#41 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
Powder Mountain is located in Eden, Utah, just over an hour north of Salt Lake City.
“PowMow”, as the locals refer to it, has more than 8,000 acres of skiable terrain making it one of North America’s largest ski areas. It averages more than 500 inches of snow annually and boasts two acres of terrain per skier or snowboarder. The highest summit at Powder Mountain is 9,422 feet so skiers and snowboarders can add 2,205 feet to their seasonal vertical feet bank. Powder Mountain also offers night skiing daily, guided backcountry tours and all-day snowcat adventures.
One of the most unique aspects of this resort is that it limits the number of lift ticket sales to 1,500 a day so it’s never overcrowded. Rental equipment is available at the Timberline Ski Shop at the resort center next to the Timberline Lodge and at the Sundown Ski Shop next to the night skiing area on the lower level of the Sundown Lodge. Another unique aspect of this resort is that patrons can easily book lessons through the GoSnow App, which allows users to pick from a variety of options, such as private or group lessons and half or full day instruction.
Skiers and snowboarders enjoy the authentic vibe at this resort. There are no spas or fancy restaurants here. In fact, one of the coolest things about Powder Mountain is that it retains its old-school charm. The Timberline Lodge has been the same since at least the 1970s, and regular visitors appreciate that. Skiers and snowboarders go to PowMow for the snow, not the extras.
The best time to visit Powder Mountain is really any time as long as you get there early. Even during busy holiday weekends the resort caps its lift ticket sales, so visitors never have to worry about slope congestion.
At $88 for an adult full-day lift ticket, Powder Mountain is one of the most affordable ski resorts around. What’s more, you can save a significant amount of money if you arrive later in the day, when prices drop to $30 for night-skiing, which is offered between 3 and 9 p.m. Multi-day and multi-session packages are available.
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Statistics
Trail Information
Lift Details
Powder Mountain has 167 runs and two terrain parks. Twenty-five percent of the trails are considered beginner runs, 40 percent are considered intermediate runs, and 35 percent are considered advanced runs. PowMow also has great sidecountry and hiking access to even more terrain. Ambitious skiers and snowboarders often take the $18 snowcat ride to Lightning Ridge and then boot or skin up to the summit of James Peak to access the giant, fluffy powder bowl that leads back to in-bounds trails.
“The all-time best beginner runs are the runs off of Village Lift like Easy Peasy. On the Hidden Lake lift, there is Burntwood, Mushroom, and Picnic which offer great corduroy and easy access. One of my favorites is Rendezvous, which begins from the Base of Timberline lift and goes all the way down to the base of Paradise lift. This low angle trail is over 1.5 miles!” – Jill Bourne, Snow Sports School Director, 28-year local.
“Powder Mountain has vast terrain… a lot of it is low to moderate angle intermediate cruisers. Intermediates are not limited to groomed trails. They also have the option of skiing some of our glades as well as open bowls. It’s really almost limitless. But one of my favorites, particularly on the first run, is Sunrise. It’s a beautiful trail that runs down a ridgeline. Fun fact: You can watch your shadow in front of you almost all the way down. Access is via the Sunrise Poma lift.” – John Burrows, Mountain Guide, 5-year local.
“In my opinion, the best trail for experts at Powder Mountain is Waterfall Chute. You access this chute from the Lightning Ridge Snow Cat. Once you reach the top, you find yourself peering over a cornice looking down a funneling chute. Once you come out of the chute, you find yourself in an open powder field with no tracks. This is a run you can do over and over again and still find fresh tracks!” – Ben Moisen, Content Manager, 23-year local.
Where to stayThe closest accommodations to Powder Mountain Resort are Wolf Creek , WorldMark Wolf Creek , Valley Lodge and Wolf Lodge Condos . Vacation Rental homes are available at the Moose Hollow Condos and Cascades Townhomes .
Where to eatHidden Lake Lodge is a Mexican Cantina and has a nice beer selection and good tacos. Sundown Lodge is the place to go for pizza on the mountain. Timberline Lodge is the place to go for a nostalgic lunch at an old school ski lodge. The Powder Keg is the spot to go for outstanding ramen bowls, wings and local craft beers.
Après-ski ActivitiesThe best place to après is the Powder Keg. They serve great local brews on top and have live music five nights a week. It gets packed quickly, but it’s a friendly kind of packed. The Bower Lodge in Eden serves pizza and pints every Thursday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
How to get therePowder Mountain is 19 miles northeast of Ogden and about 55 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. From SLC, take I-15 North to Ogden’s 12th street exit and then drive through Ogden Canyon toward Eden. The road to Powder Mountain can get dicey because it’s windy and often covered in ice and snow. There are shuttle buses available that depart from the Eden Supermarket parking lot. Shuttles also run from the Red Moose Lodge, Moose Hollow and Wolf Lodge. The last shuttle leaves from the Sundown Lodge area at 5 p.m.
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| Vertical Drop (ft) | 1,000 | 2,900 | 1,700 | 3,226 | 2,494 |
| Skiable Area (ac) | 300 | 300 | 400 | 355 | 500 |
| Number of Trails | 32 | 104 | 48 | 348 | 82 |
| READ MORE | READ MORE | READ MORE | READ MORE | READ MORE |
