Spring skiing lingers at five Utah resorts after March storm

A skier flies through the air air at Snowbird. Photo: Snowbird

PARK CITY, Utah — As spring takes hold across Utah, most of the state’s lower-elevation ski areas have closed for the season, leaving five higher-altitude resorts still operating.

The remaining open resorts — Snowbird, Alta Ski Area, Brighton Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort and Brian Head Resort — all sit at some of the highest base elevations in the state, helping preserve snowpack later into the season.

In the Wasatch Range, base elevations range from about 7,760 feet at Snowbird to roughly 8,530 feet at Alta and just under 8,000 feet at Solitude, with Brighton in a similar high-alpine band. Brian Head Resort, located in southern Utah, stands apart with the highest base elevation in the state at about 9,600 feet.

That elevation advantage has become more apparent following an early April storm that dropped nearly 30 inches of snow in the upper Cottonwood Canyons, boosting base depths and extending conditions into spring.

Utah’s snowpack is the lowest on record and peaked three weeks early. The state’s peak was on March 9 at 8.4 inches, which is about half of what the state typically receives by the beginning of April.

Alta Ski Area reported a base depth of 86 inches following the late-season storm, while Snowbird reported 72 inches. Snow totals were slightly lower in Big Cottonwood Canyon, home to Brighton Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort.

Closing dates for the remaining resorts stretch into late April and May. Alta is scheduled to close April 26, while Solitude plans to operate through April 29. Brian Head is slated to remain open through May 10 but only has a base depth of 24 inches. Closing dates for Snowbird and Brighton have not yet been announced and will depend on conditions.