Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah, tucked behind Mount Timpanogos, has been called a hidden gem by many. While Utah is known for its world-class ski resorts, with millions flocking to resorts like Park City, Snowbird, and Alta each winter, Sundance is special. It has the essence of a true hometown mountain, situated in arguably the most picturesque spot in the Wasatch range. Though smaller than many of the range’s larger resorts, Sundance feels grand with sweeping views of the valleys below and locally beloved “Mount Timp” towering above. Powder days at Sundance are legendary, receiving an annual snowfall average of 320 inches on exciting terrain that never feels boring. With open bowls, steep tree runs, a terrain park, wide groomers, and abundant snow, Sundance offers something for every skier.
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Sundance is unique in that it’s more than just a ski resort—it’s a community, all thanks to the renowned actor Robert Redford. In 1969, Redford purchased the small ski area formerly known as “Timp Haven,” along with the surrounding land. Consequently, he was able to focus on conservation and conscious development, protecting it from investors eager to fill the canyon with hotels and condos and fulfilling his goal to “develop a little and preserve a great deal.” He renamed the resort after his role in the classic Western film, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” and would later go on to found the world-renowned Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival, which are also based out of Utah, where Redford still resides. Although Sundance had the potential to become a mega-resort like Park City, it has instead persisted as a haven for the arts, locals, and anyone lucky enough to experience its breathtaking natural beauty.
I’ll never forget my first time skiing with my dad and sister at Sundance as a 13-year-old. I felt so thrilled and fell instantly in love with skiing. The next season, I got a Sundance season pass for my birthday, and it became my personal escape—a place to explore and push my limits. It was the first time I had ever felt that kind of freedom. To locals like me, it is home, where many of us, riding the bus up to the mountain after school day after day, discovered ourselves while skiing at Sundance. It’s still a place where I’ll find myself bumping into old friends, making new ones, and taking laps with people I haven’t seen in years. I often hear old neighbors shouting at me from the ski lift as they recognize me, and vice versa.
Sundance was all I knew growing up, but after visiting plenty of world-class ski resorts, I can confidently say Sundance stands out as one of the best. It offers top-tier skiing, jaw-dropping views, and a rare hometown vibe that’s disappearing in the US West. I can only describe it as one of those special places where the entire world seems to slow down while you’re there. You’re lucky if you’ve skied here—it’s a place like no other.
Mountain Stats:
- Skiable area: 540 acres
- Annual snowfall: 320 inches
- Vertical: 2150 feet
- Summit: 8250 feet
- Base: 6100 feet
- Runs: 72
- Beginner runs, 21%
- Intermediate Runs, 32%
- Advanced Runs, 43%
- Expert Runs, 4%
- 6 Lifts
- 3 Rope Tows
