The snow is almost gone, and it’s getting damn warm up in the mountains. It’s time to start thinking about mountain biking, hiking, beer fests, and outdoor concerts. Utah’s ski resorts are ground zero for summer activities and have everything from lift rides to zip lines, mountain coasters, and good food. SkiUtah has compiled a list of summer opening dates at all of Utah’s resorts, and well as a hand full of events and activities to tide you over until next ski season.
SKI RESORT SUMMER DATES
Alta
June 1 – Sept. 15
Beaver Mountain
TBD
Brian Head
June 26 – September 7
Brighton
Closed for Summer
Cherry Peak
Summer Concert Series
Deer Valley
June 17 – Sept. 5 (Plus weekends till Sept. 18th)
Eagle Point
TBD
Nordic Valley
June 18 – August 27 (weekends)
Park City Mountain Resort
Park City Base: May 27 – Oct. 23 I Canyons Village: June 17 – Sept. 5
Powder Mountain
TBD
Snowbasin Resort
June 11 – Oct. 2 (Open weekends)
Snowbird
June 18 – Oct. 16
Solitude Resort
June 17 – Oct. 2
Sundance
May 20 – Oct. 9
NOTABLE SUMMER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Check out all the summer events and activities at Utah ski resorts, compiled by SkiUtah:
ALTA SKI AREA
Alta Ski Area includes the Albion Basin, a prime wildflower hotspot in the Wasatch Range. Visit during July and August for the best display. Cecret Lake is tucked into the base of the mountains and makes a perfect picnic destination.
BEAVER MOUNTAIN
Mark you calendars, August 21-23, for the multi-day Beaver Mountain Music Festival featuring up and coming bands, kids activities, and venders. Beaver Mountain also offers tent and RV sites, plus lodge and yurt rentals for larger events.
BRIAN HEAD
Entertain your inner adrenaline junkie at Brian Head with their zipline or bungee trampoline. If you are up for a physical challenge, spend the day at the climbing wall or ride your cares away at the alpine tubing attractions at the base of the Giant Steps Lodge.
If you want to raise your game, ride the Giant Steps Express or Navajo chair lift 4 onto improved mountain bike trails. Summer lift operations run from June 26 – September 7, Friday-Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm for Giant Steps and 10 am – 4:30 pm for Navajo.
BRIGHTON RESORT
Brighton Resort has few events, but tons of hiking. Hike up to Brighton Lakes and Silver Lake trailheads, which lead to over a dozen spectacular destinations. Mountain bikers can support a good cause by participating in the 15th Annual Porcupine Hill Climb Cycling Race on June 4th, 2016. All proceeds benefit BikeUtah.org. For more details, visit Brighton’s event page.
Brighton is also one of four resorts hosting the 2016 Wasatch Wildflower Festival this year. On July 29th guests can enjoy guided walks and activities designed to be fun, family-friendly, non-commercial, free of charge, and open to all interests and ability levels.
CHERRY PEAK
Cherry Peak has announced their first ever summer schedule with the main attraction being the Cherry Peak Summer Concert Series. See acts like Brad Bonar, Friday, June 10, Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band, Friday, June 24 and famous Kellie Pickler, Saturday, July 9
DEER VALLEY
Deer Valley Resort is filled with nonstop activity such as lift-served mountain biking, hiking and scenic chairlift rides, Summer Adventure Camp for children and music-filled evenings at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater.
Last summer, Deer Valley Resort modernized its existing mountain biking/hiking trail system including a new intermediate “flow” trail, Tidal Wave designed by Gravity Logic. Continuing this summer, the resort is building a new beginner “flow” trail, Holy Roller, to offer an even greater mountain biking experience for all abilities. Deer Valley’s three lifts access more than 8,100 feet of elevation and an extensive trail network.
EAGLE POINT
Some of the many activities that Eagle Point is offering this summer are mountain biking, hiking, fishing, horseback riding and ATV riding.
NORDIC VALLEY
Nordic Valley is offering weekend summer activities. Bring the family to cruise down a 400-foot slip-n-slide, or test yourself with lift-served mountain biking or playing disk golf.
PARK CITY
This summer, Park City is adding three new activities for small children, a ropes course, zip-line, and tubing. Opening day for the zip-line and ropes course is May 27th, while tubing will open July 4th. Additionally, their Alpine Slide is one of the longest slides in the world, with over 3,000 feet of gliding down a luge-like track. Park City also offers endless mountain biking trails, downhill biking course, hiking and much more.
POWDER MOUNTAIN
Watch for fun events coming to Powder Mountain this summer and fall! For example, a Spartan Super obstacle race, plus a kid’s event, is planned on August 13th. The race will include an 8-10 mile course with over 24 obstacles.
Ladies, block your calendar for September 9-11th for the REI Outessa Summit, an immersive event that offers outdoor adventures led by inspiring female guides and athletes. The event will offer access to coveted gear and products, great food and wine, and a variety of lodging choices all set in gorgeous surroundings. This three-day experience has been curated to create unparalleled memories in the outdoors for individuals seeking adventure or friends looking for a different kind of escape.
SNOWBASIN RESORT
Snowbasin Resort will be open for operations Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer staring June 11th. Enjoy scenic Gondola rides to Needles Lodge, mountain biking and hiking on 26 miles of trails or attend one of the free Saturday guided tours. They also have family oriented activities this summer including a playground, a euro bungee, and new climbing wall for the kids.
SNOWBIRD SKI AND SUMMER RESORT
Snowbird’s summer offerings are extensive with countless mountain bike trails, Alpine Slide, Mountain Coaster, ropes course, and much more. Additionally they feature barrier free trails and a partnership with Wasatch Adaptive Sports to offer nature hikes, fishing, plus adaptive mountain and road biking.
Snowbird activities including tram rides, bungee trampoline and alpine slide, mine and water tunnel tours, GPS/orienteering classes, boundless playground, and bowling.
SOLITUDE RESORT
This year, summer at Solitude includes mountain biking, hiking, trail running, disc golf and lots of special events including the Vigor Half Marathon and Trail Run Series and Midweek Mountain Bike Series.
SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN RESORT
At Sundance, take a nearly 2-mile long scenic zip-line tour, and then finish the evening with a mountaintop gourmet dinner at the Bearclaw Supper Club or a full-moon lift ride (offered monthly during the…you guessed it…full moon.) Also check out their concert, theater schedule and fly fishing outfitter.
For more information about these events and more, visit skiutah.com