Eden, Ogden Valley
Ski Utah · Huntsville, Ogden Valley
Snowbasin Resort
Snowbasin hosted the 2002 Olympic downhill and still feels underrun: big, varied terrain under Mount Ogden, grand log-and-stone lodges, and far fewer people than the Cottonwoods.
Photo: Gyejournal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Snowbasin is one of the oldest continually operating ski areas in the country, and it was rebuilt for the 2002 Olympics, when the downhill and super-G ran on the steep Grizzly course. The mountain spreads across a wide bowl under Mount Ogden, with steep faces off the John Paul lift and the Allen Peak Tram, long groomers on the front and gentle terrain around the base.
The lodges are the surprise. Earl’s Lodge at the base and the Needles and John Paul lodges on the mountain look more like national park lodges than ski cafeterias, with timber, stone and big windows. Because Snowbasin is an hour from Salt Lake and off the I-80 corridor, it is often the quiet choice on busy weekends.
Known for
- 2002 Olympic downhill venue
- Grand on-mountain lodges
- Short lines for its size
- Strong mix of steeps and groomers
Good to know
- Parking is free and plentiful compared with the Cottonwoods, one of the best reasons to drive north.
- The drive goes through Ogden Canyon or over Trappers Loop from I-84. Both can be slick in storms, so carry snow-capable tires.
- Ogden makes an easy base, with a historic 25th Street of restaurants and bars about 30 minutes away.
- Snowbasin sets Ikon and Mountain Collective blackout and reservation rules each season. Check the details for your pass before you go.