Brian Head Resort Targets November 7 Start to Claim Utah’s First Opening

Brian Head Resort, Utah’s southernmost ski area, has set its opening date for the 2025-26 ski season on November 7, a week earlier than Solitude Mountain Resort’s recent November 14 announcement. This move ties last season’s early opening date, where Brian Head welcomed skiers an hour after Solitude turned its lifts, marking a continued effort to reclaim the earliest season start title in the state.

Brian Head first led the state in early openings with its historic November 4, 2022 start, thanks to its high base elevation of 9,600 feet and expanded snowmaking capabilities, which have enabled extended seasons and early openings.

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The resort offers daily lift tickets starting from $14 to $23 for November—a 26% decrease year-on-year—with season passes available to secure the best rates early. Brian Head is part of Mountain Capital Partners’ portfolio and is included on the Power Pass multi-resort season pass, which also includes Arizona Snowbowl, Purgatory, Colorado, and Valle Nevado, Chile.

The resort has invested over $1.4 million to enhance the guest experience, including upgraded snowmaking, new rental equipment, and an improved Bypass Terrain Park. Thanks to its high elevation at 9,600 feet and these strategic investments in snowmaking, the resort aims to provide 184 skiable days during the 2025-26 season. Last winter Brian Head opened with daily operations starting on November 8, 2024, and ending on May 11, 2025, for a record-setting 181 skiable days.

Brian Head is undertaking a major expansion that will nearly triple its terrain footprint. The plan, now under environmental review by the U.S. Forest Service, proposes adding 1,651 acres of Dixie National Forest and private land to increase the Special Use Permit boundary from 887 to 2,538 acres. The project features 26 new lifts, over 382 acres of new trails, 19 miles of new snowmaking infrastructure, 15 miles of new roads, and four on-mountain dining venues. If approved, the resort’s capacity would jump from about 4,300 to over 13,000 guests, promising to make Brian Head one of the largest skiing destinations in the West.

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This ambitious plan also aims to enhance beginner terrain, improve access between bases, and elevate the overall guest experience. The expansion is projected to be finalized by 2028 after public comment and environmental analysis.

For more information, visit BrianHead.com.