Spring has always been a favorite season for many Utahns, and it's easy to see why. It offers the perfect opportunity for multi-sport weekends, blending the warmth of the desert with the chill of the high alpine. Locals know April as the prime time to enjoy desert escapes, tackle classic ski lines, or combine both.
This year, I had the chance to share this adventure with my husband, a native New Mexican, as we embarked on a three-day weekend trip from Salt Lake City. With countless possibilities, choosing our itinerary was a challenge. Biking in April is typically clear in places like Moab, Farmington, Richfield, St. George and Cedar City, while all of Utah’s ski resorts stay open until at least mid-April, with backcountry options available as well.
Before hitting the road, we sat down to do our favorite pre-trip activity and planned our route using Google Maps. While we were set on skiing at Brian Head Ski Resort near Cedar City, the rest of our trip was wide open. After some map browsing, we settled on starting our adventure at the Pahvant Trail System outside Richfield, UT, conveniently located halfway between Salt Lake and Brian Head. These mountain bike trails, recently rebuilt for directional biking, offer not only a great location but also camping right on the trail system. With a 5:30PM departure from Salt Lake City, we managed to set up camp in Richfield by nightfall.
Our Friday morning kicked off with a quick seven mile ride up Kiln-it and down Big Red. The trails, meticulously maintained, wound their way through flowy sections of single track, manmade bridges, up and over boulders, and picturesque views of snowy peaks and dirt-covered valleys. It was the perfect warm-up before transitioning to our second objective of the day—skiing.
The journey to Brian Head took about two hours. En route, we encountered some unexpected winter weather, typical of Utah spring days, which made for an exciting drive through Parowan up the canyon to Brian Head. Despite the snow, we arrived at the resort by 1PM, picked up lift tickets, and found our campsite conveniently located in the third tier of the Navajo Lodge Parking Lot. By 2PM, we were on the lift, greeted by a welcomed surprise of sunshine peeking through the clouds. The sun revealed the stunning 11,000+ foot peaks surrounding us and the deep red rock valleys below. We spent the rest of the day exploring the mom-and-pop vibe ski hill and soaking in the fixed grip chairs and the beautiful geological features that surround it.
That night, we headed to the Last Chair Grill & Brews, where live music plays every Friday night as we enjoyed a warm and tasty dinner along with a Wasatch & Squatters beer, toasting to a fun-filled day.
The next morning, we woke up to find 5” of fresh snow blanketing our camper. The light, snow easily brushed off our bikes with the most gentle breeze. After brewing coffee in the camper, we clicked into our bindings in the parking lot and headed straight for the chairlift. Local legend Kyle Aldridge greeted us and gave us a tour around the resort, showcasing rock drops through the trees and wind lip lines along the sides of the runs. Kyle was in town for the Brian Head Ski Resort spring carnival, featuring a “Box-Zilla” and a local costume race. Despite not having packed our costumes, the kind staff allowed us to participate in the race. After a few hours of chasing Kyle around his home hill, it was time to head down to warmer, dryer climates.
Our initial plan to ride the Thunder Mountain trail near Panguitch, UT, required revision due to the snow that we received that morning, instead, we pivoted to Capital Reef National Park for the night. Capital Reef has always been a favorite of ours due to its towering red rocks and quaint green orchards. On our drive we traversed Utah's landscape, passing Cedar Breaks National Monument and Butch Cassidy’s Childhood Home, before settling into a camping spot on BLM land near Torrey, UT, not far from the park entrance.
Sunday morning greeted us with clear skies and ideal biking conditions. We took Ziggy for her favorite type of walk—a cruisy ride on a jeep road—playing on the rocks and making the easy ride as technical as we wanted. After about an hour of riding, we decided to head back home to unpack from the trip and prepare for the work week. The drive home from Capitol Reef took us four and a half hours, including a stop for coffee and a pup-cup of whipped cream for Ziggy.
This weekend was just a taste of the endless options for multi-sport trips in Utah in the spring. We have several other ideas planned for next spring and are looking forward to exploring more of beautiful Utah!
