Park City and the upper Wasatch range finally have snow! Utah ski area opening dates feel late even though it’s pretty much happening right on time. We’ve rarely had enough snow for decent skiing before Thanksgiving. Early is Halloween. Normal is now. Yet, for the first time- ever- Deer Valley moved their opening day up a week. Does that mean we’ve got a lot of snow? No, not at all; this one’s a headscratcher. Feel free to offer your explanation for this in the comment section.

I took a spin today at Canyons Resort and have to report that the experience was quite typical. High Meadow (the beginner area) and two intermediate runs, Kokopelli and Snowdancer. After five runs, the manmade was getting scraped off and we called it. The good news is that the weather forecasters are calling for 10-25 inches by Wednesday which would set up Utah resorts for a white Thanksgiving weekend and the ability to open up additional terrain.

Sadly, a high pressure moves in for next weekend and possibly through the first week of December.

The moral? Don’t blow the confetti and horns just yet. Two seasons ago, those two or three early season, manmade, groomed trails, catering to thousands of hungry passholders became brown ribbons of death from exposed dirt and rocks that pretty much lasted through the Christmas holiday. Still, the ski stoke is running high in these parts now that the annual ski porn films have premiered, Park City has a white cap and most resorts have announced their “official” opening dates.

Utah’s Ski Area Opening Dates

Alta Ski Area

OPEN (Estimated close April 20, 2025)

Beaver Mountain

TBD

Brian Head Resort

OPEN (estimated close May 11, 2025)

Brighton Resort

OPEN (Estimated close May 18, 2025)

Cherry Peak Resort

TBD

Deer Valley Resort

November 30, 2024 (Estimated close April 28, 2025)

Eagle Point Resort

December 20, 2024 (estimated close April 3, 2025)

Nordic Valley

December 7, 2024

Park City Mountain

OPEN (estimated opening April 10, 2025)

Powder Mountain

December 6, 2024

Snowbasin Resort

November 29, 2024

Snowbird

November 28, 2024

Solitude Mountain Resort

OPEN

Sundance Mountain Resort

December 4, 2024

Woodward Park City

November 28, 2024

SKI UTAH PASSPORT – Prices Rise Nov. 30, 2024 so Buy Now!

The Ski Utah Passport program for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders is on sale now for $69. The pass is in its 26th year of offering three days at each of the 15 resorts in the state but there are some big changes this season.  Every kiddo, no matter if they live in Utah or Australia will get THREE days of skiing- even the 6th graders- at each resort but nine resorts will black out: Dec. 26, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024 | Jan. 18-19, 2025 | Feb. 15-16, 2025. Six have no restrictions! Brian Head, Cherry Peak, Eagle Point, Nordic Valley, Snowbasin and Solitude Mountain Resort. For more information, check out 4th, 5th and 6th Grade Ski Utah Passport – Ski Utah.