Snowbasin, Utah
Discover Utah’s famous light and dry fluff at Snowbasin, Utah.
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Sometimes we have to let the reader comments tell the story, and this one sums it up perfectly: “Best-kept secret in Utah!” Snowbasin is undeniably a resort with a lot going for it, including excellent terrain with tons of blue cruisers and exciting steeps; an efficient lift system (No. 6) that keeps crowds to a minimum; an ideal location less than an hour from Salt Lake City; and some of the best on-mountain eats in the industry (No. 3). So why No. 30 in the West? Readers have a few ideas: “Needs a base village.” “No lodging in the area.” “No nightlife without driving to town.”
Snowbasin’s lack of any accommodation and the accompanying amenities at the base keep it from becoming a destination resort, but that’s perfectly fine with some folks (“The lack of on-mountain lodging helps to keep Snowbasin focused on skiing rather than the nightlife and partying,” says one fan). After all, charming Ogden is only 30 minutes down the road. New this season is an upgrade to the food court at Earl’s Lodge, expanded family zones, and more parking. Look for Snowbasin to continue to carve out a name for itself. After all, “what other resort has chandeliers in the bathrooms?”- Samantha Berman
Snowbasin’s 2020 SKI Magazine Reader Resort Survey Rank: 30th in the West
| Annual Snowfall | Acres | Lifts | Trails |
| 300″ | 2,830 | 11 | 106 |
- WHAT’S NEW: The resort joins the Epic Pass this season.
- LOCAL TIP: Direct your first-time-skier friends to Snowbasin’s Learn & Earn program: three lessons gets them a season pass.
- APRÈS-SKI: Cinnabar, inside John Paul Lodge. Tunes, suds, and some seriously tasty plates, including a pork belly grilled cheese that really elevates the après experience.
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SKI Magazine’s 2019 Review of Snowbasin, Utah
As Salt Lake City grows and the Park City resorts and Little and Big Cottonwood Canyon hills get packed on powder days, Snowbasin is popping up on more skiers’ radars. It’s super-easy to get to, boasts a quick and efficient lift system, and has some of the most underrated terrain in the Wasatch.
Truth be told, there’s no lodging at the base and thus virtually nothing going on after the lifts stop spinning. But thanks to its role hosting the downhill, combined, and super-G events at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, the resort’s on-mountain lodges are a treat. (Not to mention, the jaw-dropping views from John Paul and Needles Lodges.) And get this: The on-mountain food is so good, it gives Deer Valley’s cuisine a run for its money. Between Earl’s Lodge at the base and John Paul and Needles on the slopes, the offerings are robust and tasty.
The secret, it seems is out. This just might be the year to get off the beaten path and venture north to Snowbasin. – Jeremy Pugh
At Snowbasin, Come For The…
- ON-MOUNTAIN FOOD Try the massive house-cured pastrami panini at the John Paul Lodge amid 360-degree panoramic views of the resort.
- CHALLENGE Grizzly Downhill, the men’s course from the 2002 Winter Games, drops from 8,481 feet to 6,391 feet.
- GROOMING Nearly three-mile-long Elk Ridge is just one example of the resort’s keen ability to lay beautiful corduroy.
- DINNER RESERVATION Needles Lodge’s “Culinary Expeditions” evenings feature prix-fixe menus exploring different food cultures.
- OFF THE TRAIL MAP Hike a bit off the Allen Peak Tram to the summit of No Name for true adventure skiing.
Read More:
Resorts of the Year 2019: Awards in the West
Resorts of the Year 2019: Utah
Resorts of the Year 2019: West