Report from December 10, 2025

Wednesday was my first-ever day at Snowbasin ski resort in Utah.

The drive from Park City took me the same amount of time that it takes me to get to Alta (about 1 hour), but it was all easy freeway driving and no traffic whatsoever.

I parked right up front and jumped on the gondola.

The Needles Gondola is 2,500 vertical feet and serves up long rolling terrain perfect for getting early-season legs strong.

It was warm on Wednesday, and the entire mountain was lightly slushed and skiing excellently.

They had a ton open and to my surprise, a lot of off-piste.

I rode the gondola with a local legend named Bob, who pointed me into Pork Chop under the gondola, and I lapped it.

Fun, steep mogul section that dumps you right out onto the groomer for a roller coaster ride right back to the gondola base.

2,500 vertical feet of whoop-di-doo skiing felt so good.

The Middle Bowl Express chair also treated me well,l delivering access to everything the gondola gets you to but cutting out the lowest section of the mountain.

Almost everyone I met lived in Ogden and raved about Snowbasin’s terrain, snow, and lack of crowds.

The 2002 Olympic Downhill was held here…

Riding the Middle Bowl Express. Image: SnowBrains

I yearn to come back when the entire mountain is open, and I can explore the resort, the sidecountry, and Hell’s Canyon.

I’ve now skied Snowbird, Deer Valley, & Snowbasin this season so far and they all have something fun to offer but Snowbasin by far had the most and best off-piste terrain thus far.

I’ll be reporting from Alta and Park City this weekend to round out our Utah offerings and give you a full picture of what’s happening on the ground out here.

Thanks, Utah!