Snowboarding in Utah
The term Snowboard and Utah have been grouped with each other for years. Utah is widely known for having the greatest snow on earth, so it makes sense that Utah and Snowboarding are connected. Now I could dive in and explain all the science on why Utah’s snow is the way that it is, but I would hate to bore you. To keep it simple, Utah has some of the best snow in the world because it is very “Powdery” but also light, fluffy and dry. With this snow being on top of the rock mountains, it is the perfect set up for some of the best snowboarding in the world! In this blog we will go over what in my opinion is the best snowboarding in Utah, I will rank the top 5 resorts in my opinion. I hope to help you find your ultimate snowboard spot. Whether you are from out of town and on a trip with your friends or a local that is just looking for something new, I present to you the best snowboarding in Utah.
Honorable Mention
Before diving into the top 5 places for snowboarding in Utah, it’s worth noting that Utah has 15 resorts, though two (Alta and Deer Valley) don’t allow snowboarders. From Brian Head in the south to Cherry Peak in the north, there’s a spot for every rider. Some favorites that didn’t make my list include Cherry Peak, Beaver Mountain, Sundance, Woodward, and Brian Head.
Cherry Peak is small with just two lifts and a backyard feel, while Beaver Mountain offers a larger area and more challenging terrain, both at affordable prices. Woodward Park City focuses on park features, making it perfect for learning tricks, while Sundance in Provo Canyon has a nostalgic “80s” vibe and is where I first learned to ride. Sundance also has a rich history, as Robert Redford purchased the land in 1969, and the Sundance Film Festival is named after it. Finally, Brian Head in Cedar City combines Utah’s iconic red rock scenery with snow sports, creating a unique experience.
Utah offers endless options for snowboarding; even if you miss the top 5, you’ll find incredible snowboarding here. Now, let’s get into the best snowboarding spots in Utah!
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Powder Mountain
Powder Mountain is located in Eden Utah which is outside of Ogden Utah, which means it is about an hour and some change from the Salt Lake Airport. The best part about powder mountain is that they do not partner with any of the mega passes like Ikon or Epic pass. This means that less people are out on the mountain giving you the feeling that you have the place to yourself. This is good for several reasons, there are less people waiting in line, meaning you can get more runs in during your day. The other great part about not as many people being out there is that you can find untouched snow lots of the time! This plays right into their name, Powder Mountain. They have a vibe that is definitely laid back and just chill. They have 9 lifts, 6 chair lifts and then 3 surface tows. They have 8,464 acres of rideable terrain. They have 154 trails so lots of their terrain is ungroomed runs, making this a great spot for anybody looking to duck off the beaten path. In general Powder Mountain is a great Snowboard destination. It gives you a chance to feel like you are at a small resort while not being at a small resort. They for sure have some of the best snowboarding in Utah.
Park City Mountain
Park City Mountain Resort might be one of the most well known resorts to the average person, purely because it is named after Park City in Utah. With 40 lifts and 330+ different runs Park City is Massive, it is the largest resort in the US. with 8% of their terrain being “Green” runs for beginners this is a great resort to go snowboarding at if you have a little bit more experience so you can ride everywhere comfortably. 50% of the terrain is for “experts” so Park City definitely has gnarly terrain to ride. They also have several different terrain parks, included in those parks is a 22’ halfpipe that they used in the 2002 olympics. Park City is epic. That is why they are partnered with epic pass. With unlimited access with the epic pass you cannot go wrong with going to park city. The only problem you will run into is not having enough time to go snowboarding in every part of the resort. It is also more expensive compared to some of the other resorts mentioned on this list but if you are willing to pay it is one of the best places to go snowboarding in Utah.
Solitude
Solitude is located up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is roughly 40 minutes away from the Salt Lake airport. Solitude receives 500 inches of snow a year. It is a very family friendly resort, so depending on the type of trip or experience you are trying to have you should plan accordingly. They have a wide range of all sorts of terrain so different skill levels can snowboard up there and feel comfortable. Solitude is also reasonably priced compared to some other bigger resorts like Park City and Snowbird. Solitude does not have a lot of nightlife going on after the resort is closed so if you are staying up there your snowboarding weekend will be relatively chill. Solitude is also accessible using the Ikon pass.
Snowbird
Snowbird is located in Little Cottonwood Canyon, it is roughly 40 minutes from the Salt Lake airport as well. Snowbird is known for its big terrain. They have steep runs and terrain that make it a dream for experienced riders. They have on average 71 snowfall days in a season giving you a good chance to, if not catch a powder day, be near one with a good chance to find untouched snow. I have very fond memories of riding at snowbird and stumbling upon lots of untouched snow on bluebird days. Snowbird is accessible off the Ikon pass giving you a chance to ride without having to buy additional passes if you have the Ikon pass. Snowbird is more expensive than solitude as mentioned before but their insane terrain makes them all worth it. Snowbird definitely has some of the best snowboarding in Utah if not the world!
Brighton
Brighton is a snowboarder’s mecca in Utah. It is located up Big Cottonwood Canyon above Solitude. It is also around a 40 minute drive from the Salt Lake Airport. With 6 lifts they have a little bit of everything somebody could look for. Milly Express one of their lifts almost feels like it’s own resort in a resort. With so many different places to snowboard and see in Brighton it for sure tops my list. I have countless memories and good stories from riding up at Brighton. There is a strong sense of community that you can just feel up there. It is the snowboarder’s resort in Utah, some would say your favorite resort’s favorite resort, it is a slice of heaven located in the heart of Utah. They receive on average 500” of snow a year. They have a range of groomed runs but also non groomed runs and places to ride that nobody else has rode. The only downside to Brighton is that on weekends it gets really busy. They also offer night riding that has lots of terrain to ride that is lit up so you can see. Brighton in my humble opinion has the best snowboarding in Utah.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, you cannot go wrong with going snowboarding in Utah. We have the greatest snow in the world and the views from all the ski resorts are breathtaking and different. I am very fortunate to live in Utah where I have the opportunity to ride all of these resorts. Come to Utah and get some of that world famous powder. Special thanks to Powderhounds for giving me inspiration for this blog post. https://www.powderhounds.com/ Also shout out everybody that I have gone snowboarding with and thank you to anybody who has told me about about their experience at the resort they ride at. I also got a lot of this information directly from the resorts websites. https://brightonresort.com/ https://www.snowbird.com/ https://www.solitudemountain.com/ https://www.parkcitymountain.com/https://powdermountain.com/