Snowbasin resort very quickly became one of our favorite mountains in Utah. Though the first day I had my doubts. The weather was terrible and unspeakably cold with flurries of snow smacking you in the face.
You couldn’t see two feet in front of you, making the trails extremely disorienting. But that’s the risk you take when you travel to snowboard and only have certain days available.
All I can say is thank goodness we had another day because it completely changed my perspective on the place. Even though they hadn’t gotten snow for over a month the grooming folks do a phenomenal job. I loved it.
Snowbasin’s History
Snowbasin ski area is one of the oldest continually operated ski resorts in the US. In 1938, skier and Forest Service recreation advisor, Alf Engen and other forest service employees hiked up into Wheeler Basin and discovered a great site for a ski resort.
They held a contest to name the area, which was won by Geneve Woods. And with the opening of the first ski tow in 1939, Snowbasin was born. In 1940 the first race was held and after that more runs were created and Snowbasin became the huge public playground that it is today.
In 1984 Snowbasin was purchased by the Holding Family, who still own it today. In 2002 Snowbasin won the honor of being a venue for the winter Olympics. The money from that allowed for some pretty incredible upgrades to make it an appropriate venue for the games.
Finally, in 2004 they started to work towards their goal of being a 4-season location. That first summer season was a huge success and they have only built on that since.
Directions and Logistics
Closest airport is the Salt Lake City international airport. From there you will need to drive to the city of Ogden, where there is plenty of places to stay and restaurants to check out.
Getting to the mountain, you can either drive to Snowbasin or you can take the complimentary ski shuttle or bus ($4 each way) from downtown Ogden. It is recommended that if there is a lot of snow in the area, you either use a vehicle with chains or take the shuttle or bus. The bus is $4 one way and requires exact change, so bear that in mind.
The mountain is located at 3925 E. Snowbasin Road, Huntsville, UT 84317. If you plan to spend more of your day on Strawberry Peak with the Strawberry express gondola, make sure to check this parking lot first. This is not at the main area, but you can ski or ride your way over to the base of the mountain for food and to check out other runs.
Otherwise, park in the main parking area, but try to get there early to ensure you get a parking spot. Though I highly recommend checking out the Strawberry Peak area because the groomers there are awesome. But keep in mind that if it’s a windy day that gondola is typically the first one to close as that area tends to take the brunt of the winds.
Mountain Stats
Snowbasin has 3,000 skiable acres with 3,000 vertical feet. The base area is at 6,391 feet and the annual average snowfall is 350 inches (890 cm). There is so much diverse terrain here and definitely something for all skill levels. It can be extremely packed on the weekends, but weekdays are fantastic.
When we were there, the lack of fresh snow meant we couldn’t check out any of the tree runs or really only the groomed runs.
Snowbasin is part of the Ikon pass, specifically the Ikon base plus pass. Otherwise, lift tickets for an adult full day is $159 for a weekday and $209 on the weekends, and that doesn’t include if you need rentals. You can see why an Ikon pass can be a huge benefit. If you do need rentals, the rental shop is located slopeside and they have packages that include skis/snowboard, boots, poles, and a complimentary helmet.
If this is your first time visiting, you might consider private lessons or a group lesson. Group lessons are all day, which I think is much better than the hour or two you get at other resorts.
For more intermediate and expert skiers and riders, there are 3 terrain parks to test your skills on including Blue Grouse, which is higher up on the mountain, Orsen’s and Littlecat. Littlecat is intermixed with some beginner terrain, so be careful when you exit the park looking out for the crowds.
Summer activities
As I said, Snowbasin is now also open in the summer. You can take a scenic gondola ride on the Needles Gondola, do some yoga, play a round of mini-golf or explore the 26 miles of hiking and biking trails. Many of the folks we met on the mountain use that area year-round to ski and then mountain bike.
Have I mentioned how much I love the people here?
Amenities
The main lodge is at great spot. It’s beyond beautiful with its golden chandeliers and giant wooden logs. The food is typically priced like most of the high-end mountain resorts, but it’s tasty and the beer is cold. They have the open of the more cafeteria style or a sit-down restaurant to choose from.
Next door is the gift shop, which has a lot of great things. You can spend a lot of money in here.
Sustainability initiatives
You have an idea of Snowbasin’s commitment in sustainability in their mission, “Our mission is fostering environmental stewardship and sustainability.”
In 3 years, they have diverted 230 tons of material out of the waste stream into recycling commodities and through energy reduction initiatives saved the resort 2.8 million kWH. Check out Snowbasin’s sustainability page for information on the initiatives they are taking to protect their natural resources.
Concluding thoughts
I loved Snowbasin, the sweeping mountain views, incredible trails and some of the most beautiful amenities I have ever seen. It was easily one of my favorite mountains to date and one I can see myself going to again and again in years to come.
Why not make your next trip a ski/snowboard adventure and spend time at both Snowbasin and Utah’s best kept secret, Powder Mountain? Two incredible mountains in one stunning location.
