Skiing In Utah: A MapQuest Guide

Skiing in Utah is very popular, and with good reason. The ample snowfall, dry desert air and fantastic sunshine makes for long seasons with excellent conditions. It's tough to whittle all the state's great resorts down to a shortlist, so we've devoted a separate guide to Park City destinations.

Alta Ski Resort

Although Alta's ban on snowboarding has inspired some choice words from critics, not every snowboarder sees it as a insult. Of course, skiing purists continue to love the resort, as they have since it was founded in 1939. Alta's 2,200 skiable acres are home to 115 trails that receive more than 500 inches of snow every season, according to The Huffington Post. And since the resort issues a limited number of lift tickets per day, skiers can count on that snow being fresh, uncrowded and untracked.

Trails at Alta are divided more or less evenly by level of difficulty, which means that skiers of all aptitudes, from novices to experts, can own piece of the mountain -- although one quick look at a trail map reveals how segregated those pieces can be. Guests can also book backcountry tours of the resort's terrain via snowcat or helicopter.

Utah Ski & Snowboard Resorts Map

Click pinpoints for driving directions.

Powder Mountain

With a name like Powder Mountain, it's got to be worth checking out. Home to more than 7,000 acres skiable land, (including 4,000 acres of snowcat- and guide-serviced backcountry) Powder Mountain has more turf to explore than any other ski resort in the United States.

According to The Huffington Post, the resort offers night skiing every night during its season, which typically runs from November to April. Skiers and riders can explore 135 marked trails and two terrain parks in the resort's lift-served areas, and first-time visitors can attend a free orientation to help them get acquainted with the lay of the land. If there were an orientation for the resort's insanely complex trail map, we'd recommend taking that class, too.

WATCH: Powder Glades Via Snowcat, Powder Mountain

Sundance

If star power sells a resort, then Sundance has got clout to spare. A-list owner Robert Redford's eco-friendly practices, cultural endeavors and love of skiing have found a more than appropriate home at this Provo area resort. But Hollywood glitz alone can't make a mountain. It takes 450 acres of diverse terrain, tasteful amenities and more than 320 inches of natural snowfall to please high-end skiers and snowboarders. Fortunately, Sundance has all of that and more.

Brighton Resort

A favorite among locals for family-friendly skiing and riding, Brighton Resort's terrain is forgiving, easily accessible and blanketed by more than 500 inches of fresh snow every season. The resort maintains 66 named runs, plus additional backcountry terrain. Brighton boasts the most night skiing available in Utah (200 acres), and even keeps its terrain park open after dark.

Want more information about great Utah ski resorts? Check out The Huffington Post's coverage of Snowbasin and Wolf Creek.

Did we miss your favorite ski and snowboard resort in Utah? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

Plan your next winter getaway with MapQuest's ski resort guides for winter travel destinations in the U.S. and Canada.