Powder Mountain Resort in Utah is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Powder Mountain, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
is a high-altitude resort located in the Wasatch Front, a metropolitan region of Utah that includes the cities of Provo, Salt Lake City and Ogden, and where the vast majority of the state's population resides. Located 90 minutes from the Salt Lake International Airport, Powder Mountain offers more than 7,000 acres of skiable terrain, more than any other resort in the U.S.,
. This includes a 4,000-acre backcountry area serviced by fully-tracked vehicles known as snowcats that carry skiers and snowboarders on day safaris. Night skiing is offered until 9 p.m., seven nights a week. The ski season runs mid-November to mid-April, conditions permitting.
The Mountain
At Powder Mountain, skiers seldom have to worry about skiing on artificial snow. With an annual average of
, Powder Mountain is proof of Utah's boast to having "
." There are multiple peaks inside the resort area, with a vertical drop of 2,205 feet for lift-serviced areas and 2,500 feet for non-lift areas. The highest peak served by a lift is at Hidden Lake Lodge, which sits at an altitude of 8,900 feet. The highest point is James Peak at 9,422 feet and only reachable via a snowcat ride. The base elevation of the resort is 6,900 feet.
Trails And Lifts
Powder Mountain has 135 runs and two terrain parks serviced by four chairlifts, including a high-speed quad, and three tow lifts for the beginner slopes. Shuttle and snowcat rides take skiers to the non-lift areas of the resort. All "cat skiing" runs in the inbound area terminate at a chairlift that tranports skiers back to the lift-serviced areas of the mountain. Backcountry snowcat safaris are for experienced skiers who are comfortable skiing in ungroomed powder. First-timers to Powder Mountain can meet daily at 10 a.m. at the
sign next to the Yurt at the Resort Center for a
; the tour lasts one to two hours.
In The News
Magazine awards abound at Powder Mountain. In the October 2011 issue of
Ski
, Powder Mountain captured
in the magazine's annual reader's survey of North American resorts, including third place in the all-important category for best snow.
Ski
readers on a budget especially like the resort's value, ranking it No. 1 in the category. In the 'character' category, Powder Mountain ranked No. 10.
Cost
A variety of
are available at Powder Mountain. The cheapest rate is $18 for a night pass, which has limited runs and hours. The $63 day/night pass allows unlimited skiing on whatever trails are open at any time of day or night. Senior passes for $27 are offered during the day, as is a $42 military rate. Children 6 and younger ride all lifts for free, as do seniors 80 and older. All snowcat rides are $18 each. Discounted multiday passes ranging from two to seven days are also available from $105 to $322. Individual and family
are also offered in a variety of price ranges. First-timers can take a three-hour lesson that includes rental equipment and a lift pass for $120.
Apres-Ski
Unlike the resorts in the bustling Park City area farther south, Powder Mountain is more remote and lacks nightlife opportunities. Apres-ski here is limited to activities such as hanging out in the hot tub at the
. For a different kind of apres-ski experience, take the
. This nonskiing guided tour heads to the top of the mountain for a spectacular view of the surrounding area at sunset. The tour includes alfresco dining along the way and returns to the resort center under a moonlit sky.
WATCH: Powder Mountain Resort
Skiers and snowboarders await the arrival of a snowcat to whisk them off to some of the best unpacked terrain at Powder Mountain Resort in Utah.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
