Brighton 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 Brighton Resort, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
It's easy to get to
atop Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon because it's just a 35-minute drive from the Salt Lake International Airport and downtown Salt Lake City. Buses from areas around Salt Lake City also transport guests to the resort. Skiers and boarders can take advantage of the mountain every day from mid-November through mid-April, and night skiing -- the most in Utah -- is available early December through March. Families particularly like this mountain because every level of skier or boarder can ride a high-speed quad together, select a different trail down and meet at the bottom.
The Mountain
There's no shortage of snow at
-- it averages 500 inches of light, fluffy powder every winter. While grooming equipment prepares runs for beginners and most intermediate skiers and snowboarders, expert skiers can enjoy runs left as nature provides them: deep with powder. Guests choose between groomed trails, tree runs, chutes, cliffs and natural terrain parks. Brighton also has four terrain parks for freestyle skiers and snowboarders. Top elevation at Brighton is 10,500 feet, and the highest vertical lift-serviced drop is 1,745 feet.
Trails And Lifts
has 66 runs and many off-piste runs on its 1,050 skiable acres. Guests can access 100 percent of the terrain by one of five high-speed quads. There is also one triple chairlift and one magic carpet. Intermediate and advanced runs each comprise about 40 percent of the mountain; the other 20 percent is for beginners. The longest run spans 1.2 miles. The Milly lift, at the top of Evergreen run, allows access to Solitude Resort that has 2,250 skiable acres and 130 runs. A Sol-Bright Pass allows skiers access to both resorts.
In The News
Just because Brighton Resort doesn't host Olympic qualifiers or X Games doesn't mean that it lacks notoriety. Although Brighton is one of the country's oldest ski resorts, it manages to be one of the most modern resorts in Utah. According to Utah.com, local folks regularly vote Brighton as the
It also receives kudos for being a "Best Value" resort.
Cost
range in price from free to $69 for a 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. pass and $78 for a Sol-Bright pass to ski Solitude Resort. A
costs $949 for an adult and $599 for students, military personnel and young adults. A child's pass costs $199, and a pass for children 7 and younger costs $50. A
costs $45, and private lessons range from $85 to $450. Adults who want to
can get a ski or snowboard package for $30 a day. Helmets cost an extra $7 and wrist guards an additional $5.
Apres-Ski
There is no shortage of
available to guests. Alpine Rose, the main cafeteria, serves dinner as well as breakfast and lunch. For a cozier experience complete with a fireplace, skiers like Molly Green's, located slope side. Folks who want to venture off-site enjoy The Brighton Store and the Silver Fork Lodge, both serving down-home, hearty fare.
, an on-mountain store, sells clothes, cameras and various essentials.
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