine skier who won Olympic Gold for giant slalom in 1952, served as the director of skiing for more than 35 years here before passing away in 2015. Snowboarders are still not allowed, but nobody’s stopping anyone, regardless of your boot and binding choice, from tipping back a few glasses of wine at their newest restaurant Cast & Cut. This year, the expansion for Deer Valley is the talk of the town amongst riders who shred in the state. As part of the Expanded Excellence initiative, Deer Valley will offer access into its expanded terrain for the 2024–25 ski season, with three new chairlifts, over 300 new skiable acres, several new ski runs, and 500 additional skier parking spots originating from the Deer Valley East Village—all currently under development. Keetley Express is expected to open this December (conditions permitting), as the resort’s first six-person chairlift with a bubble, connecting Deer Valley East Village to the existing Deer Valley footprint.

The pass situation: Full day adult passes are on dynamic pricing starting at $189. However during holidays you’ll pay $259. Deer Valley is also on Ikon Pass. Know that Deer Valley caps the number of lift tickets sold each day, and during those dates the resort typically reaches capacity, so it's best to pre-purchase tickets online.

Where to après, eat, and drink: Down your morning espresso at the Deer Valley Grocery Café, which also does a solid southwestern breakfast wrap. Stop for lunch and a glass (or a bottle) of wine at the Stein Eriksen lodge’s Glitretend (Stein’s bacon & grilled cheese is ideal elevated ski sustenance). Après and (and maybe just stay for dinner) at the Montage’s Burgers and Bourbon. The wagyu nachos are a meal unto themselves.

Where to stay: Auberge Resorts Collection added a sleek annex to Goldener Hirsch's Austrian-inspired chalet hotel a few years back. Guests can choose to say in one of the European style rooms or on the mountain chic side, with floor-to-ceiling windows and giant bathrooms. Each residence is large and spacious—great for multi-generation, family travel, or extended type stays. The property has a year-round heated roof-top pool overlooking the slopes and a fantastic restaurant that sources ingredients locally or from the impressive farm at its sister property The Lodge at Blue Sky.

Alta Ski Resort

Located at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta is a purist resort. Locals, Europeans in Bogner one pieces, and Americans who know what they’re doing come to Alta for its deep powder (it often gets the most snow in the state at 550 inches annually) and 2,200 acres of skiable terrain, some of it steep and fast (55 percent of the mountain is meant for more advanced skiers). This is as old-school as it gets—no snowboarders allowed—and you’ll still find vintage two-seater chair lifts in operation here, not to mention a number of telemarkers (an incredibly difficult technique that mashes up Alpine and Nordic skiing). Be sure to tick off the Supreme Bowl, packed with tight, fast couloirs, when conditions permit, which this being Alta they generally do.

The pass situation: Alta day passes for adults start at $139. For season passes, you can purchase an Ikon Base Pass add-on for $349.

Where to après, eat, and drink: Alta isn’t your typical raging ski-town (most people are in bed early to get first tracks the next day) but that doesn’t mean you’ll be going dry by any means. Even if you rent a house here, make sure you do dinner at Collins Grill at least one night, where they have a standout wine list and incredible views of the mountain. The Alta Peruvian lodge bar is where you want to go when the lift stops running—it’s like an 80s ski movie in the best possible way.

Where to stay: Look to some of the vacation homes and condos for rent on Alta’s site (we like the Manely cabin) or on canyonservices.com. Most of them are within walking distance to the resort or are ski in/ski out. Alternatively, Snowbird’s ski-in/ski-out Cliff Lodge is near Alta (in fact, you can ski both resorts in the same day with the AltaSnowbird pass).

Snowbird

Also up Little Cottonwood Canyon and next door neighbors with Alta, this locals' favorite is generally known for perpetually being blessed by the powder gods (it gets 500 inches annually on average). The Summit Tram (which has new floor-to-ceiling windows) takes you up 2,900 vertical feet in about eight minutes, meaning you can knock out quite a few runs here quickly. The snow and 2,500 acres of terrain are incredible and challenging (you’ll see some damn good skiers here). Not incredibly beginner-friendly, but it will make an intermediate skier better in one vacation. New for the 2024-25 winter season, Snowbird's original red Tram cabin is refurbished and transformed into a new outdoor extension of the Tram Club, offering year round outdoor patio seating, dining and drinks.

The pass situation: An adult all day pass are $167 off peak and $184 for peak and weekends.

Where to après, eat, and drink: This wasn’t a resort where people came for the food per se, but with some recent revamps and refreshes, that is all changing, one example is the retro addition of SeventyOne that serves up elevated diner fare. At some point, you have to have lunch or grab a beer at The Summit, which overlooks Mineral Basin and is at 11,000 feet (the pictures you’ll take alone are worth it).

Where to stay: The ski in/ski out Cliff Lodge, which was renovated recently, has a heated roof-top pool, a hot tub, and a sauna. Keep in mind rental homes near Alta are close as well and Salt Lake City proper is only a 30-minute drive if you’d rather Airbnb it downtown or stay at one of the many new hotels opening in the city.

Sundance Mountain Resort

The 12,000-foot Mount Timpanogos towers over this tiny ski town, and while steep bowls give experienced skiers a thrill, there are still plenty of beginner-friendly runs. Just an hour from Salt Lake City, the 5,000 acres of protected wilderness that surround the resort will make you feel totally removed from the rest of the world. Film fans can also nerd out while they ski the slopes surrounding the birthplace of Sundance, the largest film festival in the US. For the upcoming winter season, Sundance Mountain Resort broke ground on the forthcoming Inn at Sundance Resort. Projected to open in 2025-26, the new 63-room, ADA-accessible inn at the resort’s base village will satisfy a long-awaited need for the renowned destination. Also this year, the Mountain Camp Day Lodge will open, providing a facility to make day-skiers’ lives easier with lockers, a ticket office, ski school home base, gear rentals and more right next to the recently expanded resort parking.

The pass situation: One-day passes start at $129—however, what's known as an S-Card can be purchased from the ski resort directly, pre-season, for $99.

Where to après, eat, and drink: The Tree Room is a perennial favorite. Not only is the classic, modern American food reliable, but you're surrounded by Native American art from Robert Redford's private collection. Don't miss a sip or two at the Owl Bar, housed in a restored 1890s space that was shipped in from Wyoming and once home to Butch Cassidy's Hole-in-the-Wall Gang.

Where to stay: Right at Sundance Mountain Resort, which offers a wide selection of accommodations from standard lodge rooms to large vacation homes.

Solitude

A quintessential locals’ mountain in Big Cottonwood Canyon where you used to see fewer tourists (and the ones you did see couldn’t believe their luck in finding the place). These days more out-of-towners are discovering what Utah folk have known for years: At Solitude, you never wait in a lift line, and as you get to know the mountain it rewards by being much bigger than it appears from the base. There are 1,200 skiable acres, 82 runs, and a whopping 500 inches of annual snow.

The pass situation: Smart pricing starts at $89, but sometimes discounted passes can be purchased ahead of time on their website.

Where to après, eat, and drink: Two bars you’ll want to hit after your legs can’t take any more: The Thirsty Squirrel and the Argenta pub. Both have that all-wood, cozy vibe you’ll be jonesing for by the end of the day, and terrific Utah beers on tap, like Unitas Baba Black ale.

Where to stay: Rent a house in Big Cottonwood Canyon (VRBO has good options), a condo unit in Solitude Village, or think about staying in Park City or Deer Valley and experiencing Solitude through the interconnect. For $475, a guide will take experienced skiers through Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort, Solitude, Brighton, Alta, Snowbird, and the backcountry terrain between these resorts.

Powder Mountain

Located just east of Ogden, a small metro area about a 30-minute drive north of Salt Lake City, lies the United State's largest ski area with over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain, more than half of which is groomed, leaving ample space for powder-lovers (fittingly, it is also known as “PowMow”). Even though this resort is quickly gaining popularity, its easy to feel like you have the whole mountain to yourself—even on a busy day, you may only find one skier per two acres of terrain. Since the resort is so large, the resort has created a free orientation for first-timers to help them get a lay of the land. But once skiing these runs, it's hard to imagine wanting to choose busier slopes.

The pass situation: Powder Mountain prioritizes season pass holders (starting at $1,649 for adults) but daily passes are available for $109 and up on certain days.

Where to après, eat, and drink: The mountain eats still have a way to go to catch up with others above, but the Powder Keg calls to skiers for a relaxed après with dive bar-style grub and local taps. If you'd like something a bit nicer, the dining scene in Ogden is coming into its own and the tasting menu at Hearth 25 shouldn't be missed.

Where to stay: Ski-in and ski-out of the horizon cabins located near the summit of Powder Mountain. The minimal, Scandinavian-style lodgings were designed by award-winning architect Brian Mackay-Lyons and offer incredible views from the top of it all. You will need a four-wheel drive vehicle, and experience driving in the snow, to access the cozy, fully-stocked homes.

Snowbasin

A 45-minute drive from Salt Lake City (and from Salt Lake City’s International Airport) is Snowbasin Resort, home to 106 runs across 3,000 skiable acres. It's just 20-minutes from buzzy Ogden. With striking upper mountain rock faces, the terrain feels wider than it is tall—and while the resort feels less commercial than other ski resorts in Utah, it's home to famously top-tier lodging options for riders. In its early days, the resort was known to be an under-developed smaller hub for locals, but since its host title of the 2002 Olympics, which allowed for a massive expansion of the terrain, there have been vast improvements each season. Snowbasin was recently selected as the official Alpine Skiing venue for the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Looking ahead for the next winter season (2025-26), the Becker Chairlift, originally installed back in 1986, will be transformed into a detachable quad and expected to enhance visitor capacity by transporting around 1,800 riders each hour. As only a six minute ride to the top terminal, it’s also expected to reduce lift time for skiers in half. Along with revised parking and entry for better traffic flow, repositioned chairlifts for easier access to bottom terminals will be constructed; beginner terrains and family zones are also going to get bigger.

The pass situation: You can ride at Snowbasin on the Ikon Pass; otherwise, tickets start around $126 for adults, with the best deals on weekdays (and when you book at least one week in advance).

Where to après, eat, and drink: Head to the Cinnabar of the resort’s Earl Lodge for a cozy rock fireplace and quirky Italian Murano glass chandeliers. The convenient onsite gastropub has heaps of cocktails and live music on the weekends.

Where to stay: The sweet and simple Hampton Inn and Suites Ogden is connected to the convention center and offers a ski shuttle with ski passes for Snowbasin riders.

Brian Head

Southwestern Brian Head is celebrating its 60th ski season this year—and to kick it off, the resort is debuting nearly $1.4 million in improvements, including three new beginner and intermediate trails. Now with 74 trails in total across 650 acres, the resort connects two mountains (Giant Steps and Navajo). Brian Head might not be the steepest spot around, but as the state’s highest base elevation, the terrain is home to much more snowfall than most of Utah’s northern resorts—leaving it to feel widely untouched in comparison. Not only does it have more of a family vibe with tight knit staff and service, but the colors of the landscape—when not blanketed in white snow, that is—are unique: A short distance away is the Cedar Breaks National Monument, which provides a backdrop of a spectrum of red rock alongside sharp accents of pure white snow and tall green trees. You can ski alpine here as well as cross country on the resort plateau. Fall into the stars when night skiing—Brian Head was also recently designated as a Dark Sky location.

The pass situation: A weekday lift ticket starts at $49, and for the weekend, $59. Recurring riders can find season pass options on their website.

Where to après, eat, and drink: On the third floor of Giant Steps Lodge, head to the classic and lively Last Chair Saloon. With live music every Saturday, the bar offers both barbecue and a large beer selection (the signature No.9 Pale Ale is named in honor of Brian Head).

Where to stay: For convenience and comfort, book a stay onsite at Brian Head Resort. It’s just a two minute shuttle ride to the slopes and offers an outdoor hot tub, game room with old school video games, and a spa with a sauna. With the resort’s Stay and Ski Free option, guests can book a two-night stay in either a queen or king room and receive free lift tickets.

Brighton

Brighton is the oldest ski resort in Utah. An hour from the Salt Lake City airport, the resort is on the small side at 1,050 skiable acres and 66 trails. However, its ski lifts reach the top of the resort in four ski pods, each area serving a different terrain (for one: off of Snake Creek lift, there's the option of Thor, an undulating, twisting run through deep trees). As one of two ski resorts in Big Cottonwood Canyon just above Salt Lake City—it also sits just off of the Great Salt Lake—the location has catered to its favorable snow conditions with more snowfall. The resort has a laid-back atmosphere and groomer runs with few flat sections. There are also options for beginners and intermediate riders who wants heaps of space, with wide area green and blue runs through tall trees—uniquely, the resort is home to both aspens and pines. For this season, the resort has introduced even more options for night skiing, opening a vast terrain inclusive of 30 trails. It was one of the first in Utah to allow snowboarders—and still caters to the boarding community with terrain parks and jumps. Kill two birds with the SolBright trail to access Solitude.

The pass situation: Brighton is on Ikon Pass. Otherwise, lift tickets start at $64, valid for up to seven hours. For an additional $10, adults can purchase the all-day for a full 12 hours of riding.

Where to après, eat, and drink: Molly Green’s is an upbeat, mountain-lodge-style bar at Brighton Resort—and one of the classic après-ski hotspots in all of Utah.

Where to stay: Book at the on-site Brighton Lodge for a rustic-style stay. Here, purchase a package, where for a three-night reservations, guests are offered a daily lift ticket.

Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler