#33 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
Made famous as the backdrop for the 2002 Winter Games, Snowbasin Resort has been luring powder hounds to Ogden for more than 60 years with its challenging and diverse terrain across 3,000 acres, including breathtaking chutes, corduroy groomers, alpine bowls, four terrain parks and smaller crowds – all within 40 minutes of Salt Lake City.
Snowbasin Resort has a summit elevation of 9,350 feet and vertical drop of 2,900 feet, and the region sees about 300 inches of snow annually. The resort also boasts one of the world’s largest computer-controlled snowmaking systems.
Tubing is offered here and there is also a Nordic center for those who want to go cross-country skiing. The resort has complimentary mountain tours, as well as child care services and a snowsports school offering private and group lessons for both children and adults.
There are several spots to grab a bite to eat on the mountain, and though there is no resort lodging, Snowbasin Resort partners with several lodging companies in the Ogden Valley, Davis County and Salt Lake City area for ski and stay packages.
December and March tend to be the best times to visit for optimal powder in this part of Utah. Snowbasin Resort is generally known as being less crowded than neighboring resorts, though keep in mind that weekends and holidays are usually busier than mid-week.
Adult tickets start at about $100, depending on the time of season; youth are $59; seniors age 65-plus are $85 and “Super Seniors” (age 75 plus) are $45. Half day tickets are also available, as well as multi-day passes. Snowbasin Resort is also joining the Epic Pass program starting in 2019.
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Snowbasin Resort’s nearly 3,000 skiable acres feature trails that cater to all skill levels. While the resort is ideal for intermediate skiers (50 percent of trails are labeled for this level), there are also quite a number of runs specifically designed for novice skiers (20 percent) and advanced powder hounds (30 percent). Snowbasin also offers just over 16 miles of Nordic trails, not to mention four terrain parks.
Below Snowbasin Resort, the luxury homes in the Ogden Valley run by Mountain Luxury Lodging and Lakeside Resort Properties include five-star townhouses and condos that can be accessed via complimentary ski shuttle to the resort, seven days a week. Just 17 miles from Snowbasin Resort, the Hampton Inn & Suites Ogden has an enormous hot tub to unwind in, views to the Wasatch Mountains, a complimentary buffet breakfast and close proximity to Ogden’s historic downtown area.
For panoramic views with your Belgian waffles, have a seat at the John Paul Lodge, at the top of the John Paul Express Quad Chair, with fireside dining in a traditional ski lodge that looks out to the slopes. Award-winning chefs dish out hearty soups and fresh salads at 9,000 feet at the Needles Lodge, with access via the Needles Gondola, while Earl’s Lodge has everything from breakfast bagels to a wok and fry station at the base of the resort.
The newest spot to stop after a day on Snowbasin’s slopes is Cinnabar, inside Earl’s Lodge at the Snowbasin base, offering local craft beers, mulled wine, spirits and live music on weekends. Other après-ski options can be found in nearby Ogden, where the New World Distillery has tours, along with GMO-free agave spirits, gin and vodka. Or try out the Talisman Brewing Company, for a Triple IPA or a stout.
The closest airport to Snowbasin is Salt Lake City International Airport, which has daily flights from major U.S. cities. There are a number of car rentals and shuttles available from the airport to Snowbasin. Snowbasin is 50-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport.
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Vertical Drop (ft) | 1,000 | 2,205 | 3,226 | 2,494 | 3,000 |
Skiable Area (ac) | 300 | 400 | 355 | 500 | 300 |
Number of Trails | 32 | 154 | 348 | 82 | 103 |
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