It is imperative that you understand snow and avalanche safety, have checked the avalanche report and are capable to keep you and your party safe in the backcountry. Lastly, and most essential is the safety gear…. While there’s plenty for families to do here while on vacation, the advanced and expert skiers here will have plenty of terrain to carve and shred, both on and off-piste. When you combine the epic Wasatch terrain with 500” of annual snowfall and easy backcountry access, you get the best off-piste ski locations in not just Utah, but the whole country. Thanks! All of our services — including ski area access, rentals, backcountry lessons, avalanche courses, and limited food and beverage — will be open. If you want to take full advantage of the area and head off-resort, Snowbird and Alta backcountry guides that offer day, weekend and week-long packages for all objectives. Each route includes the following elements: While most people think of Utah as the Mecca for downhill skiers perhaps the best kept secret is its Nordic skiing! The South Face of Mount Superior is perhaps the closest to Alaskan-style skiing that Utah has to offer. The region typically gets 500” of snow, and in a good year, conditions can be favorable through late spring. Next-door neighbors, they both have their own unique vibes . All rights reserved. Cardiac Bowl and Chutes can be gained after some demanding skinning along the ridgeline, which requires concentration and experience. Please try again, or contact us at support@57hours.com and we’ll resolve the problem. People who love powder enough to climb up a hill for it. On the northside of the Ridgeline consider Dutchess Draw and McDonald’s Draw each with big, each skiable and mega on powder days. Willie has also set speed records in Africa on Mt. The side-by-side resorts offer connected terrain, (with a new combined pass). ), but there are high angle chutes and bowls waiting for you on its north face. Backcountry Skiing Utah: A Guide to the State’s Best Ski Tours. Do you think a name is incorrect? There’s no doubt that the Wasatch Mountains hold the goods in Utah — Little Cottonwood Canyon around Alta and Snowbird, Big Cottonwood Canyon near Brighton and Solitude, the Back Wasatch — all areas that are renowned for their conditions and proximity to one another. And best of all, the skiing is very accessible so you aren’t spending all your time driving. Backcountry skiing in Park City, Utah is a relatively well-kept secret, but the word is slowly getting out. Mill D is a great stomping ground for new users but it also draws experienced folks due to its diversity and the forgiving nature of its terrain. WHERE TO BACKCOUNTRY SKI The terrain here is generally big, steep and above treeline with plenty of diverse options to choose, but you have to earn it. Backcountry skiing is like rock climbing and falling in love: The same thing that makes it fun makes it dangerous. If you’re looking for an abundance of dry powder, thousands of acres of terrain AND backcountry access, the Alta and Snowbird ski areas are the place for you. We understand price can be the biggest deterrent and because of this we offer new and used skis on a budget. The local High Country crew that captured deep powder backcountry skiing in Colorado two years ago is now filming a follow-up. Located on the western edge of the Rockies, the Wasatch Mountains neighbor Salt Lake City, leading you … Learn about the avalanche inclinometer. As the first ski resort in Utah, Brighton has something for everybody: there’s family-friendly trails, lots of night skiing and amazing slackcountry and backcountry terrain. For those who’ve skied at Alta or Snowbird, it’s impossible not to draw an eye on Superior with its steep, white encased mass towering 3000’ above the Little Cottonwood Highway.