COVID-19 has created a tsunami of people seeking respite in the outdoors away from the pandemic. Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, along with Mill Creek Canyon, have all seen a huge upticks in visitation, with many popular trails being trampled beyond capacity. The damage done meant that a busy Big Cottonwood Canyon trail needed to…
Tag: Big Cottonwood Canyon
Wasatch backcountry skiing conditions report: 03-18-18
A nice refresher storm swept over Utah this weekend, bringing much needed snow. The high, March sun did a number on the snow quality. So this latest powder dump made for ideal ski conditions in the Wasatch backcountry. We toured around high and mid-elevation slopes in the Cottonwood Canyons the last two weeks and the…
Wasatch backcountry skiing conditions report: 01-23-18
A big, cold, all-too-anticipated winter storm arrived in Utah over the weekend. Judging by the crowds at Wasatch resorts and in the backcountry, you’d have thought it hadn’t snowed in a year. Well, actually that’s not too far from the truth. The result is every close-to-the-road open face on every aspect we could see was…
Hike to Willow Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon
Big Cottonwood Canyon is filled with dozens of long, epic hikes with spectacular views. But sometimes you just want to hike a short trail with a nice payoff. This is especially true if you’re taking kids. Willow Lake on the Willow Heights Trail near Solitude Mountain Resort is the perfect hike for that. The trail…
Rock climbing the Red Rock Wall in BCC
As rock climbing becomes ever more popular, crags in the cottonwood canyons are getting more crowded. Approach a spot like Challenge Buttress or School Room on a weekend, and be prepared to wait for your turn on the rock. But if you don’t mind going off the beaten path a bit, you can find quality…
My favorite way to mountain bike Solitude Mountain Resort
Solitude Mountain Resort has some great trails for mountain biking, including lift-served downhill. With 20 miles of trails, the ‘Tude may not have the massive network that Deer Valley boasts, but what Solitude lacks in trail miles, they make up for in spectacular views, lung-busting climbs, and some ripping, technical descents. Best of all, it’s…
Solitude Mountain Resort now part of Wasatch Benefit Program
If you ski or snowboard in Utah and are thinking about purchasing a season pass to one of our 14 resorts, then you better get on the ball, because price increases happen sooner than you may think. I suggest you consider buying a pass to Solitude Mountain Resort because new this year, Solitude is part…
Backcountry skiing Butler Basin in Big Cottonwood Canyon
Spring is the time to backcountry ski or snowboard those big, steep lines you’ve been eyeballing all season. With a more stable snowpack, and melt/freeze cycles creating supportable corn snow, there’s no better time to tick off a steep objective. Butler Basin on Gobbler’s Knob is one such place. Butler Basin is a huge cirque…
Sign up for 2nd Annual Wasatch Backcountry Alliance Free Shuttle Day
Backcountry skiers looking to promote car pooling in the Cottonwood Canyons should sign up for the 2nd annual Wasatch Backcountry Alliance free shuttle day. Relax in a 12-person van as you ride up the canyon, and don’t worry about finding parking in our increasingly crowded trailheads. The WBA free shuttle day services Big Cottonwood Canyon…
Backcountry skiing Point 10420
Point 10420, at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon near Guardsman Pass, is the closest mountain you can backcountry ski from Brighton that isn’t lift assisted. A pleasant ridgeline skin takes you to the summit, where several descent options can be found on all aspects. Thick evergreen forests called Promise Land fall from the northwest…