This U.S. Ski Resort Has Excellent Snow, No Crowds, and Lift Tickets Under $50-All Near 2 Iconic National Parks

"Brian Head Resort felt like a skier's dream come true. Sitting at the highest base elevation in Utah at a whopping 9,600 feet, the mountain boasts ideal snow conditions and averages around 360 inches of snowfall each year. I visited the area in February 2025, and as an avid skier who tracks storms like it's my second job, I knew Brian Head was expecting about a foot of fresh snow over the weekend."

"Having skied at most of the state's big-name resorts like Snowbird, Alta, and Brighton, I was surprised by how great the snow was and how empty the mountain felt. As Linda Thompson, manager of Brian Head's Winter Sports School, put it, "Brian Head is much less crowded than most other Utah resorts. One of the main reasons is our location-it takes a little more time to get here.""

Southwestern Utah offers both iconic national parks and a lesser-known ski destination, Brian Head Resort, which sits at a 9,600-foot base elevation and averages about 360 inches of snow annually. The resort receives fewer visitors because it is farther from major airports, with Cedar City as the nearest regional airport, so crowds are mostly local and southern Utah skiers. Frequent heavy snowfall and high elevation produce excellent powder and fresh tracks. The mountain offers 650 skiable acres, 71 trails, and eight chairlifts. The resort provides affordable passes and a relaxed, local atmosphere, appealing to skiers seeking uncrowded terrain.

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