4 days in SLC - which resorts?

There will be three of us heading to SLC to ski (no snowboarders among us) the last weekend of Feb and I would like to solicit some opinions on resorts to try. None of us have skied in Utah before. We would mainly be staying on green and blue runs, although one friend may be on some blacks. We are choosing four resorts to try and my initial feeling is Alta, Deer Valley, Snowbasin and Solitude. We will be new to powder skiing so groomed runs and nothing super-steep are mainly what we're looking for. Do my choices seem fine or does anyone have a compelling reason to choose any of the other resorts? Also, which resorts will be less busy on the weekends? We will be there on a Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues and I'm trying to figure out which resort to go to on which day.

Thanks in advance for your help!

I think you've made some great choices. I'd personally swap Solitude for Brighton, but that's just a personal preference. If you're flying in Saturday morning, be sure to use the QuickStart program and ski for free at DV. If not, I'd start with Snowbasin as it will probably have the smallest crowds for a Saturday. Sunday through Tuesday will be relatively empty for all of the resorts so it just depends on your mood. I would save Alta for your last day - you'll leave Utah with a great impression.

I'd also recommend venturing off the groomed runs occasionally if there is fresh powder, especially at Alta or Brighton/Solitude. Utah powder is usually so light (hasn't been the case for most of this year, though) that crashing is even a fun experience.

Skip Alta (it's not a GREAT Groomer). SAT: Canyons, SUN: Deer Valley, MON: Snowbasin, TUE:Park City or return to any favorite.

Utah for blues and greens....hmmm,

You know a real fun place to check out is POWDER MOUNTAIN-about 50 minutes from SLC (passed Snowbasin). It has no crowds, and it's one of the most unique ski areas in the states. It gets a ton of snow, real out back feeling-yet the pitches are nothing like Alta or the 'bird so an intermediate can really get a chance to get the feel of western tree skiing without the fear factor. I taught my wife (a true blue skier) to love trees here. It also has this huge (2500 acre) back country area called Powder Country-It's full of trees, chutes bowls and snow (but all at less than superhero inclines!) that you just follow until you end up on this road, at the road you wait (you'll see others gathering) for a guy in a big blue bus to pull over and take you back to the ski area! (NO lie, this is for real). It's great on a powder day and you'll never ski another place like it so that makes it a place to check out in Utah in my book.

Deer Valley is pretty sweet if groomed cruising is your bag-and they limit the number of tickets sold even on weekends so it's never crowded.

Park City...eh, take it or leave it-I think I'd follow the snow to Solitude for the day.

And finally-I realize your looking for intermediate terrain-but a trip to SLC without hitting Alta is out of the question. Alta/Snowbird is one of those must ski before you die areas-but groomers aren't part of their story. Frankly, I'd spend all four days at Alta snowbird-enroll in the Alf Englen (alta ski school) for a few days and learn to sink my teeth into these mountains.

I think you made good choices, except that I agree with GPaul, Alta is not a great mountain for groomed runs. You should substitute Canyons or Park City for Alta in your list. Unless you are snowboardes, I would stick with Solitude over Brighton. They are both good mountains, but Brighton seems to have a majority of boarders.

For a day, I think you'll be fine at Alta on the groomed runs and have a good variety to choose from. If you were going to be at one place for a few days or more, I'd probably suggest something else. It's a great place that skiers of every level should experience at least once.

I'd stay with the list that you have, with the possible exception of the Solitude/Brighton switch.

here's the link to the quick start program where you get a free lift ticket to any of the 3 Park City resorts on the day your flight arrives. However I'm not sure if it is valid in late February: http://www.parkcityinfo.com/skiing/quickstart/so if it is then here are my recommendations in order of arrival:
1. Deer Valley (use free quick start tickets for here)
2. Snowbasin
3.Snowbird
4. Alta, the legend!

If you can't get the free lift ticket then I say either Powder Mountain or Solitude instead of Deer Valley.

And just so you know since this is your first time to Utah...You will be hooked for life!!!!

I like your selections for your first trip. Alta will be fine. for your group. You may want to take a lession at Alta to get a feel for off piste skiing. I would hit Deer Valley on Sunday and enjoy the day skiing and lingering overa long lunch They have the best food of any ski area. try the deer valley turkey chilly. ask someone who works there for directions to the bear house it is right off a run and has tons of wood carvings of bears racoons and Moose. Enjoy Utah

I like the idea of Deer Valley in Park City, the atmosphere, food and groomed runs are terrific. The Canyon's is a large resort with lots of grooming. It is easily accessible and has so much terrain that you may want to consider staying longer. Additionally, Snowbird may be a better choice than Alta. The terrain and alpine feel are similar, but Snowbird has faster lifts, more grooming and a greater variety of runs. I agree that your last day should be spent in Little or Big Cottonwood Canyon, it will leave you with a great experience for your last day.

Unless you're using the tram, I believe the lift system at Alta is actually better than Snowbird now that they've installed the new Collins chair. I disagree that Snowbird is a better choice for the group BuckeyeFanDan described. At Snowbird, they'd be relegated mostly to the Gad area which is nice, but there is something off almost every lift at Alta for a beginner/intermediate. Snowbird's trailmap makes it look like there's a lot of green/blue territory, but most of that is cat-track.

I just got back from my third trip to SLC, and I'll echo a couple of recommendations. I enjoy the same kinds of runs you mentioned, and for me, Brighton has some of the nicest terrain at this level. You can ride any lift and find something intermediate to get you down the mountain. Lots of choices in blue groomers, but they leave some ungroomed so you can practice some bumps if you choose. Sometimes they even groom a black run off the Great Western chair, and for me, skiing that one is a big ego boost. Sure, lots of boarders here and everywhere you go (except Alta), but if you can hit a weekday, you'll have plenty of space. I skipped Snowbird for the very reasons cited by rquick. I also think Alta will have plenty to keep you interested, and you really owe it to yourselves to ski there- it's unique. I like Solitude also, but just not as well as the other two mentioned. Good luck- I think you'll like Utah skiing.
nimbus

Utah

Hi,
I skiied my first time at west last year. I am a high intermediate and I LOVED Alta and hated Snowbird for the same reasons that rquick mentioned.
DO NOT skip ALTA!! When I was there, each trail was half groomed and half natural so you could choose pow or flat. Plenty of blues off of every chair as I remember, no boarders-it was heaven. They don't call it the legend for nothing.

Couple of thoughts here:

1. Every Run at Alta is not 50/50 groomed ungroomed. There are very few "runs" at alta in the conventional sense-it's mostly areas, falls, chutes, bowls-very different from the glitzy resort concept of trails and runs. The terrain at alta is close to 90-95% au naturale (ungroomed). There are usually only one to two long blue runs (and an occasional black run) groomed near each lift (and all the way back down). Oh...and has anyone mentioned the strenuous level of hiking, catwalking and climbing need at Alta (I love it-but as a mostly east coast skier-whenever I'm there I realize I'm not the quickest traverser, climber-and I certainly don't have the pluck of the locals who scamper unabated all about that mountain!!!).

2. Also-looking for specific colored runs (as in green blue and black) is sort of a flawed strategy-there is no consensus or common measure between resorts as to what constitutes a black, green or blue run-each resort makes there own determination and usually it reflects a relationship with the terrain specific to that resort. So, certain "blue Runs" at one resort might be blacks at another and vice versa. While the blue runs off of Alta's Sunnyside Chair are pretty tame, the ballroom Blue area off the Collins lift would be a black in any east coast resort (due to pitch and lack of grooming). Each ski area in Utah has a distinctive feel and consistency of terrain and character (which is what makes Utah skiing so wonderful-that and all that damn snow!). Deer Valley has an expert area-but the place, almost all of it, is about delightfully creamy corduroy cruisers. Alta may have a few groomed Blue Runs, but the overwhelming character of the place is rugged off-piste expert terrain-there's just no avaioding it . Instead of seeking out places that list a predominance of a specific color of trail (blue or black) pick places with unique characteristics and submerge yourself in them-and God Bless the Wasatch!

WHAT??? A trip to Utah without going to Alta is a wasted trip.

You've made some great choices for your first visit. I would head to Snowbasin on Saturday (great blue cruisers and no one will be there), Solitude Sunday (great blue cruisers and no one will be there), Deer Valley Monday ([unless you can use quickstart,] the best blue cruisers in the world), and save the best for last as you will be ready for it, Alta Tuesday. If you were powder skiers I'd say hit Alta if and when they get the big dump but since you are not, go there last. I think in the end you will know why.

Alta has plenty of groomed green and blue cruisers. Take a look at the trail map, the entire Albion area is perfect . Plus, you will be able to ride the Supreme and Sugarloaf lifts to incredible blue cruisers and you'll get a great view of that super-steep expert terrain you'll be skiing on future trips. The new Collins lift offers top to bottom skiing on the always groomed Mambo and Main Street runs while being surrounded by some of the most famous ski runs in the world. Lessons in the Alf Engen Ski school are also a good idea. I would think you and your group could handle the intermediate "ski the upper mountain" and the intermediate "beyond the blues workshop". I've had two lessons there before and they are more than worth the price.

I've been to all of the SLC areas except Nordic Valley, Beaver, and Sundance (I don't think too many folks from out of state have either). You've got a good itinerary planned so hit up some of the others on your next trip. You will be back.

I don't think BuckeyeDan and his crew will be making those hikes and traverses, nor are they necessary, but it will be nice for them to see what they are all about. I agree that only 5-10% of Alta's terrain is groomed but that is 220 acres. Besides, maybe more accurately, 1/3 of their named runs are groomed regularly which is about 35 trails. Either way, that is still a lot for someone from the East, myself included. By the way, have you ever heard the train whistle while you were on one of those traverses.

All to often! I usually get it when shuffling up to Devil's Castle from the top of the sugarloaf lift...I need skins or something, I slide back a half step for everyone uP!

The catwalks and the traverses serve up much (most) of the terrain...they're hard to miss!

the 'Bear' House is located on skiers left on Last Chance,below the bridge.
Ride Carpenter Express to the top of Bald Eagle Mtn start down Success, say striaght past Stag Lodge, and you'll ski right onto Last Chance.
Belwo the Bear House, Chck out the Totem Pole with a Mtn Goat and Eagle.


Reward off Wasatch, if they have groomed it . Perserverance off Sultan, and Steins Way off of MayFlower. They get visited by the 'cats' most nights.
Surpreme off of Empire, but it gets busy.
Yes by all means hit Alta. This is the Grandfather of Utah skiing.
Spend and entire day at Deer Valley, take a free mtn tour.
DV grooms over half of the resort nightly, at least one run off every lift is groomed.
Alta , a true skiers area, doesn't groom that much. It would make the regulars upset.

Solitude and the Bird also should be on your list Brighton, is a haven for bordors dude. lol
Have fun

For hammering vert on groomers, Snowbasin is as good as it gets. Superb, long fall-line runs with state-of-the-art lifts.

Powder Mountain is a phenom hill for unlimited untracked powder (for all abilities) but mediocre for groomers.

Solitude is a better choice than Brighton. Both are great hills, but Solitude is less tracked. Brighton is mostly for boarders.

Solitude gets the same snow as Alta and Snowbird, has great terrain - esp. in Honeycomb Canyon - and isn't overrun.

Have Fun!

Thanks for all the good advice! I was definitely going to use the QuickStart program, but unfortunately, it is not in effect at the end of Feb. Also, we are definitely going to ski ungroomed as well as groomed. I look forward to learning to ski powder - hopefully I can pick it up fairly quickly! Based on the feedback so far, I will probably stick with my list, although I am still mulling over switching out Solitude for Brighton. Is there a difference in the character of the terrain?

As far as which resort on which day, I am still trying to figure out the best strategy. We arrive in SLC at 8:30 am on Sat, so we will probably have from about 10:00 or 10:30 to 4:00 to ski. Also, on our last day, we will need to be at the airport by 3:30, so we will only be able to ski until probably 2:30. That being said, those two days will be cut a bit short, so I want to ski the two best resorts on our two full days. From the feedback so far, it seems as if Alta and Snowbasin should be the full days and Deer Valley and Solitude the two shorter days. How does this sound? Sat-DV Sun-Snowbasin Mon-Alta Tue-Solitude Could we run into a problem at DV with capacity being controlled by 10:00 or 10:30 on a Sat when we would be getting there? Or should we devote a longer day to DV and a shorter one to Snowbasin (esp since that DV ticket is $$$)?

Thanks again for all the great advice! I can't wait to get hooked on Utah skiing!

It's not so much the terrain. Both are great hills with abundant, beautiful snow. For me, it's the presence of boarders. Brighton is heavily laden with them whereas Solitude isn't.

If you don't mind the boarder culture, and feel safe around them, then either mountain is fine.

It really is to bad the quick start program isn't in effect at that time. Deer Valley does limit ticket sales. Chances are that should not be a problem. But just in case you may want to buy your lift passes a head of time. Call the resort and see what they can do for you for an advaced ticket sale. Stay with Solitude, over Brighton. Brighton has a lot of local younger kids skiing and Snowboarding. both offer great skiing solitude has put a lot more into the mountain in the past couple of years.

I like your strategy. Deer Valley's groomers on the first day would be a good warm-up, especially after a long plane flight. Also, Deer Valley is 1750 acres so you should be able to see a decent amount of the area from mid morning on. If you are running late, half day tickets start at 12:30. If not, look into getting your tickets at canyon sports http://www.canyonsportsslc.com/map.html or one of the other discounters. Utah49 may know of a more convenient spot on your way from the airport. Go to Snowbasin on Sunday as it is the largest of the four you are considering plus no one will be there. Alta on Monday will be less crowded than on a weekend. Also, at 2200 acres, you will need a full day to explore the area and if you do go for a lesson, they start in the afternoon. Solitude is the smallest of the four so a short day there will not be a problem. You will be able to ski a good bit of the area and after a day at Alta, you may be ready for a trip into Honeycomb Canyon. Soli is also a little closer (by a few minutes) to the airport than Brighton. If you really want to ski Brighton or Park City Mountain Resort, and if you are up for it, you can check out their night skiing. I'd save them for your next trip though unless you are an iron man. You have a good plan. Go for it.

You might consider subbing Canyons for DV for your first day. Its a bit closer to the airport and there is a people mover lifr out of the parking lot, so you will get started faster, and it costs less. You won't be stopping for a leisurely lunch (I hope) so you can forgo the DV fare.

No problem missing any resort tho. You'll be back.

The Canyons is exactly 5 miles closer to the airport than DV.(drove it daily for 15 years).
U can see if the Utah Ski and Golf outlet at the airport sells passes to DV I'm sure they still do.
as for the chair lift out of the parking at the Canyons, once you off load, you still have to walk to the gondola for another 10 min ride.
So now you have ridin 2 lifts and still have touch the skis to the snow.
At DV you can ride the shuttle from parking lots( mordern paved,organized,patroled) Stop st the ticket office, walk 25 feet and your in the maze for Carpenter Express, you'll be skiing in less than 8 minutes.
If you cant get to DV before noon, once you do, head up/over to Bald Mtn and hit the groomers i spoke of in an earler post. This time of day, people will be drifting towards Northside, the busiest lift at DV, due to the 8 groomed,low level terrain.
Sultan And Mayflower are triples, that gives you plenty of rest on the way up.
If your going to do lunch, have it at Snow Park, less crowds go there, cause it's the base lodge. The same quality food is served there, As is the Exec Chef. Also there are snack huts at the top of Flagstaff and Bald Mtns offers soups, the famed Deer Valley Turkey Chili, pastries. As well as coffee, hot coca, soft drinks. Try the carrot cake and Oat meal Rasin Cookies
At the Canyons, once your on the upper mtn, there is only one place to eat, and it gets crowded early, and stays that way all day.
If you want to eat elses where there, you either have to go over to the older part of the resor(still the better skiing) or ride the gondola down to the base for lunch.

AWESOME thread, alot of great advice. I'll be there the same weekend. We always go weekend after Presidents day, just before it gets crowded for spring break and we have hit great conditions for a number of years in a row. I love Utah!!! Just got back from skiing Stratton and Mt. Snow, they don't any near cut it compared to a trip to Utah and i paid $110/nt for a $45 room and i think about $15/day more for lift tickets.

>We arrive in SLC at 8:30 am on Sat, so we will probably have from about 10:00 or 10:30 to 4:00 to ski. Also, on our last day, we will need to be at the airport by 3:30, so we will only be able to ski until probably 2:30.

what time does your flight leave? I have done what i call the snowbird shuffle, changing in the parking lot and rushing down the mtn to make the flight back east, well over 20 times, 3 times just last year. For a 4:30 flight, probably want to plan to arrive at the airport at 3:15, that gives you a little leighway,

BIG TIP - DUH, i only figured this out last year, make sure when you get to the airprt you are all changed and ready to fly, and pass the rental car exit, and drop off your luggage and skis with the luggage bellcaps guys, they'll ticket you to and then you just go around again and drop off the car and you are ready to go to your gate.(instead of hauling everything from the rental car lot to the concourse)

Snowbasin is the biggest winner for you, don't miss it for a full day. The best eats and lodges going, and i could care less about anything but skiing(steep and deep), but that places impresses me, also the gondolas and lift system is awesome and will zip you right up. You'll feel like your a movie star skiing that day.

I don't think anyone mentioned this and they are missing it big if they didn't. The difference in snow quality between Park City, Deer Valley and the Canyons compared to the Cottonwood Canyons can be dramatic. It can and often is wet and yucky over there while the boys over the hill are playing in nice fluffy snow. This difference is even more dramatic if it hasn't snowed for a week or more(it's possible). If it hasn't snowed much and is even slighly warm stay away from the Park City area. The terrain advantage(for intermediates) over there will not be enough to make up for poor snow. And what Utah, i mean the Cottonwood canyons, has is the most reliable and dependable, most easily accessible snow on Planet Earth. WOW! Last year we choose the free FastSTART at Park City and only Jupiter bowl, not for you yet, was sweeet, while my pals who arrived the day before were having another powder day at Alta. I remember a few years ago we stayed in Park City and opted to take the 50 min drive, everyday, to the cottonwoods. One day we woke to blue skies in Park City, with absolutely no snow, and jumped off the tram into 3 ft of fresh, and were skied POW all the way down, with the deep into Blackjack.

I hope you are ready to jump up from intermediate, because if you challenge yourself in those 4 days, you may not be an intermediate anymore.

more later...

Another thing about the Park City area, the scenery is not nearly as beautiful. Not what you are expecting for the "western", downright drab in my opinion. But saying that, I am in agreement, ski over there the first day, I think any of those 3 would be fine for you. Canyons has a gondola and i always like riding them. Eveyone is right on with Day 2 Snowbasin and Day 3 Alta.
Personally, after skiing it again last year, I'm not too hot on Solitude, much of their acres is in very narrow trees in the steep, not good for much except for, almost or getting hurt. Honeycomb canyon is not for you, either. Alot of the skiing is off the front face, boring. Brighton, for the most part, boarders don't bother me. Last year I skied Brighton with my daughter 1/2 day and it was fine. Either place is fine for a half day.

Another thing I think these guys missed. The drives up and down Little and Big Cottonwood Canyon, offer SPECTACULAR scenery. Each is somewhat unique and has a different feel. And the skiing scenery is the same. The very best. Exactly what you are hoping for. Snowbasin is absolutely less scenic, and i would put the Park City areas even a few more notches down the rung. But keep to the plan and you have an unbelievably varied experience.

Where are you staying? Of course this whole plan could go out the window, if there is a big dump. I have waited a few times at the bottom of the cottonwoods waiting for them to open, and agonized at 7:30am about wether i should wait for the avalanche clearing delays in the cottonwoods or settle for less in the park city areas. I think Big cottonwoods open before Little.

saying all this - Snowbird is the hands down favorite for me, but I would skip it for this trip, soley because the scenery and a different locale in the Big C's for a 1/2 day. Without that consideration, I really think the last 3/4 day would otherwise be spent at Snowbird, on day four you will be ready for at least Chips, Little Cloud Bowl is my favorite place on earth, you can at least look down or up at it(from Gad I). Much better than anything Big C's can offer you. It is a huge huge area, with plenty of blues, (but be careful, ha ha), with only downside, poor facilities in my opinion. You can always save it for next year, and hey, if you don't ski there, you won't know what you missed, so why worry?

glenn

hope i'm not a pain, but i forgot a few things. i'm kind of wound up right now because i skied all day at Mt Snow and then drove 5 hrs home and today this proud pappa taught his daughter how to ski the moguls at bear mtn, she took to my instruction and was skiing like the 14yr old queen she is, we were even working on the jump turns on a short narrow pitch(above the halfpipe). Lots of good stuff today!!!! She will be ready for our April 1st Utah trip.

say flight is 4:30. Plan? to arrive at airport at 3:15pm. Give it at least 50 min's from Solitude, so leave parking lot 2:20. You guys are amateurs<g>, give yourself at least 30 min's to change, and pack up ski bags. so have to be off mountain at 1:50 at the VERY LATEST. Add 15 min's to that. 1st trip out West - pack light light light, i wear same pair of jeans at night and to travel, i wear mostly same clothes everyday to ski, makes it alot easier in the room and getting all that crap/fleece together esp in the car.

Don't worry about time to travel 1st day to resort, one guys gets car and drives around while others wait for bag and meet at the curb. We have always arrived on time, arrive at 8:30, packed in and out of airport by 9:15am, ready to ski by about 10:30am. You'll have a plenty long day, and with all due respect to the guy who advises you the skip lunch(p.s. i want to ski with YOU!), I think you'll find the time to sit and rest, even a fanatic like me enjoys taking a (as in one) break on a powder day to sit for a bit, drink up, and fill up.

one more thing - being a rookie out west, don't forget to drink, drink, drink. easy to get dehdrated at altitude and it will help. Sorry for all this, but Utah skiing is one of my favorite subjects at this time of year.

powder mtn - nah, forget that, but to the other guys, who have been around already - YES!! YES!!

okay, i gave you all this very valuable advice. you make one promise to me, you don't be no GIRLIE MAN, if it snows, don't be a sissy in the powder, learn to ski it!

ok, props to tahoetr, who knows his resorts better than I do, altho I think its likely that a 1st time visitor to DV is not going to get going as quick as advertised. I just hate driving right by a perfectly good ski hill. And Redpine is a pain at lunch hour but clears out pretty quickly. No biggie, like I said, you'll be back. Might even end up fanatic like glenncz; lots o' good advice there, including the fact that the view from the top of Snowbird on a clear day is about as close to ski heaven as a you can get (caveats: on lift-served, in the US). As for skipping lunch, more like delaying it I guess, with lots of Butterfinger bars. The mt usually beats me before I beat it.

Speaking of, if you want to max out your last (short) day, ski the tram at Snowbird continuously. Good chance by 2 you will be crawling off the hill, only too happy to quit.

Since you plan to ski the day you fly, change your clothes in the rental car bathrooms. They are big, clean, and empty. Also, Deer Valley is the quickest to get on the slopes from SLC airport. Drive up and give the valet guys a decent tip, tell them your plans, and you can literally walk to the hill and step into your bindings.


Good Luck