Utah's 15 ski resorts don't just hibernate in the summer months. As the snow melts, wildflowers bloom and people from all walks of life return to the mountains to eat, play, and explore. The summer activities and happenings during the summer have become just as anticipated as those during the ski season, and there are endless opportunities to take advantage of. Better yet? No one mountain does summer exactly the same. Here’s what you need to know, and should have on your radar, when planning a trip to a ski resort this summer.
Alta
You might not find a swarm of summer activities or a heavy-hitting event lineup during the summer at Alta Ski Area, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be on your radar. The mountain largely goes quiet once the winter ends, but the wildflowers and hiking are spectacular, and new this summer is an entire lineup of Alta Summer Stewardship Events. These events allow you to get involved in the environmental stewardship of Little Cottonwood Canyon while enjoying a place in the summer that brings so much winter joy.
Join the fun, here.
Brian Head
Don’t sleep on Brian Head this summer. From their all-new batting cages, tried-and-true hiking trails, tubing, an incredible disc golf course, and plentiful mountain bike trails, this southern Utah mountain has it all. If the drive to Brian Head is what’s keeping you away, take advantage of their Free Lodging Package that gives you a free night’s stay paired with a mountain bike ticket. To top it off, the resort is a quick drive to some of Utah’s most beloved National Parks.
Check out summer at Brian Head, here.
Brighton
Summer events are the highlight of summer at Brighton. While the mountain steers away from an activities center, a lineup of summer fun exists with live music every weekend and a brand new Sunday brunch offered at the Milly Chalet. Enjoy the cooler mountain air, dance to live music, explore their hiking trails and take it all in. And new this summer, ride the chair and hike down Friday–Sunday at Brighton!
Learn more, here.
Cherry Peak
Check out their music offerings and plan a trip outside the norm, here.
Deer Valley
While Deer Valley Resortis known for its exquisite grooming, service, and food in the winter months, the resort truly comes alive, along with the wildflowers, in the summer. The question isn’t what is there to do, but what isn’t there? Offering a wide array of summer activities such as guided horseback riding, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, a brand-new creative academy that offers culinary and craft courses, and of course, over 70 miles of mountain bike trails, there are endless ways to stay entertained.
But their offerings go beyond the day-to-day. They double down with a stacked events lineup via the Deer Valley® Music Festival, Deer Valley Concert Series, and the return of their Deer Valley Mountain Beer Festival.
Learn more about what to do at Deer Valley this summer, here.
Nordic Valley
While this mountain keeps it low key during the summer, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. This year, Nordic Valley has brought back mountain biking for all to enjoy. All mountain biking at Nordic Valley is at your own risk, with no lift-serviced biking and very limited facilities available. Explore these new trails and enjoy the peace of going at your own pace. Information is not available on their website, though they have been providing updates via their Instagram. Nordic Valley recommends looking at trails via the Trail Fork app.
Park City Mountain
Park City Mountain comes alive in the warmer months with a myriad of summer activities that cater to all ages and interests. Thrill-seekers will find their heart's desire with the exhilarating alpine slide and zip lines that whisk you through the stunning mountain scenery. For a more relaxed adventure, take a scenic chairlift ride and immerse yourself in the breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks and wildflower-laden valleys. Mountain biking enthusiasts will be in paradise with a diverse network of trails catering to riders of all skill levels. Park City also hosts a robust lineup of summer events and music including the Canyons Village Music Series, Forum Fest, or the weekly summer Farmers Market on Wednesdays.
Check out summer at Park City, here.
Powder Mountain
Hiking, biking, and dining are the name of the game at Powder Mountain in the summer. Unique experiences like Guided UTV Tours balance out the expected like breathtaking hikes among the mountain’s scenic vistas. New last summer, Powder Mountain has opened for lift-accessed mountain biking from Thursday–Sunday each week, offering over 10 miles of bike trails, with 3–4 new trails being built this summer. Round out your day with Mexican bites at the Hidden Lake Hub, ideal for fueling up or winding down alongside live music and yard games.
Plan your trip, here.
Snowbasin
There is no shortage of things to do at Snowbasin Resort once the snow melts. Take the family out to enjoy an 18-hole mini golf course, enjoy live music and drinks with friends at their Blues and Brews or SnowWiesn Oktoberfest events, or enjoy gondola-accessible mountain biking on the weekends. The cherry on top? An all-you-can-eat mountaintop brunch at Needles Lodge, where you can take in views from 8,700’ while starting your day.
Learn more, here.
Snowbird
While Snowbird is known for its steeps and deeps in the winter, the mountain is known for its Scenic Tram rides and Oktoberfest in the summer. Snowbird has over 20 different summer activities available, though this summer the must-do activity is the Summer Scenic Tram Rides—now enhanced with the addition of North America’s only Tram rooftop balconies. The balconies, brand new this summer, rest atop both the red and blue Trams, giving riders a 360-degree view of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Then, from mid-August to mid-September, enjoy one of Utah’s largest Oktoberfest celebrations each weekend at The Bird.
Find new heights, here.
Solitude Mountain Resort
Located just a scenic drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon, Solitude offers a wide range of summer activities all season long. Their Adventure Park offers rock climbing, a bungee trampoline, and a new bounce house and mining sluice for those 4 years of age and up, while an 18-hole disc golf course offers a leisurely escape into nature. Solitude offers a number of summer events but Solitude Summer Fest, on August 6, is the one to make, with music, food, a beer garden, and much more. Finally, while Solitude currently offers lift-serviced mountain biking from Thursday - Sunday, the mountain is working with the renowned Gravity Logic team to open a handful of new mountain bike trails this fall—the opening date is still TBD.
Explore summer at Solitude, here.
Sundance Mountain Resort
Summer at Sundance Mountain Resort can be described as idyllic. The resort plays host to a number of activities, like mountain biking, zipline tours, and scenic chair lift rides, while also offering fine dining experiences, a summer theatre, and a plethora of incredible hikes. This summer Sundance has unveiled a new trail—the Pahneekahvets Trail—a beautiful 1.25-mile hike with a special guidebook available online to teach you about the history of the local Native American tribes, flora, and fauna.
Discover new trails, here.
Woodward Park City
The same action-driven fun that Woodward Park City is known for in the winter transforms and is amplified in the summer. Terrain parks go through a metamorphosis, swapping rails and jumps designed for skiing for berms and rollers ideal for their lift-serviced mountain bike park. Progression Parks are placed throughout the mountain to take those just learning to mountain bike from beginner to expert at their own pace. The campus’ outdoor skatepark comes alive, while the indoor facility remains primed for skating, biking, trampoline practice, foam pits and more. Memberships come in the form of All-Access (everything) or just the Mountain Park, while day tickets are available for the Indoor Hub, All-Access, or Bike Park, which offers a Twilight Ticket—perfect for an after-work or after-school ride.
