Ski the Greatest Snow on Earth®

Sponsored by the Utah Office of Tourism

Welcome to Winter in Utah. Many places lay claim to great skiing. But only one owns the Greatest Snow on Earth®. That designation belongs to Utah, which averages an incredible 500 inches of snow annually. It’s been a great 2023-’24 ski season in Utah, where some ski areas have already received nearly 500″ of snow (Alta has received over 500″.)

February brought significant snow to Utah, with a number of ski resorts seeing more than 100″ of snow, while Miracle March has delivered, too. This week brought nearly two feet of snow to several of Utah’s Wasatch resorts, with more on the way. It’s a great time to plan your Utah ski trip and experience the Greatest Snow on Earth®.

What exactly makes skiing and riding in Utah one of the most celebrated ski experiences in the world? Its science, variety, and convenience. 

The Greatest Snow on Earth® 

More than a tagline, The Greatest Snow on Earth® describes the unique climate conditions of Utah’s Wasatch Range, making it one of the snowiest American regions. Utah’s famous powder is the byproduct of storms out of the northwest, in which warm, moist air is followed by cold air, helping create the low-density snow that skiers’ and snowboarders’ dreams are made of. It makes Utah a powder playground.  

Utah Is Why Winter Exists 

Utah is home to 15 ski resorts, most of which are in Northern Utah and a short drive from Salt Lake City. These resorts range from the Cottonwood Canyons — including Alta, Brighton, Snowbird, and Solitude — to Park City, home to Deer Valley and Park City Mountain. Closer to Ogden are Nordic Valley, Powder Mountain, and Snowbasin, while Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort is in Provo. And don’t sleep on Southern Utah’s Brian Head and Eagle Point. With so many world-class ski resorts, it’s no wonder why Utah was home to the 2002 Winter Olympics. 

Convenience And Accessibility  

Nowhere in the world has access to powder and world-class ski resorts like Utah does, with 10 ski resorts located within an hour of Salt Lake City International Airport. In some cases, especially with the Wasatch Range resorts, you don’t even need a car. Just take a cab or rideshare or utilize Utah’s convenient shuttle and bus system. The Salt Lake City-area UTA Ski Bus and Cottonwood Connect services all four Cottonwood Canyon resorts; the Ogden-area UTA Ski Bus runs to Powder Mountain and Snowbasin; the Provo-area UTA Ski Bus shuttles to Sundance; and the PC-SLC Connect services Park City-area resorts. 

Know Before You Go 

1. Stay slopeside at ski resorts. Many Utah ski resorts boast slopeside lodging, which makes skiing and riding that much more convenient.  
2. Ski during the week—or in the afternoons. The best time to ski in Utah is midweek, and after 1 p.m. on weekends, when crowds are small, and parking is more accessible.  
3. Carpool or take the bus. Help cut down on traffic, and save money on gas and parking, by carpooling or taking the bus. 
4. Monitor traffic, road conditions, and resort openings/closures. Plan your trip accordingly. Roads to resorts may close due to unsafe driving conditions, natural avalanches, or avalanche mitigation efforts. Check current conditions — weather, traffic reports, snow reports — often.  

Start planning your trip at visitutah.com/welcome-to-winter. 

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