Going up? Utah’s complete uphill guide 2024-25

Friends climb up Alta Ski Resort on November 14, 2024. Photo: Marina Knight // TownLift

Here's all the beta you need to (asc)send it uphill this season

PARK CITY, Utah – As powder-filled peaks beckon and uphill skiing grows in popularity, local resorts are rolling out their options for uphill ski access this season. Whether you’re catching the sunrise or lapping groomers for fitness, uphill access is carving a niche alongside traditional resort skiing in the Wasatch.

Utah Olympic Park to open for uphill in 2024-25 season

The Utah Olympic Park is the latest venue to welcome ski touring. After more than a year of discussions, officials are ready to open a dedicated route on West Peak. For the 2024-25 season, they will offer a limited number of season passes, with three routes available during daytime hours.

Although the UOP has not put the passes up for sale yet, the UOP’s Director of Marketing, Melanie Welch, said to keep an eye out on their website and they will go on sale around December 1. Officials estimate the season pass will cost between $200-250, though the final price has not been set.

Stay tuned for additional details.

Park City Mountain Resort 

Park City Mountain Resort will again be opening for uphill in the 2024-25 season. At one point last year, future access became dicey when people started breaking the rules and resort officials threatened to shut it down. But this week, Communications Manager Emily McDonald said PCMR will  be opening in mid-December for another season of uphill.

Here are the rules to abide by when skinning up the dedicated uphill route – Homerun.

• Uphill travel is permitted on the Park City base side from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. on the designated route only from December 15 until closing day.
• The designated route is from the bottom of First Time Lift, up Homerun to the Angle Station.
• There is NO uphill travel beyond the Angle Station.
• There is NO uphill travel on the Canyons Village base side.

Alta

Alta Ski Area closed its early season uphill access on November 15, but access to Grizzly Gulch and Catherine’s Pass will remain open via the Summer Road. Parking reservations begin December 13, which you will need in order to park at Alta to ski uphill.

Beaver Mountain

Beaver allows uphilll skiing with restrictions outside lift operating hours but travelers must descend by 9:00 a.m. Uphill travel is restricted to a designated route: Start at Rock Garden, ascend The Ridge to the Face Lift, and continue on D-Street to Harry’s Dream Lift. Uphill travelers must follow safety rules, such as avoiding stopping in areas with poor visibility. More details about Beaver’s uphill policy can be found on their website.

Brighton

Uphill travel is allowed with restrictions at Brighton Resort, which is located at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Brighton’s Safety Page outlines a red, yellow, green stoplight policy for both operational and non-operational hours.

When uphill has the green light skiers during operational hours skiers can ascend via two different routes between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. One route provides access to backcountry terrain via Catherine’s pass. The other route is from the base up to Twin Lakes Pass.

When uphill has the green light, skiers can ascend via Great Western and Millicent, but only during non-operational hours. There is no skiing on freshly groomed runs (up or down). Officials ask uphillers be respectful of Snow Cat operations and follow all instructions.

Cherry Peak

Uphill travel at Cherry Peak is Allowed on “green days’ from 4:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. The uphill travel status is posted on Cherry Peak’s Mountain Conditions page at 6:30 a.m. daily to alert guests if the conditions are green or red.

The only night-time uphill access offered at Cherry Peak is during the full moon each month. Uphill travel is only open to skiers, snowboarders, and snow shoes – fat bikes are not allowed.

The designated uphill route (you also have to ski back down it) is Long Mosey.

Eagle Point

Backcountry terrain in the Tushar Mountains can be accessed through Eagle Point‘s backcountry gate above the Monarch Lift, with parking available at the Skyline Lodge parking lot. Uphill travel is permitted on Big Horn only and there is no uphill fee.

Once through the backcountry gate skiers enter the Fishlake National Forest—there is no avalanche control beyond that point. You may re-enter through the gate and ski back down to your vehicle or, due to terrain shape, near the bottom of the Monarch Lift and skin back up to the parking lot.

Nordic Valley:

Nordic Valley’s uphill policy allows skiers to access terrain during operating hours and during hours when the lifts are closed too. Uphilll travel rules at Nordic Valley restricts skiers to designated cat tracks, and participants must use backcountry touring skis—no bootpacking or off-piste tracks allowed.

Old Barn, Viking Highway, Wasatch, and Lolly Lolly Lolly are the designated cat tracks to use for uphill.

Visitors must park in Lot 2 and sign off on the uphill policy at the ticket window (open at 9 a.m.). Check the snow report page for the current access status (green or red light).

Powder Mountain:

Powder Mountain only allows uphill travel in designated areas and along approved routes, but only if you have a lift ticket or a season pass. Uphill travel is permitted in the Lefty’s Ski Canyon, James Peak, Lightning Ridge, and Baldy.

Terrain must be open for skiing and riding and may not be accessed when closed or outside resort operating hours.

Snowbasin:

Snowbasin is continuing to show support for the uphill community and this year the mountain has expanded its uphill offerings. In addition to an early morning route, a daytime uphill route will return below the base of Strawberry Gondola. It’ll be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day as conditions allow.

To participate in uphill travel at Snowbasin, a free access pass is required. Just fill out a waiver online and head to the Meadow Yurt to pick up an armband that will let mountain ops know you are good to go.

A morning route is open from 4 a.m.-8a.m. and allows skiers to hike up all the way to Needles Lodge via specified routes on “green” days. On “yellow” days uphillers have access to the base of Middle Bowl Express. Check the conditions page to see if it is a green, yellow or red day.

Snowbasin also allows uphill access between 6:00pm and 8:30am, but only on nights with a full moon.

Solitude:

Weather and conditions permitting, uphill travel is allowed at Solitude 7 days a week from 4:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. (starting March 10) to 10:00 p.m. on designated routes in the areas of Moonbeam, Link, and Sunrise chairlifts. Visit their uphill page for terrain status and conditions prior to each visit. Uphill travel will not be permitted until the majority of the mountain is open, snowmaking has been completed up in the uphill areas, and as determined by mountain operations and ski patrol.

Sundance, Snowbird, Deer Valley and Brian Head: Nope

Uphill skiing is not allowed at any time of the day or night at Deer Valley, Brian Head , Snowbird or Sundance…bummer.

Safety First: Know before you go

Uphill travel policies vary by resort in Utah, with each setting its own guidelines for safety and operational reasons. Resorts have the legal authority to regulate or restrict uphill access on their premises, whether located on private land or National Forest Service property. These policies are designed to manage the increasing popularity of uphill travel within resort boundaries and to prevent conflicts with essential operations like grooming and avalanche mitigation. Policies are subject to change, so it’s essential for skiers and snowboarders to stay informed and comply with the latest rules.

The Utah Avalanche Center offers a summary of these policies as a resource for the public, but it’s always a good idea to contact individual resorts directly with questions or for the most up-to-date information.