Utah Ski Resort Roundup

Known locally as Pow Mow, the resort boasts the most skiable acreage in North America with 8,464 acres. Preserving the Pow Mow experience and keeping the mountain uncrowded is made possible by capping day passes at 1,500 daily and season passes at 3,000 yearly, which allows for an average of three acres per skier.

Utah Stories

December 21, 2019

Alta

The 2019-20 is Alta Ski Area’s 82nd ski season serving up lift served skiing. Alta started out as a mining town and in 1938 the first chairlift was scooping skiers up to earn powder turns. A nightly booking at all lodges includes breakfast and dinner. Alta receives an average yearly snowfall of 547” inches with 2,614 skiable acres. “If you can see it, you can it.” With six chairlifts, a little side-stepping or traversing may be required to get you to that powder stash you’ve been eyeing from the lift. Come for the skiing. Stay for the skiing. That’s the Alta Magic.

Brian Head

Brian Head Resort – Utah’s Family-Friendly Playground. There are not many ski resorts where a guest can pull into the parking area, purchase a lift ticket, make a few runs and within a few hours feel like he is “family”.

Brian Head Resort really is such a place. Long known for it’s friendly vibe and amazing snow, Brian Head Resort is continuing this exciting new era in the ski industry by doubling down on our “Where Guests are Family” beliefs. The resort continues to work hard by adding new amenities and upgrades in every area to bring in a new and improved feel, yet still maintain our small mountain appeal.

Brighton

More than 83 years in the making, Brighton Resort remains Utah’s local mountain. The homegrown, no-frills resort boasts some of the very best snow in the state, situated at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. With accessible pass and ticket prices — Kids 10 & under ski free — and a range of camps and programs to help beginners progress, Brighton is the place Utah learns to ski and snowboard. Everyone is invited; Skiers, snowboarders (even snow bikers) and all ages and ability levels are welcome, whether you’re a first timer, a family, or a seasoned skier.

Cherry Peak

Opened in 2014, Cherry Peak is Utah’s newest ski resort. It is located just 15 miles from Logan, Utah, near the Idaho border. The nearly 400 acre family-owned resort, features three triple-chairlifts, a comprehensive snow-making infrastructure, and a 1.25 mile-long
run. The resort has a three-story Grand Lodge that hosts events year-round (parties, weddings, and corporate events). Cherry Peak has 29 ski runs, a terrain park with 15 features, tubing, and day and night Skiing.

Our resort is open year-round from winter activities to our summer activities which include live concerts from national artists, lift-assisted mountain biking, disc golf, horseback riding, redneck waterslide, ultimate bungee and much more! If you haven’t had a chance to come visit our resort, plan that family vacation now for an affordable day to remember!

Deer Valley

Deer Valley Resort located in Park City, Utah is just 36 miles east of the Salt Lake City International Airport and one mile from Park City’s Historic Main Street. Deer Valley® revolutionized the ski industry 39 years ago by being the first North American resort to provide the service one would receive at a five-star hotel. This ski-only resort features luxurious amenities including complimentary ski valets, Mountain Host tours and overnight ski storage, as well as, groomed-to-perfection slopes, on-site childcare, limited lift ticket sales, gourmet dining and the largest selection of accommodations in the area, from hotel rooms to large private homes. Deer Valley is also included (up to seven days) on the Ikon Pass!

Eagle Point

Eagle Point Resort is southern Utah’s steepest and deepest ski and snowboard resort. Considered a perfect getaway from the crowded slopes and high prices of the mega-resorts, Eagle Point Resort is a scenic 17-mile-drive from downtown Beaver via Route 153. Guests of the resort often note the lack of lift lines, uncrowded slopes and friendly staff on and off the mountain.

The independently-owned resort averages 400 annual inches of Utah’s Greatest Snow on Earth™ across 650 skiable acres and over 1500 vertical feet. Canyonside Lodge Bar & Grill with its high ceilings and rustic mountain ambiance serves casual and fine dining.

Park City

Park City Mountain, the largest resort in the United States, is located in the heart of Park City, Utah, only a 35-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport and steps from historic Main Street in charming Park City. Park City Mountain bustles with activities year-round with 7,300 acres of terrain, two distinct base areas, mountainside lodging, thrilling family adventures and more than two dozen restaurants. Park City Mountain is part of Vail Resorts and the Epic Pass.

Powder Mountain

Powder Mountain is a one of a kind year-round resort hanging its hat on skier experience, adventure and an unprecedented mountain modern village development. Known locally as Pow Mow, the resort boasts the most skiable acreage in North America with 8,464 acres. Preserving the Pow Mow experience and keeping the mountain uncrowded is made possible by capping day passes at 1,500 daily and season passes at 3,000 yearly, which allows for an average of three acres per skier. Powder Mountain is known for its unconventional way of accessing all its terrain; from lift to bus to snowcat, you’ll always be able to find fresh snow!

Snowbasin

Snowbasin Resort is easily accessible from Ogden, Salt Lake City and Park City and tucked behind Mt. Ogden in Huntsville, Utah. Snowbasin is known for wide-open bowls, gladed trees, pristine groomers, long powder runs, excellent service, and exceptional food. Snowbasin offers 3,000 acres and 3,000 vertical feet accessed by 11 lifts including gondolas, high-speed chairs, trams and more. In addition, Snowbasin is one of the oldest operating ski resort in the nation and hosted the 2002 Olympic Games’ Downhill, Combined, and Super G-races. For those who like luxury with their adventure, Snowbasin offers both at an incredible value!

Snowbird

Snowbird gets over 500 inches of snow every year. With steep, challenging terrain and snow that any powder hound will drool over, the mountain is an all-time favorite of die-hard skiers and snowboarders from all over the globe. Home to Utah’s only Aerial Tram, Snowbird offers 2500 acres of skiable acres. This season, Snowbird is excited to launch the newest addition to our mountain, SeventyOne. SeventyOne is a one-of-a-kind restaurant that pays homage to Snowbird’s foundational year of operation. The décor, lighting and artisan tile transport you back in time to the early 70s. For more info please visit snowbird.com.

Solitude

Solitude Mountain Resort is known as a locals’ mountain and a family-friendly destination with terrain and amenities for all. Not too big or too small, this “Goldilocks” resort offers a variety of lodging on-site, dining options from convenient grab-n-go to guided gourmet experiences, and a locally renowned Nordic center with 20 km of groomed cross-country trails. Located in one of the snowiest canyons in North America, Solitude features over 1,200 acres of skiing and riding, including access to some of the most exciting off-piste terrain in the country.

Sundance

Sundance is unique in Utah’s ski industry for two prevalent reasons. First, Sundance has a strong emphasis on the arts as well as skiing so there is something for every member of the family when they visit. Even if a family member is not interested in skiing, there is ziplining, fly fishing, art classes, and concerts. Second, the atmosphere at Sundance is incredibly special and unique. The natural, western theme of the buildings and lodging units nestled under beautiful Mount Timpanogos create an escape like none else.

Woodward Park City

Woodward Park City, the nation’s first all-in-one action sports and ski resort, will feature a fully integrated and state of the art campus, complete with indoor and outdoor action sports venues for year-round adventure. This adventure lifestyle business is conveniently located just 27 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, and open 365 days and nights a year starting December 14, 2019. The first of its kind and located in one of North America’s premier adventure destinations, imagined from the ground up to encourage intuitive growth and progression in 10 different sports and activities including: snowboarding, skiing, tubing, mountain biking, skateboarding, BMX, scooter, parkour, cheer, and digital media.

Healthy Utah, Utah Athletics, Utah Mountains

Alta, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brian Head, Brighton, Cherry Peak, Community, Deer Valley, Eagle Point, Our Canyons, Park city, Powder Mountain, skiing, Snowbasin, Snowbird, snowboarding, Solitude, southern utah, sundance, Utah Mountains, Woodward Park City

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The $7 Million Recruit: How NIL Changed College Athletics Forever

In 2012, Jabari Parker, a top high school prospect and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was facing his biggest decision to that point in his life: where to play college basketball.

Fans of BYU athletics hoped and perhaps prayed that Parker would pick the school owned by the church he was raised in. BYU was listed as one of his final choices. But he ultimately chose to spend his college years at Duke before attempting a career in the NBA. BYU fans were disappointed, but no one was truly surprised. Duke over BYU was the best choice for a young prospect in 2012.

A.J. Dybantsa.

What changed between 2012 and 2024 when A.J. Dybantsa, the number one high school prospect, chose BYU over every other school? The answer is roughly $7 million dollars. That is what Dybantsa is reportedly making to play basketball at BYU.

The deal was supported by Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith, who met multiple times with the Dybantsa family in multiple attempts to bring the young player to Provo.

According to Smith, he had no financial role in bringing Dybantsa to BYU, but the influence of Utah’s most famous billionaire acting as a “booster” or unofficial recruiter certainly swayed the decision.

Prior to 2021, boosters acting as recruiters was taboo to the NCAA governing body. It was called improper recruiting. But in 2021, California began the modern era of NIL, or the ability of a college athlete to benefit from their name, image, or likeness, when they passed the “Fair Pay to Play Act.”

This new law gave college athletes in California the ability to benefit from their NIL, something that was banned in the rest of the country to that point. The NCAA saw that this law would create an unfair advantage for California schools that could now give young athletes the chance to make money off their talent and image while still in college.

The NCAA knew they needed to do something quickly, so they rushed through a policy that opened up NIL to all college athletes in the country, and it has been expanding and evolving over the last four years.

Grant Duff, who has coached at the University of Utah, Weber State University, and is now the defensive coordinator for Idaho State University, says, “The best part of NIL is that athletes have an opportunity to make good money. The downside comes with the free-for-all that money causes.”

Dybantsa confers with BYU Head coach, Kevin Young.

One of the biggest current examples of what a school can do when the boosters are willing to pay for success is Texas Tech University. From 2020-2024, Texas Tech had 34 wins, which works out to 6.8 wins per year with a low of 4 wins and high of 8. Then Texas Tech’s boosters got involved, led by Cody Campbell, an oil industry businessman and Chairman of the Texas Tech board. The football program was given 28 million dollars for NIL with a simple message attached to the large pile of money: Win. And win now. And win they did.

By signing NIL deals with athletes in the transfer portal, Texas Tech went from a middle-of-the-pack school in their conference to one of the top 12 teams in the country. They didn’t just win games in 2025, they made many of their opponents look like they didn’t belong on the same field, including the University of Utah and BYU twice. That is what money can buy.

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