Utah resorts make mixed showing in SKI Magazine’s 2026 reader rankings

Utah's Snowbasin Resort ranked 3rd in the West for 2026 by SKI Magazine. Photo: Rachel Ayotte

PARK CITY, Utah — Utah ski areas earned several spots in SKI Magazine’s 2026 “Top 30 Resorts in the West,” based on an annual reader survey that evaluates resorts across multiple categories including snow quality, terrain, lifts, lodging, and overall value.

The rankings, published October 27, reflect how readers rated resorts they visited during the 2023–24 season. The survey covers 18 criteria in total, with greater weight given to skiing-related factors such as snow, terrain, challenge, lifts, and grooming. Lifestyle categories — like dining, family experience, and après-ski — are also considered but carry less influence. Respondents are required to have visited a resort before reviewing it, and SKI uses duplicate-response safeguards to prevent vote stacking, according to the publication.

Utah Resorts in the Top 30

Here are the Utah resorts that made the list this year:

• Snowbasin – No. 3
  Last year, Snowbasin ranked No. 1 in the minds of Ski readers, but its top-3 showing this year shows it’s still a top contender. The basin earned props for its free and easy parking and on-hill experience. It earned top 5 scores in lifts, grooming, guest service, dining, and terrain variety.

• Alta Ski Area – No. 6
  Readers praised Alta for its snow quality, challenge, and terrain variety. The publication noted its traditional, skier-only model continues to appeal to dedicated skiers.

• Deer Valley – No. 9
  Deer Valley climbed five spots into the top 10 from last year, earning praise for its perfectly groomed terrain and what readers called an “effortless” vacation experience.

• Snowbird – No. 14
  Snowbird scored high for snow and expert terrain, though readers gave lower marks for grooming and lift lines.

• Solitude Mountain Resort – No. 26
  Solitude was described as a quieter, more affordable alternative to larger destinations. It earned positive ratings for value and access but received lower scores for après-ski options.
• Powder Mountain – No. 27
  Powder was given props for it’s vibe and relatively empty runs, “4,200 lift-served acres and even more sidecountry laps accessed by hiking or snowcat—the place is simply never too busy,” editors said.

• Park City Mountain Resort – No. 30
  The region’s largest resort rounded out the list, recognized for its terrain variety and proximity to town. Respondents cited congestion and lift operations as areas needing improvement.

A Range of Strengths and Challenges

The rankings suggest that Utah resorts continue to perform well in categories tied to snow quality and terrain, while areas such as lift infrastructure and value remain points of concern among survey respondents.

SKI Magazine’s editors note that the results are based entirely on reader feedback and are not influenced by resort advertising or partnerships. The full list and methodology are available at skimag.com.