Salt Lake City's Best Ski Resorts

A local favorite, Solitude Mountain Resort is a small, secluded ski resort that accommodates beginners and intermediates especially well, although it also has expert slopes. It has a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere due to its small size. the variety of slopes and the lovely, alpine-themed lodging village – perfect for cozy nights in.

Season: November-April.

Brighton is the cheapest of the nearby resorts. Although it caters to a more advanced crowd than Solitude, it still has plenty to offer beginners. One of Brighton’s distinctive features is the night-skiing, with slopes being open until 9pm and the fact that, unlike most of the other resorts, Brighton also attracts snowboarders. With an 80-year teaching history and a roster of seasoned instructors, it’s also a great place to learn new skills or brush up on old ones.

Season: November-April

Considered Salt Lake City’s top resort, Snowbird amply caters to everyone – and has the longest ski season in Utah, starting from November and lasting well into May. Conveniently, it is also the closest to the airport. However, larger than Solitude and Brighton combined, Snowbird is also the most expensive for a day on the slopes. While it is served by 10 lifts, Snowbird’s Tram is a particularly special way to scale heights that are well beyond the reach of most ordinary ski lifts (with the bonus of gorgeous views of the mountains).

Season: November-May

A traditional, prestigious ski resort, Alta’s snow is renowned for its dry lightness – the much sought-after powder. Alf’s High Rustler (or, as the locals call it, the High Boy) is a popular ski slope for its vertical, fall-line skiing and scenic views. Skiers are advised to go slowly, and accomplishing the whole top-to-bottom slope is considered an achievement.

Season: November-April

Park City is a ski town about 30mi (48km) east of Salt Lake. It is particularly well known for having hosted the Winter Olympics events of downhill, jumping and sledding. The US ski team also makes its home here. In the 19th century, Park City was home to the silver-mining community, and retains some of the quaint old-world charm. An ideal place to enjoy après-ski, the town is filled with boutiques, bars and art galleries – there’s something for everyone. The skiing includes four terrain parks and two halfpipes, catering to a variety of ability levels, and there are over 3,300 acres (1,335ha) allocated to skiing.

Season: November-April

Deer Valley is a luxury resort, known for its exceptional service. The number of lift tickets is restricted in order to ensure secluded and optimal skiing conditions. It amply accommodates family-friendly needs, too – childcare is available for those who are too little to ski, and skiing lessons arranged for children who are a little older. However, the ski season opens a little later than the other resorts.

Season: December-April