Nordic Valley, UT Set to Debut New Lift, Terrain Expansion

Nordic Valley, Utah is growing. While most ski resorts have put capital expenditures such as terrain expansion and new lifts on hold, Nordic Valley is forging ahead with big plans for the upcoming winter season.

Nordic Valley is located just outside Eden, Utah, right between Snowbasin to the south and Powder Mountain to the north. The resort encompasses 140 acres, spread across 23 runs, and 3 chairlifts. Compared to other Utah ski resorts, Nordic Valley is on the smaller side, but is looking to expand.

Mountain Capital Partners took over the daily operations of Nordic Valley in 2018 and immediately set about modernizing and expanding the ski resort. For the winter 20/21 season, Nordic Valley is installing a brand-new high speed detachable 6-person chairlift in addition to 50 acres of new skiable terrain. The lift will be built just south of the current ski resort boundary, on private land on the eastern flank of Lewis Peak. Eventually, the terrain expansion will cover 300 skiable acres of all terrain varieties.

Lift Details + Terrain Expansion Overview

• Leitner Poma high speed detachable 6-person chairlift
• 1,400 ft elevation gain
• 2-minute lift ride (1,000 ft per minute)
• 300 acres of new skiable terrain
• Additional snowmaking infrastructure

Further down the line, Nordic Valley plans an even bigger expansion. Mountain Capital Partners introduced a master development plan of 40 new runs on 100 skiable acres, with an additional 200 skiable acres of gladed tree runs. There were even talks of a 4.3-mile gondola that would connect Nordic Valley with the town of North Ogden, just over the ridgeline to the west of the ski resort. Nordic Valley remains hopeful of the proposed gondola, however local opposition has made those plans seem less and less likely.

There are always pros and cons to ski resort expansions. How do the locals and the surrounding community feel about it? What will the impact on wildlife be? Will prices and crowds increase? How about the family-friendly atmosphere? Will a new skier base change the vibe of the resort? Only time will tell. Best of luck to Nordic Valley as they embark on this new project, and their grand plans for the future.