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Brian Head has skiing on two peaks. Navajo Peak has some of the best beginner and lower intermediate terrain to be found anywhere, while Giant Steps Peak has solid intermediate terrain with a few advanced pitches. In midwinter, the resort offers double-black-diamond snowcat skiing from Brian Head Peak’s summit (11,307 feet), which overlooks Giant Steps. Each snowcat ride costs $5 if you already have a lift ticket (must be age 16 or older). We like this pricing concept, because some folks will discover that one time up is plenty. Here's a trail map. The resort puts a lot of effort into its parks and
pipes. You’ll find a halfpipe, one beginner park, one intermediate
park and one advanced/expert park, as well as isolated terrain features
scattered across the mountain. The parks contain at least 30 terrain
features, including rails, funboxes and jumps. Child care starts at 6 weeks. A tubing hill is open daily, and also at night every Friday and Saturday, plus during holiday periods. Brian Head also has night skiing on weekends and holidays. However, this is a quiet area in the evenings. The town has several condo complexes, restaurants and a hotel. A complete adaptive ski program in all six disciplines is offered by the Brian Head Winter Sports School. Cost for a 2-1/2 hour lesson is $79, including lift ticket and equipment rental. Call 435-677-2049 for more information. Lift tickets (2006/07 prices): Adults, $40
($47 holidays); children (6-12) and seniors (65+), $27 ($32 holidays);
ages 5 and younger, free with paying adult. Distance from Las Vegas: About 200 miles north by I-15 and Hwy. 143. Distance from Salt Lake City: About 4 hours
south via I-15 and Hwy. 143. Lodging information: (800) 272-7426; www.brianheadutah.com. Photo courtesy of Brian Head Resort |
Brian
Head, in Utah’s southwest corner near Bryce and Zion national
parks, holds two distinctions among Utah resorts: It is one of very
few not within an hour of Salt Lake City airport, and it draws virtually
all its customers from Southern California and Southern Nevada.
For these skiers, Brian Head is very accessible (all freeway until
the last 12 miles) and has an excellent variety of mostly intermediate
terrain covered by that famous dry Utah powder.
