I couldn't resist being so close to the Rocky Mountains when I was offered the opportunity to stay at my friend's house South of Salt Lake City in Draper, Utah, for a month in February 2021. Luckily, I would also visit again two years later, in January 2023. I was joyful to experience Utah with several friends.
On my first go-around, I used my Epic Pass and primarily skied at Park City, which includes Canyons Mountain. The second time around, I was excited and slightly overwhelmed by the cost as I acquired an IKON and an Epic Pass. The Epic Pass is specific to Vail Resorts and grants access to Vail-owned resorts worldwide, depending on the tier you purchased. IKON is a collective pass that allows access to various ski resorts operated by different management companies. I was eager to test out as many resorts included in the IKON Pass as I could, given it was my first pass of all time.
The first year, I fell in love with the Utah side of the Rocky Mountains. The salt from the lake wicks moisture out of the air, creating a ton of fluffy powder. I remember questioning why I fly around the world to go to Japan when I could drive to Utah in a couple of days (or fly in a few hours).
Here are my top three resorts in Utah.
Park City/Canyons.
What can I say? I’m loyal to Vail Resorts. I mean, it is where I learned how to ski. This resort is massive. Even on busy or crowded days, it doesn’t feel that way. Plus, it’s super cool that you can ski directly into town. Like what? So fun! Justin and I had a stellar powder day in January 2023 with our friend Jon, which solidified this resort as my favorite Utah ski resort.
2. Brighton.
I had a blast skiing here at night. It was so fun to hit the slopes at night. The adrenaline rush was surreal, even as I felt chilled in the freezing night air. Brighton offered plenty of powder for my two planks, too.
3. Snow Basin.
Home to the 2002 Winter Olympics, this resort is fancy (lots of gold and stones). It’s easily accessible on the interstate north of the city and has great runs.
Okay, now for the truth. Traffic sucks. Unless it’s a powder day, we usually get a “late” start to skiing. In Utah, many resorts are only accessible by a one-lane winding road up the canyons, and parking fills up early. The result was spending hours in traffic, inching our way up the mountain roads to find hopefully parking. The stress of it all damaged my attitude for the day. From what I can tell this year (2023-2024 season) on Instagram, traffic has not improved. So
Given these factors, Park City emerges as a top recommendation. Its convenient interstate access, abundant parking, and expansive resort make it a compelling destination for an enjoyable skiing experience.
If I remove traffic from my considerations, I would add Snow Bird. I enjoyed my time at this resort. Snowbird has expansive terrain.
I loved my time at Powder Mountain in 2021, a smaller resort tucked in Ogden. This resort isn’t on either the Epic or Ikon pass, which is why we didn’t make a repeat trip in 2023, and it does not have many amenities. Even the ski lifts can be challenging to come by. It's one of the most accesible cat skiing experiences that I'm aware of. You can wait in line and take a cat, which is the machines that plow the snow, and ride for cheap.
While in Utah, I got a few powder-filled laps one morning at Alta, a skiers-only resort. I heard Alta stands for “another long traverse ahead.” Traversing is when you move horizontally across the slope rather than descending directly downhill, and it has a bad reputation for snowboarders, which may be why snowboarders aren’t allowed. For the record, my snowboarding friends don’t have trouble traversing. They are slower than me in my skis - but they make it across just fine. I’m not a big fan since my snowboarding friends can’t go. I’m going as far as not adding it to my list.
While the road conditions are just as bad, if not worse, than taking the i-70 from Denver to their side of the Rockies, a ski trip to Utah is worth it. I’m drawn to Utah for the fresh powder and variety of terrain. Lastly, I want to give a shout-out. Thanks to my friend Casey for letting me stay at his house in Draper, Utah. I’m lucky to call him a friend, and I love his slogan: We Like to Party.
Don’t hesitate to grab a friend and check out what Utah offers. To help, here’s the link to my mountain escape recommendations on Google Maps and the recap of my escapades on Instagram. Embark on your next snow adventure with confidence and curiosity. Check out my Essential Travel List and start planning your journey today!
To see everything in action, check out my YouTube video. Click this link or watch below, embark on a journey of discovery, and follow me @BeSeeingTheWorldYo and @BeSkiingTheWorldYo on Instagram.
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