At first blush, there’s plenty about Brian Head Resort that’s counter-intuitive ... and lots to make a person pause to fully grasp.
Try this one: Brian Head is the southernmost ski and snowboard mountain in Utah, yet it was the first to open this season, on Nov. 4. A fortuitous combination of southern-trending storms and a strong snowmaking system put down two feet of base -- enough to open a high-speed chairlift and a couple of runs for the first couple of weekends of the season.
But there’s more.
Despite its southerly location, Brian Head has over the years gotten as much snow as any resort in Utah. The summit elevation at the top of Giant Steps Express chair is 10,930 feet -- among the highest lifts in the state, rivaling Snowbird (11,000) and Alta (10,549). And, Brian Head’s base elevation of 9,699 feet above sea level is at least 1,000 feet higher than any other ski resort in the Beehive State.
So, if winter storm paths cooperate, Brian Head can catch as much of that light, desert-dry powder snow known as The Greatest Snow on EarthTM as its more renowned neighbors to the north. If winter Pacific storms sag to the south after dropping wet “cement” snow on the Sierra and drying out over the Great Basin, some of the first mountain peaks they encounter are the Cedar Mountains in southwestern Utah -- home to Brian Head. There, the moisture-laden clouds rise up, condense and dump. Often, Brian Head gets more than 400 inches of total snowfall in a season.
Base camp for getaway
Insiders call Brian Head a “hidden gem,” both because of its distance from major population centers and its eminently skiable terrain. One regular characterized the terrain as “steep, mellow, steep, mellow.” Long lift lines are rare, but powder days keep coming and coming throughout the season that often lasts into April. There’s ample acreage for every level of skier and rider, and the trail map divides out nicely among green, blue and black areas. Regulars and visitors say it feels like they have their own personal mountain to ski and ride without hassle.
Another plus for Brian Head is that it’s only a three-hour ride from Las Vegas, Nev. For years, gamblers who ski have combined the bright lights of casinos with the natural beauty of Brian Head. Acar rental or bus ride spans the 200 miles between The Strip and Utah’s highest ski and snowboard mountain.
And then ... there’s the views.
Brian Head rises up on a narrow ridge of alpine forests and snow-capped peaks, but the surrounding landscape is the highly eroded, red-rock country of the Colorado Plateau. The massive Hurricane Fault cracked the Earth’s crust to the west, marking the eastern edge of the Great Basin and pushing up the Cedar Mountains where Brian Head resides.
The scenics from Brian Head of the canyon country are drop-dead gorgeous -- seemingly out of place for a Rocky Mountain ski area. The stair-stepped ruddy-red amphitheater of Cedar Breaks National Monument is just down the road, easily seen from Brian Head’s high ground. In the winter, snowfall sharply outlines the cliffs and towers inside the monument.
Furthermore, you don’t have to go far to marvel at some of the best that the American Southwest has to offer. The mile-deep slice of the Grand Canyon; the stark blue waters of Lake Powell; the red, orange and white hoodoos towers of Bryce National Park; and, the deep canyon at Zion National Park are all within easy driving distance. The soaring red-rock towers of Monument Valley can be had as well.
That’s why Brian Head sees itself as a “base camp” for a getaway that is as unusual as you can get: the mountain slopes, the slick-rock country and the Las Vegas Strip. A couple of days skiing and riding at Brian Head, then hop in the car for a couple of days sightseeing around some of America’s most iconic countryside. All within reach of the overnight accommodations at and near the ski resort.
The Mountain
A pair of base lodges bracket the Navajo and Grand Steps base areas at Brian Head. Both have parking, as well as food, beverages, rentals and other guest services. Each has its own dedicated tubing park.
Lifts start at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. on weekends and during holiday periods. Aside from the unlimited access of the Power Pass, all-day, half-day and multi-day tickets can be bought at the hill or online. For regular visitors, the free Brian Head Passport can be reloaded prior to arrival, eliminating the need to go to a ticket window for a day ticket. Brian Head keeps Chair 3 running on Fridays and Saturdays for night skiing. Tubing breaks out into 1.5-hour sessions, four times a day.
Brian Head’s skiable terrain encompasses 650 acres with a maximum vertical drop of 1,548 feet. About of third of that is served by snowmaking. Two high-speed four-seater chairlifts -- one each at the two base areas -- and six regular-speed chairlifts provide uphill transport. Three moving-carpet surface lifts serve beginners.
With 71 runs, the trail map divides evenly among easiest, intermediate and advanced trails. The longest is Each has its own mountain area:
- Navajo Mountain has the bulk of the green runs at the resort. Navajo has its own parking lot, and that’s where beginning and easy-going skiers and riders should head. The ski school headquarters here, and prides itself in instruction for never-evers and novice skiers and snowboarders. Warm up on the gentle, wide-open slopes of the Pioneer double chair -- First Time lives up to its name -- before catching the high-speed Navajo Express chair up to acres of longer runs. Navajo and Paradise are gentle, leisurely and lengthy green runs. The backside of Navajo offers a half-dozen blue groomers that end up crossing the access road on a “ski bridge” into other base area.
- Grand Steps Mountain is where the “other half” lives: the cruisers, the mogul hoppers and the steep-and-deep powderhounds. The high-speed Grand Steps Express quickly delivers skiers and riders to the 10,900-foot summit. From there, the choices are plentiful as to where to head downhill. Dive off into the short plunges of Bristlecone Bowl, The Wave and Lookout, or get the knees a-burnin’ on The Plunge, Engens and Grand Steps. Sample the menu of groomers to skier’s right, like Sunburst or Bear Paw. Or head further to the ski area boundary where you’ll find another stash the “steep, mellow” mix of expert runs through the trees and winding blues off Roulette triple chair. Below that, the pitch levels off and is home to the Overtime freestyle terrain and Brian Head’s terrain park.
Get there, stay there
All of this variety of downhill skiing and snowboarding is a four-hour drive from Salt Lake City down I-15. Take the Parowan exit. From there, it’s about a half-hour drive to the mountain. Cedar City is a 40-minute drive from Brian Head, with a regular shuttle service available. St. George is a bit more than an hour away.
Las Vegas, Nev., with its international airport and abundance of public transportation, is a three-hour ride from the slopes. Los Angeles and Phoenix are each seven hours away. One flight a day at St. George Regional Airport runs to and from Salt Lake or Phoenix.
The primary lodging at Brian Head is the Best Western Premier Hotel. Recently remodeled, this rustic-themed hotel offers standard and luxury rooms and suites, hot tubs, massage and relaxation spaces. Buy a ticket online the day before you arrive, and you get a free night at the Best Western.
There’s also a number of cabins, condos and vacation rentals sprinkled around the mountain. The scenic Cedar Breaks Lodge is a 10-minute drive away from the chairlifts, and Cedar City has a wide choice of overnight accommodations.
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/OrqcwH5
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