the 2017/18 ski season officially begins this week in Utah as three ski resorts will open around Thanksgiving. But a dry and warm autumn with little snowfall has caused other ski resorts to delay their planned openings.
LET THE SKI SEASON BEGIN!
Four Utah ski resorts have planned openings, including Brian Head, Brighton, Snowbird and Park City.
Brighton Resort
As always,Brighton will be the first resort in Utah to open when they start up the chairlifts on Tuesday, November 21st at 9:00 am. With Friday’s snowfall combined with extensive snowmaking, Brighton Resort will be offering a base averaging between 10-20 inches on 3 runs serviced by 2 lifts.
For opening day, Brighton Resort will offer “Top to Bottom” skiing & snowboarding from the Majestic and Explorer lifts. Operating with limited terrain, the following runs will be open & groomed: Explorer, Hawkeye Access and Shoulder to Lower Majestic. According to the resort, Snake Creek Express will be ready to ride Wednesday morning.
A limited terrain ticket rate is available at $45 for riders aged 11 and up. Kids 10 and under ski free with a paying adult. Brighton says they will also limit the amount of tickets being sold to avoid over crowding the slopes.
Brian Head
In southern Utah, Brian Head opens on Friday, November 24th. They’re having a limited opening Friday-Sundays only until further notice. On those days, the lifts will operate from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm with night skiing on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tickets will be $38 for adults and $27 for kids and seniors. Night skiing will cost $20.
There will be limited terrain with only Chair 3 and Chair 6 operating. Open runs will include Heavenly Daze, Lower Bear Paw, and First Time. There will also be a limited terrain park setup as well.
Park City
Park City will open on Thursday, November 23rd. As of this writing there’s not much information about what lifts are running and what runs will be open. But crews have been blasting the mountain with snow guns for weeks in preparation of opening day.
Snowbird
Snowbird opens on November 22nd and it sounds like there will be some fanfare. The resort will operate from 9 am to 3 pm with skiing and riding off the Gadzoom lift.
Lift Tickets will be $84 for adults; $39 age 7-12; and $69 age 65 and over.
WHEN DO THE REST OF UTAH’S RESORTS OPEN?
The rest of Utah’s ski resorts are not far behind and many plan to begin operations next week. Here’s an updated list of Utah’s ski resort opening days:
- Alta Ski Area: December 1st
- Beaver Mountain: TBD
- Brian Head Resort: November 24
- Brighton Resort: November 21
- Cherry Peak Resort: December 18
- Deer Valley Resort: December 2
- Eagle Point Resort: December 21
- Nordic Valley Resort: December 9
- Park City Mountain: November 23
- Powder Mountain: TBD
- Snowbasin Resort: TBD
- Snowbird Resort: November 22
- Solitude Mountain: December 2
- Sundance Mountain Resort: December 8