COLOR THEORY

It’s no secret that Utah has the draw of a Taj Mahal or Camino de Santiago for skiers and snowboarders. With Great Salt Lake enhancing precipitation along the Wasatch Mountains and featuring what’s hailed as the fluffiest, most abundant powder on the planet, the state is a rite of passage for downhillers. Alta Ski Area averages 551 inches of annual stardust, placing its runs in Little Cottonwood Canyon among the snowiest worldwide. Most other Utah ski areas fall in the 500 inches per- season camp, according to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. In terms of terrain, Park City Mountain is the largest ski area not only in the state but nationwide with 7,300 acres, 3,200 feet of vertical relief and 348 trails. Altogether, 15 ski resorts decorate the state with a handful in close proximity to Park City. Whether you’ve skied only a few times, are dialing in technique on double-black diamonds or are totally new, here’s a guide to exploring the best ski runs in northern Utah.

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN

Adjacent to the High Meadow Express lift, “I like to take a simple run on Mellow Moose when I want to practice something new, so that the wide, groomed, easy green run gives me the ability to focus on how the snow reacts to my skis,” said Dave Lundberg, senior director of skier services at Park City Mountain.

SNOWBASIN RESORT
On the resort’s northeast side, “Penny Lane marks the end of a session skiing or snowboarding down the steep, tiring runs accessed from Strawberry Gondola. Relatively fl at, Penny offers slow views and a good reset before you get back to the base of the mountain. It’s very peaceful,” said Brooks Roe, stoke specialist at Snowbasin, where he has worked and skied for five winter seasons.

SUNDANCE RESORT
“Outlaw Trail is a part of the longest green run, which descends to the Lower Village. Kid-friendly landmarks dot the route, which are based on the train robbery scene in the iconic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid fi lm, a fun tie to the resort’s namesake,” said Sundance Resort Director of Guest Experience Chase Norton.

ALTA SKI AREA
“Crooked Mile, off the new six-pack Sunnyside lift, is my favorite beginner run, because it’s long and offers smooth skiing that is tree lined. Kids love the bottom half when they can duck into the woods and get some glade skiing on a rolling trail,” said Andria Huskinson, communications manager of Alta Ski Area, who has worked at the mountain for 13 years.

DEER VALLEY RESORT
From the Quincy Express lift, take “Mountain Daisy to Lily and Lower Lily, because it’s not well known, so it isn’t as crowded as Ontario or Success,” said Ski Patrol Supervisor Mark Chytka.

SNOWBASIN RESORT
“Main Street in the Strawberry [Gondola] area is one of the longest and surfiest runs at Snowbasin. It’s so fun to bomb down and toward the lower end, there’s a quarter-pipe. It’s also fairly manageable for beginners trying to get a step up into a blue,” said Roe.

SUNDANCE RESORT
“Bearclaw is among the most iconic and first to catch sun exposure, so it’s ideal for early-morning skiers and snowboarders hoping to ride down nice smooth corduroy. You can enjoy majestic views the whole way down. It goes right next to Red’s Lift at certain parts, so you’ll have the opportunity to show off,” said Norton.

ALTA SKI AREA
“Rock ‘N Roll, off the Supreme lift , is my personal favorite intermediate run. The views are amazing as you ski past 10,920-foot Devil’s Castle peak, with views of the backside area in front of you,” said Huskinson.

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN
“King Con Ridge is a great intermediate blue run. You can cruise and enjoy the overlook of downtown Park City and Park City Mountain, or you can carve turns all the way down without needing to stop,” said Mary Flinn Ware, senior manager of Park City Mountain Ski & Snowboard School.

WOODWARD PARK CITY
“Although Woodward Park City doesn’t have traditional greens, blues and blacks, it off ers a variety of terrain for all levels. Primarily a freestyle environment, there are several terrain parks including Red’s Backyard and Peace Park. My favorite is Main Line parallel to the ski lift , which includes rails and jumps in a single run; it can’t be beat. Th ere are so many different features to choose from that one lap to the next it feels like a totally diff erent zone,” said Brandon Gallagher, snowboard coach at Woodward Park City. “From the ski lift , it’s the perfect place to watch your friends. With something for everyone and a quick lap time, it’s the perfect place to learn the basics or master a difficult trick and most of all, have a lot of fun.”

DEER VALLEY RESORT
At the top of the Silver Strike Express ski lift, “Sidewinder is a very unique blue. It’s not straight down or sidelined but turns and moves with the flow of the mountain and is very enjoyable,” said Chytka.

SNOWBASIN RESORT
On the northern perimeter of the ski area, between 9,070-foot No Name Peak and 9,465-foot Allen Peak, is Wildflower Start, which feeds into the historic Wildflower Downhill. “Wildflower Downhill was the women’s course in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Whether you’re skiing groomers and wanting to fly down as fast as you can or you’re skiing on a powder day, Wildflower is amazing, wide open and straight down with incredible views. It’s the first target for people when they come up here on a powder day,” said Roe.

DEER VALLEY RESORT
Off the Lady Morgan Express lift , “Argus is not a super popular run and has a unique double fall line at the top then turns into really enjoyable moguls,” said Chytka.

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN
“Aplande off the Super Condor Express lift is a black diamond run that is north facing, which means the snow stays better longer aft er each storm. It’s long, giving you the opportunity to make more turns. When Aplande is groomed, it’s a favorite for seeing how many turns you can make from top to bottom. The fairly consistent pitch also makes it a great hero run on powder days,” said Lynne Off ret, director of mountain operations at Park City Mountain.

SUNDANCE RESORT
“Bishop’s Bowl is my favorite run for first tracks on a powder day. I love seeing the untouched snow from Red’s Lift . It’s the mountain’s most wide-open run with amazing steep skiing all the way to the bottom,” said local Bitner Dickson, a 17-year-old born and raised in the area. “Th e most renowned run of our whole resort is Bishop’s Bowl, boasting the most vertical of any trail,” Norton agreed. “There’s plenty of room, and you have the option of bailing to corduroy if your legs need a break.”

ALTA SKI AREA
“Stone Crusher is one of my favorites off the Collins lift , because it has a consistent fall line to the bottom and holds the snow well in most conditions. Then, I traverse to Nina’s and head back to the bottom of Collins,” said Huskinson.

DEER VALLEY
Hanging between 9,100-foot Flagstaff Mountain and 9,570-foot Empire Peak are the Daly Chutes, one of the best double-black diamond zones at the ski area. “The [unofficial] Chute 4 in the Daly Chutes has a very steep, intimidating entrance that you have to nail or it’s into the tumble dryer for 600 feet. If you cut right out of the bottom, you find yourself in the apron, which has some of the best powder skiing you can find if the conditions are favorable,” said Chytka.

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN
“Two Goons, a double-black diamond that descends off Pinecone Ridge, is my favorite run. Th is terrain is only open a few days per year and requires signifi cant eff ort to access as it is hike-to terrain. Your reward is no crowds, fantastic 360-degree views of the Wasatch Mountains and usually some untouched pristine skiing conditions,” said Andy VanHouten, senior manager of ski patrol and mountain safety at Park City Mountain.

SNOWBASIN RESORT
“Middle Bowl Cirque is a really big half-bowl at the top of the ski area where you can pick your poison,” said Roe. “The drop in is intense, like a steep half-pipe into an open slope with a few trees or you can drop above cliffs — it’s a buff et zone with many runs, so you choose your own level.” Regardless of where you hit the slopes, each of these mountains and their abundant snowfall offers an incredible experience, no matter which runs you explore. With so many colorful options, there will always be an opportunity to come back for more.