Blessed with the purest snow, Utah offers skiing enthusiasts what many regard as the best skiing terrain. Right in Park City, Utah is the headquarters of The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. The state has also been the host of the Olympic Winter Games in 2002. Utah boasts of 13 world-class skiing resorts that offer the sought-out dry powder or fresh snow.
You will find ski resorts scattered all over the state as well as a wide range of accommodations, restaurants and other entertainment areas for a complete Utah skiing vacation. If you are planning a Utah skiing trip during peak season, you will need to make an early reservation especially during the Christmas holiday season when almost all lodging, especially in Park City, is fully booked.
Park City is also the main venue for The Sundance Film Festival. You may want to schedule your Utah Skiing so you will be in town during the Festival. Again, book ahead because room reservations go quickly during that time. Salt Lake City is also an ideal place to stay for your Utah skiing vacation. It has excellent accommodations that provide easy access to seven major ski resorts, 3 of which are in Park City and 4 situated in Cottonwood Canyons.
Some Utah skiing resorts are open starting Thanksgiving weekend or during the middle of November. Many resorts stay open well into the months of April or May. Look out for discounted lodging rates that are normally available in the early and later part of the winter season.
Utah's 13 ski resorts include the Alta Ski Resort, which is the local favorite that offers no-frills Utah skiing and the Brian Head Resort, a full-service resort that has the highest elevation with 400 inches of powder annually. The Deer Valley Resort, ranked the second best resort in North America, offers exceptional quality service and amenities. It hosted the freestyle event in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
The Park City Mountain Resort is another full-service resort that is open year round with over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain. Head to the Snowbasin Ski Resort to experience the Wildflower and Grizzly downhill courses featured in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Go to the Solitude Resort where you will find crowd free slopes and charming European-style village. This resort receives an average of 500 inches of snow every year.
The Canyons Resort is one of the largest ski resorts in the United States with eight mountains, over three thousand acres of skiable terrain and three first-rate lodges
Beaver Mountain Ski Resort is a family-owned and operated resort offering all-around skiing activities. One of the oldest resorts in Utah is the Brighton Resort but it has modern ski areas that offer great value. It is ideal for Utah skiing with families and kids.
You can find the best trails for beginners in Wolf Mountain Resort, which also offers skiing areas free of crowds. There is also a mile of trail for intermediate and advanced skiers. Night skiing is also available here. Powder Mountain Resort is where you will find the purest snow. Ski Magazine ranked it number one for having the highest quality of snow. Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort has an aerial tram that can seat 125 passengers and reaches elevation of up to 11, 000 feet. Enjoy the rustic elegance of Robert Redford's Sundance Resort where you can go downhill skiing or cross-country skiing in its 450 acres of excellent ski terrain.
