It’s snowing gently as I pull into the main car park at Powder Mountain. There’s no charge to park, which is my first hint that this northeast Utah ski area is not typical. The 2nd hint comes from the state of the resort’s primary ski lodge– Timberline– which is plainly a ’70s construct. Kids lounge in snow banks while their parents get lift tickets at the window, and riders stow PB&J- filled backpacks to obtain at lunch.
I take it all in contentedly. It’s uncomplicated and uncurated– and splendidly traditional. It’s a feeling I’ve been looking for ever since snowboarding and snowboarding went mainstream and mom-and-pop-owned ski locations were transformed into excessively curated mega-resorts owned by mega-corporations.
The problem is, those mom-and-pop-style resorts generally have mom-and-pop-style skiing– just a couple of lifts, not a lot of surface, and meager snow. That’s where Powder Mountain stands out. It’s got that pleasant feel in regards to services and facilities, however big-resort energy in regards to terrain. In reality, it has more skiable acres than any resort in the U.S. and a tremendous 1,000 more acres to ski than the well known slopes of nearby Park City Mountain. In addition to lift-accessed runs, you can ski the sidecountry with a snowcat assist.
The cherry on top? Powder Mountain’s snow is 100 percent natural. And thanks to a typical 500 inches of fresh snow a year, there’s no need for snowmaking.
” The name sort of says it all, however it’s all about the snow; we have quality snow in abundance,” discusses Blair Kohn, primary membership officer at Powder Mountain, in an e-mail interview with Travel + Leisure. “Lines are always brief; you can find remaining powder days after a storm.”
Powder Mountain is an anomaly in the modern-day ski world, with soul, terrain, and snow to spare. It’s likewise a curiosity in the way it runs. Beginning in the 2024-25 ski season, 3 chair lifts will near the public to provide private access to home websites. To negate this loss, a brand-new lift will offer access to Lightning Ridge, which was formerly just accessible by snowcat.
” With the addition of the new Lightning Ridge lift, which is public, next year we’ll actually see a net gain in publicly available lift-serviced terrain,” stated Kohn. “We wish to build a new model for ski resorts that do not depend on the mega pass, keep the slopes uncrowded, and allow for long-term monetary sustainability.” Kohn assures that Powder Mountain’s move to become semi-private “will not impact the day skier much.”
Whether you slip in a go to before the shift or book a trip to Powder Mountain down the roadway, we’ve assembled everything you require to understand to make the most out of your Utah ski holiday.
When to Go
Ski season at Powder Mountain normally ranges from early December to mid-April but is incredibly based on snowfall and protection. During my visit in 2021, I skied in late March.
If you wish to show up to a completely open mountain with a lot of protection and powder, I ‘d advise booking a trip in between mid-January and late March.
If you have kids, come throughout the Grom Fest, a 12-and-under slalom and slopestyle event that brings local kids out to Pow Mow. If you’re a snowboarder, visit during the yearly Turn n’ Burn, a banked slalom racing event.
Where to Stay
On-mountain Rentals
Powder Mountain may have an old-school feel, but when it comes to on-mountain accommodations, the options are more modern-day than what you’ll discover at a lot of resorts. The on-mountain holiday rentals handled through Powder Stays all have full kitchen areas and living spaces– plus ski-in, ski-out gain access to.
Edelweiss Bed & Breakfast
This relaxing B&B is located in the tiny neighborhood of Nordic Valley, simply east of Eden, Utah. It’s around 20 minutes by car to Pow Mow, however the range is perfect for those searching for a quieter escape and a taste of local life. The family-owned inn has actually freshly redesigned suites, each with a private entryway, full kitchen, and private outside space.
Wolf Creek Resort
Wolf Creek Rentals handles a series of trip leasings in Wolf Creek Resort, a neighborhood you’ll pass on the drive up Highway 158 to Powder Mountain. It’s simply a 15-minute drive to the ski area from Wolf Creek, and the units are well-stocked, with complete kitchen areas and large home and bed rooms.
Where to Eat
Powder Keg
According to Kohn, “Powder Keg is the go-to spot on Powder, a time device of a dining establishment and bar that serves ramen, chicken wings, and healthy options too.” The pub is inside Pow Mow’s main lodge, Timberline, and from what I’ve heard, the ramen is to die for.
Hidden Lake Cantina
In addition to a menu of street tacos, Hidden Lake Cantina in Hidden Lake Lodge boasts some of the very best views on the mountain. Get your tacos to go and locate an outdoor table where you can delight in the lodge’s prominent views. On a clear day, it’s reported that you can peer into four states.
Where to Après Ski
Fortunate Slice Pizza
Okay, okay, so technically this isn’t an appropriate après area, but since it’s at the base of the Sundown Lift, home to Powder Mountain’s $19 night skiing, I needed to include it in the lineup. The pizza is hot and fresh and everything you ‘d want after a couple of chilly laps under the lights.
Powder Keg
I wouldn’t usually include a place twice, however Kohn ensures me that in addition to having excellent ramen and wings, “The Powder Keg is among the renowned après areas in all of North American skiing,” with “live music 5 nights a week, excellent food and drink” and an “straightforward, excellent vibe.”
Shooting Star Saloon
Off-mountain, Kohn suggests the Shooting Star Saloon in Huntsville (30 minutes from Pow Mow). She states it’s “one of the oldest bars this side of the Mississippi” with an easy menu of timeless hamburgers and beer.
Off-mountain Activities
If riding Powder Mountain simply isn’t enough, go to the surrounding Nordic Valley Ski Resort, which is small however mighty, with numerous night snowboarding and lift tickets that begin at simply $19. Nordic Valley is also home to Wasatch Parc Snow Tubing, where you can lease a tube and take pleasure in the ride up before tubing down the snow on the park’s curved lanes.
As soon as dusk settles, check out the New World Distillery in Eden. They make their own alcohol– including bourbon, gin, and vodka– and have a mixed drink menu that consists of a Black Walnut Whiskey Sour and a Honey Lavender Gin Fizz.
How to Ride
Tickets
Powder Mountain isn’t part of the Epic or Ikon pass, so you’ll need to purchase your lift ticket directly from the resort. Like numerous ski areas nowadays, Pow Mow is utilizing a dynamic ticketing system that rewards you for reserving early. At the time of composing, there were plenty of $111 adult day-to-day lift tickets still readily available. Night skiing is a consistent $19 for any ages and dates.
Leasings
You’ll find full ski and snowboard leasings in the rental shops in Timberline and Sundown Lodge. Rental rates start at $34 for night skiing and $44 for day snowboarding, but you can save $15 by booking online.
Skiing and Snowboarding Info
Powder Mountain currently has simply nine lifts servicing 8,464 acres of surface. The meager number of lifts is strengthened by a group of snowcats, shuttle bus, and guides that take individuals off the primary thoroughfares and into the mountain’s sidecountry, offering the full mountain experience.
Back in the primary part of the resort, there are 154 named runs that break down to 25 percent green (novice), 40 percent blue (intermediate), and 35 percent black (advanced).
When the shift to semi-private occurs for the 2024/2025 ski season, the variety of public-accessed ski runs and lifts will change. Based on our count, the variety of lifts will leap to 11, with 8 being open to the public. (Mary’s, Village, and the brand-new Raintree lifts will be for personal use only.).
Programming.
Powder Mountain has group lessons for skiers and riders ages 7 and up in addition to private, individually lessons for everybody from three to 100 years of ages. There’s a females’s ski and board program that’s particularly for females and adaptive lessons through Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports.
If you want to surpass the marked ski runs, you can schedule a $39 ride on one of Pow Mow’s notorious snow felines for, what Kohn calls “access to some extraordinary, remote surface and frequently the snow is untouched.” This offering will alter with the arrival of the Raintree and Lightning Ridge raises in 2024-2025.
In that very same vein, Powder Mountain has a guided ski n’ skin offering where regional guides take riders into the mountain’s seldom touched surface.
Pow Mow likewise runs guided snowmobile trips. Riders will be dealt with to views of the valley and the Great Salt Lake as they romp through the area’s plentiful snow.