These Are The Best Resorts in the West for a Weekend Getaway
These are the resorts to choose when you've got no time to lose, according to SKI's Reader Resort Survey. Check them out here.
Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah
Like the yin to Park City’s yang, Solitude is a breath of fresh air, a place to retreat for some good old-fashioned family skiing with fun and varied trails, a laid-back pedestrian village, and just the right amount of tough terrain to keep things interesting. The lower front face is laced with winding beginner and intermediate runs, but the steeps and glades in Honeycomb Canyon are as satisfying as almost anything you’ll find in that other Cottonwood Canyon.
Skiers seek out Solitude for its quality snow, fewer crowds, chill vibe, and decent value. With three seasons under its belt as an Ikon Pass resort, Solitude has managed to retain its “gem” status. Fans of the place know exactly why: In addition to a small but quaint village, friendly ambiance, and a location that’s just 34 miles from Salt Lake City’s super-navigable airport, Solitude’s Honeycomb Canyon is an expert’s haven of steep glades, cliffy sections, and bowls that have a backcountry feel while remaining inbounds.
In that same vein, the resort also boasts some of the best sidecountry access in the area, found off of the Summit lift. While there are not a ton of amenities, what’s here is good quality. Meet the locals at the Thirsty Squirrel or refuel at the Honeycomb Grill. At the end of the day, Solitude is a place for you if you crave great skiing without all the bells and whistles of, say, the glitzier destinations due northeast. – Samantha Berman
Resort Guide 2022—Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah
Solitude Mountain Resort Stats
| Annual Snowfall | Acres | Lifts | Trails |
| 500+ | 1,200 | 8 | 82 |
Solitude Mountain Resort Pass Info
Solitude is on the Ikon Pass. Ikon Pass holders get unlimited access to the resorts. Ikon Base Pass holders get unlimited access with blackouts.
Trip Planning
From lodging and and dining to off-slope activities and local tips, here are the SKI editors’ picks for what to do in Solitude, Utah.
Off-the-Map Trail
Lap the Apex Express to take advantage of powder stashes in the trees, chalky moguls, and other treasures off this high-speed quad.
Off-Hill Restaurant
Fuel up for the day at the Silverfork Lodge & Restaurant. The breakfast menu, featuring sweet options such as Bananas Foster French toast as well as savory selections like the homemade corned beef hash, is divine.
Après Spot
Buy a patroller a beer at the Thirsty Squirrel and leave with a few terrain tips and tricks for tomorrow.
On-Hill Eats
The Roundhouse, destroyed by a fire, is back with the same awesome menu of Himalayan food.
Bragging Rights
Navarone, as in Guns of, is an overlooked tree run accessed through the gates atop the Eagle Express lift.
Powder Day
While patrol is doing avy work in Honeycomb Canyon, take the Powderhorn lift before dropping into the treed and technical Milk Run or the gully ride Parachute. When the rope drops at the top of the Summit Express, sidestep uphill for the steep, shady glades of 3700 Bowl (between Buckeye and Black Forest). Next run, pick a line 30 feet farther over and repeat.
Three Days Later
Poke around in the trees of Black Forest, or traverse skier’s left into Honeycomb until you find the sweeping lines past Prince of Wales, where ample storm remnants await.
Must Hit
At the top of the Summit Express, boot-pack up the knife-edged Fantasy Ridge to Chutes 1—26 (there really are 26 distinct spillways, but some close when the snow is thin). Try 5 or 6 for rock-rimmed doglegs that fan out into Honeycomb Canyon.
How to Ski Utah’s Wasatch Range Euro-Style
Bring the European experience home by touring three ski areas in the Cottonwood Canyons.
Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah
The best-kept secret of the Cottonwoods.
Resort Brew
Four craft beers that honor ski areas.
Ikon Pass Holders Gain Access to 3 Additional Resorts
Solitude Mountain, Brighton Resort and Taos Ski Valley sweeten the Ikon offering.
Alterra Mountain Co. to Acquire Solitude Mountain Resort
The Vail Resorts rival will own a total of 13 ski resorts across the country.
#BOSSLADY: Grete Eliassen
Grete Eliassen is dedicated to taking down barriers for female athletes.
Sponsor Content: Tips for Skiing Moguls and Powder
From flats to steeps, corduroy to punchy un-groomed, powder to bumps, prepare your skiing regardless of the terrain offers a variety of challenges.
Sponsor Content: Nordic Skiing at Solitude with Olympian Aram Hajiyan
Are you an outdoor adventurist looking to take your ski skills to a whole new level? Read how Olympian skier Jillian Vogtli discovered a new passion when she learned to skate ski with fellow Olympian Aram Hajiyan at @Solitude. And, learn why she encourages you to do the same.
Six Tips for Staying Healthy at Altitude
Six suggestions to help keep yourself healthy at altitude, so you and your loved ones can fully enjoy your vacation from start to finish!
Tips for Skiing Moguls and Powder
From flats to steeps, corduroy to punchy un-groomed, powder to bumps, prepare your skiing regardless of terrain with these tips.
Why You Should Ski Solitude Mountain Resort
What happens when Deer Valley chic meets Solitude soul? Find out this season.
9 Biggest Ski Resort Upgrades This Season
Wondering where to ski next? We’ll make it easy. Here’s what everyone’s talking about at resorts around the country.
Deer Valley Buys Solitude
Utah resort hook-ups continue as Deer Valley will take over operations at Solitude this spring.
Utah Senate Pushes Seven-Resort Interconnect
Utah politicians cast their vote to connect Canyons and Solitude ski resorts. But what does it really mean for skiers?
SkiLink Gondola to Connect Canyons and Solitude Mountain Resort
A new gondola between Big Cottonwood Canyon and Park City area resorts will offer access to 6,000 acres of existing, interconnected terrain.
Ski Resort Disc Golf
At these resorts the lifts run through the summer to access some of the best high-altitude disc-golf courses in the country.
Recent Utah Snow
A few images from the recent storm that pummeled Utah ski resorts. Some resorts claimed as much as 48 inches from the weekend system, a necessary addition to the base before holiday skier traffic.
Get Drunk in Utah
Sure, Utah's 13 resorts are known for their unbelievable snow. But the drinking scene has remained, well, questionable. Not anymore: Utah's changed their liquor laws. And that's only one of many improvements the state boasts for the 2009-10 ski season.
Halloween Opening Days
Utah’s Solitude and Colorado’s Wolf Creek open October 31. As the first resort in Utah to open, Solitude offers one lift to season passholders, while Wolf Creek opens three.
Utah's 13 Resorts
A behind-the-scenes look at a group of skiers' attempt to ski Utah's 13 resorts in 24 hours.
Mission: Ski Utah's 13 Resorts In a Single Day
Can it be done? Is it stupid? The answers, respectively are maybe and yes. But a group attempted to do this for the first time last winter. Here's what happened.
Ski Utah Interconnect Tour
Why settle for one resort when you can ski six in one day? A backcountry jaunt through the Wasatch’s best, and least-skied, terrain.
Best Resorts for Powder: 2008-09
Ranked by the readers of Skiing Magazine
Best Resorts for Backcountry Access: 2008-09
Check out SKI Magazine's author page.
Solitude adds Two new high speed quads
Upgrades will provide much needed new lift capacity at both base areas
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