Snowbasin
add photosFrom their website "With diverse terrain for beginner ease to challenging expert runs, Snowbasin also offers three progressive terrain parks and 26km of groomed Nordic trails. With 3,000 skiable acres and 3,000 vertical feet, Snowbasin is best known for wide-open bowls, gladed runs, manicured groomers, powder stashes days after a storm, and rarely a lift line."
All Day Ski Passes:
Adult - All Area: $66
Youth (7-12): $40
Child (6 & Under) Must be accompanied by paying adult: Free
3 Reviews for Snowbasin
162
105
'11, '12
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"Simple Luxury"
Snowbasin ski resort is one of Utah’s best kept secrets. This world class ski resort, which was home to the 2002 Olympic downhill, super G and combined races, is often overlooked by tourists flocking to experience Utah’s powder snow. So why is Snowbasin ski resort so overlooked? Maybe it’s because the resort isn’t overly developed; maybe the locals are keeping it a secret; or maybe it’s because folks from Salt Lake City think 35 miles is too far of a drive to ski. So I’m here to declare that this “secret” ski resort is powder-rich, tourist-low, family-friendly, and completely awe-inspiring.
SIMPLE LUXURY
Snowbasin ski resort can be defined as simple luxury. The resort is not overrun with development which might disorient any first time visitor lugging around ski gear and children. The resort has just a few day lodge buildings at its base. These buildings consist of: Earl’s Lodge, a day-lodge for dining and relaxing; Grizzly Center, for childcare, kids’ lessons, equipment rentals and shopping; and the Snowsports Learning Center for clinics and special programs. Of particular note, the resort’s buildings are not little ski shacks. By all means, the day-lodges are luxurious with large spruce log and stone construction, granite and marble throughout the interior with solid brass fixtures. If you visit, be sure to step into one of Earl Lodge’s luxurious restrooms – recognized as one of the best restrooms in America!
CONVENIENT
My family visited Snowbasin ski resort for some spring skiing with kids aged 7 and 11. Our 7 year old had never skied before, and our 11 year old was a beginning level skier. We arrived at the resort, parked our car and discovered a shuttle ready to drive us curbside where we found a prominent sign stating, “Beginners start here” which lead to the Grizzly Center, home to the resort’s child care and group lessons. Once we signed up our 7 year old for lessons, we were directed a short distance to the equipment rental center where we were soon outfitted with our gear. Then we picked up our lift tickets at the nearby ticket counter and dropped off our 7 year old for her lessons right in front of the Grizzly Center. The entire process was very convenient to handle with kids.
KIDS’ SKI LESSONS
Snowbasin ski resort is an ideal place to teach kids how to ski. The resort offers a “learn to earn” program where kids 7 and older are outfitted in ski or snowboard rentals, offered a ½ day group lesson, and given a Little Cat Express Quad lift ticket. All this for less than $40! What a great way to expose kids to skiing – which was exactly what I did with my 7 year old daughter. We were told to arrive an hour before lessons were to begin which is sound advice as it does take time to outfit kiddos in ski gear for the first time. By the end of my daughter’s 2 hour group lesson, she had already learned how to safely ride the lift, snowplow down a beginning run, and have a ton of fun skiing!
DINING
Snowbasin offers several dining options throughout the resort from full-servicing gourmet dining to quaint cafes. Earl’s lodge, at the resort’s base, offers dining at the Servery, Cinnabar Lounge, and the Huntington Bistro. Mountain top dining is also available at the John Paul Lodge and Needles Lodge where food is served along panoramic views. Be sure to enjoy the resort’s après’ skiing with live entertainment offered each Friday and Saturday afternoons.
LIFTS and RUNS
Snowbasin ski resort offers 3,000 skiable acres with over 113 runs, three terrain parks, and an advanced lift system. There are plenty of double black diamond (expert) and black diamond (difficult) runs located throughout the resort. However, the amount of beginning and intermediate runs is more limited. Therefore, if you are skiing with beginners, you may want to consider staying on the Little Cat Express Quad. More intermediate skiers can progress to the Becker lift which offers longer and steeper, beginning to intermediate runs. Note that discounted tickets are available for skiers that keep to the Little Cate and Becker lifts.
Snowbasin also offers a tubing hill located at parking lot #2. Here families will find inflatable tube rentals and a tow rope to the four-lane tubing hill. The tubing hill was closed when we visited during the spring, so if you’re going to Snowbasin for tubing, be sure to check whether or it’s open.
My family of beginning to intermediate skiers stuck to the Little Cat and Becker lifts. In my opinion, the designated green (i.e. beginning) runs from the Becker lift are steeper and longer than most green runs that I’ve seen at other resorts. Furthermore, some of the runs from the Becker lift are narrow with steep drop-offs that may intimidate beginning skiers. Therefore, I would not recommend the Becker lift runs to new skiers that might be overwhelmed or intimidated with the longer, narrow, and steeper runs. Beginners should stick with the Little Cat and practice technique and build confidence.
BOTTOM LINE
I feel as if I’m sharing a secret with you when I recommend Snowbasin ski resort as a wonderful place for families to ski. This resort is simple and convenient, yet luxurious. The mountain is beautiful, the snow is powdery, the lift lines are short……and the tourists are all 35 miles away. It doesn’t get better than that!
Disclosure: Although I received complimentary lift tickets, my reviews are always my own opinions and are not influenced by resort staff or its affiliates.
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"Not just for skiing"
We love heading up to Snowbasin during the warmer months. They have a fun disk golf course, lots of trails to hike or bike, a stream with a picnic table and a small exhibit in the Lodge. My favorite time is to go up at the beginning of fall. The kids love collecting all the colorful leaves and running around getting lots of energy out.
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"Best Snow on Earth"
Snow Basin is one of the best places to ski in my opinion. They have tons of hill and it seems like it always has fresh powder. They are very quick with the lifts to so you never have to wait in line very long. Even on a very busy day, it feels like you are one of the only ones there because of how big this resort is. I would highly recommend going to Snow Basin if you are looking for a place to go ski.
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