What’s New In Utah’s Ski Resorts This Winter?
Home to 15 ski resorts, few places in the ski world are evolving as rapidly or as ambitiously as Utah. With the 2034 Olympic Winter Games officially returning, the spotlight is on the state’s unmatched mountain access, resort infrastructure and commitment to innovation. The 2025-26 season brings some of the most significant terrain expansions in ski industry history, alongside new lifts, base area redevelopments and elevated guest experiences. As Ski Utah celebrates its 50th anniversary on 3 December 2025, the industry is looking not just at what’s next but at what’s never been done before.
Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley skiing has more than doubled in size, marking the largest resort expansion in ski industry history for the 2025-26 season. This winter, Deer Valley will debut seven new lifts, including the East Village Express, a 10-passenger gondola linking the new East Village to Park Peak. Since December 2024, Deer Valley has added 10 new lifts, reshaping the mountain experience and dramatically increasing access across newly developed terrain. The resort now features 31 total lifts, 202 ski runs, and 4,300 skiable acres. A state-of-the-art automated snowmaking system and an average of 300 inches of annual snowfall ensure consistent snow coverage across the expanded terrain. The Deer Valley East Village will offer 1,200 day-skier parking spaces this ski season. These advancements are part of Deer Valley’s Expanded Excellence initiative, which encompasses more than doubling the resort’s skiable terrain, upgrading key infrastructure, and reimagining Snow Park. For more information, please visit: www.deervalley.com/
Sundance Mountain Resort
The Inn at Sundance Mountain Resort will open its doors this winter, with 63 ski-in, ski-out hotel-style rooms located a snowball's throw from Outlaw Express in the heart of the Resort Village. Featuring expansive views of Mt. Timpanogos, one of Utah's iconic peaks, a covered bridge spans a river running between the two wings. The Inn will also boast an art gallery with one-of-a-kind local and international work, intricate woodwork and architecture, and a rustic throwback vibe. The Wellness Centre will offer daily yoga classes, and skiers will appreciate the ski valet and boot room to store their equipment.
Sundance Mountain Resort is embarking on a two-year mountain expansion, culminating with a new high-speed quad: Electric Horseman Express that will be installed for the 2026-27 season and 150 acres of new terrain, including a new alpine bowl adjacent to Bishop's Bowl. This winter, guests can ski 50 acres of new terrain in the Far East area, as well as a new 1800 vertical foot ridgeline run that offers 360-degree views of the Heber and Utah Valleys. For more information, please visit: www.sundanceresort.com/
Brian Head Resort
Brian Head Resort announced it is investing more than $1.4 million (approx. £1 million) in upgrades for the 2025–26 winter season. Enhancements include expanded snowmaking, new off-piste runs, upgraded rentals, and new ski patrol equipment, all aimed at improving the guest experience and extending the season.
Last winter, the resort set a record with 181 skiable days — the longest season in its 60-year history — thanks to snowmaking and grooming improvements. This year, expanded snowmaking on Navajo Mountain will allow more beginner and intermediate terrain to open earlier and stay open later. Guests will also discover new off-piste terrain on Navajo Mountain. Rental services are being refreshed with more than 400 new skis and 250 snowboards. For more information, please visit: www.brianhead.com
Snowbasin Resort
Snowbasin has executed a full replacement and enhancement of one of the resort’s legendary chairs, Becker Lift, originally installed in 1986. The now high-speed detachable quad will reduce ride time from 12 minutes to under seven and can transport around 1,800 riders every hour. As part of this project, the bottom terminal of Becker will be relocated closer to Wildcat Express, which will also open additional beginner-friendly space at the base.
To further enhance beginner and family skiing and riding, Snowbasin will complete a major regrade of the Bear Hollow trail, one of the resort’s more utilised convergence zones. The result includes a widened trail base, improving visibility, expanding usable space and promoting safer interactions between guests of varying skill levels.
The 2025–26 season will mark the debut of RFID gate access across all base-area lifts at Snowbasin. This hands-free system—compatible with all Snowbasin season passes, day tickets, Mountain Collective, and Ikon passes—will streamline lift entry, reduce wait times by up to 25%, and minimise congestion at base zones. For more information, please visit: www.snowbasin.com
Powder Mountain
Powder Mountain is rolling out major perks for 2025–26 passholders, including eight half-price Buddy Tickets with no blackout dates and early-morning lift access off Hidden Lake on select dates. Passholders will also enjoy 20% off lessons, rentals, retail, and dining, plus a free OpenSnow account, UTA Ski Bus access and unlimited skiing from 9 am to 9 pm.
More public terrain is on its way to Powder Mountain for the 2026-27 season. The resort is in the planning and construction stages of a new triple lift in Wolf Canyon that will offer lift access into the “DMI” area for the first time, providing the opportunity to experience some of the best expert and advanced terrain in Northern Utah. Wide open bowls, prime glades, and expert chutes galore. The new lift will add 900 acres of lift-served and 147 acres of hike-to access, for a total of 1,047 acres of public advanced terrain. The area will remain out of bounds during the 2025/2026 season but those interested in getting a first look and early access to experience some of this new advanced terrain can book a guided backcountry tour through the resort.
Powder Mountain is also expanding its learn-to-ski offerings, with affordable first-time group lessons and private evening lessons under the lights on the Sundown lift.
For more information, please visit: https://powdermountain.com/
The project to realign the Supreme chairlift is on track for completion in time for the 2025-26 season. This summer, Alta Ski Area broke ground on an expansion to the existing Albion Day Lodge. Projected for completion in the 2026-27 ski season, the expansion will provide additional dining space for skiers, a new home for the Alta Java coffee shop, administrative offices and employee housing. Four new Wyssen Towers (RACS) installed in the Devil’s Castle and Sugarloaf Peak area will assist Alta Ski Patrol with avalanche mitigation.
For more information, please visit: www.alta.com/
Brighton is serving up new experiences both on-mountain and at the base. The Waffle House, a new slopeside stop, will dish out golden waffles and warm drinks in the base area. The Snake Creek Gondola Cabins outside Snake Creek Lodge will offer guests private outdoor seating and heated interiors for a scenic, comfortable ride. Snowmaking capabilities in the Snake Creek zone have also been enhanced to ensure improved early-season coverage. Guests can look forward to the Holiday House, a mid-mountain Christmas-themed cabin near Crest 6, with food and beverage service and cozy indoor seating.
For more information, please visit: www.brightonresort.com/
Snowbird's new mid-mountain restaurant, The Nest, offers even more amazing views than its predecessor. Featuring Swiss floor-to-ceiling glass windows on three sides, The Nest delivers breathtaking panoramic views that frame the valley below, along with the surrounding peaks of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Expanded seating, a single-level layout, and conveniently located restrooms make it more accessible than ever.
For more information, please visit: www.snowbird.com/
Beaver Mountain will debut a brand-new day lodge for the 2025–26 season. Known as Marge’s Cabin, the new facility honours Beaver Mountain matriarch, Marge Seeholzer, and incorporates the original lodge’s historic fir siding. As the oldest continuously family-owned ski area in the country, Beaver Mountain continues to invest in the guest experience while preserving its legacy.
For more information, please visit: www.skithebeav.com/
Park City Mountain
Park City Mountain is enhancing access and elevating the guest experience for 2025–26 with the debut of the Sunrise Gondola, a high-speed 10-person lift that will streamline the ride to Red Pine Lodge and the resort’s improved beginner terrain. The upgrade is expected to ease base area flow and create a more seamless experience for families and first-timers. Guests can also enjoy the launch of Orange Bubble Bite, a new signature treat available at select mountain dining spots — a playful nod to one of the most iconic lifts in the country.For more information, please visit: www.visitparkcity.com/
Woodward Park City
New this winter, the Mountain Park Season Pass offers unlimited skiing and riding all winter long (holiday blackout dates apply), starting at just $449 / £333. Just 20 minutes from Salt Lake City, Woodward Park City is Utah’s most accessible ski and snowboard destination, with evening access seven nights a week. Seasonal multi-week programmes across ski, snowboard, skateboarding, scooter, parkour, and biking return this year, giving local riders of all ages and abilities the chance to progress in their sport of choice. For more information, please visit: www.woodwardparkcity.com/
