Utah

The Big (Brighton, Solitude) and Little (Alta, Snowbird) Cottonwood canyons lead the West by most measures of snow conditions. The Park City group of areas is more like Colorado but with a little bit more snowfall and spring conditions more likely due to lower altitude. Snow Basin and Powder Mountain, which are comparable to Brighton and Solitude in snowfall but more like Park City in elevation, are good alternates during busy times.

There are two tables below: The first contains all the statistics while the second contains summary information plus comments and analysis.
Color-coded areas link to my detailed Resort Guides published in Inside Tracks or First Tracks Online.

Explanation of Column Headings
Home Page and Other Regions

  Lift Serviced   Season Dec.-Mar. Percent Percent Average        
UTAH Altitude Season Standard 6+ Inch High Mths Low Mths Maximum Direction of Exposure
  Range Average Deviation Powder Days GE 90 in. LT 30 in. Base Depth North East West South
                       
Alta Guard UDOT, Utah 8,700 8,550-10,550 496 115 20.0% 45% 4% N/A 53% 17% 29% 1%
Alta Collins, Utah, 9,600 8,550-10,550 526 126 20.9% 50% 2% 120 53% 17% 29% 1%
Snowbird Tram Base, Utah, 8,100 7,900-11,000 462 118 17.1% 35% 4% 111 50% 16% 21% 14%
Snowbird Mid-Gad, Utah, 9,640 8,550-10,550 499 121 18.7% 40% 4% N/A 50% 16% 21% 13%
Silverlake-Brighton, Utah, 8,740 8,740-10,500 377 84 14.4% 20% 9% N/A 43% 15% 32% 10%
Brighton, Utah, 9,502 8,740-10,500 510 151 21.2% 49% 4% N/A 43% 15% 32% 10%
Solitude 1, Utah, 8,000 8,000-10,000 404 107 16.1% 28% 8% 76 55% 27% 15% 3%
Solitude 2, Utah, 9,400 8,000-10,500 476 127 19.0% 44% 7% N/A 50% 23% 22% 5%
Snow Basin, Utah, 7,700 6,291-9,250 325 102 12.9% 14% 22% N/A 35% 55% 0% 10%
Park City 1, Utah, 7,140 6,900-10,000 150 48 5.5% 0% 72% N/A 43% 29% 24% 4%
Park City 2, Utah, 9,300 6,900-10,000 294 84 12.4% 11% 16% 83 43% 29% 24% 4%
Jupiter Bowl, Utah, 10,000 6,900-10,000 359 104 15.4% 26% 9% 107 43% 29% 24% 4%
Deer Valley, Utah, 9,300 6,570-9,575 294 84 12.4% 10% 16% N/A 45% 45% 8% 2%
Canyons at Park City, Utah, 9,300 6,800-9,990 294 84 12.4% 11% 16% N/A 36% 47% 0% 17%
Brian Head, Utah, 9,770 9,700-11,000 305 88 12.6% 13% 19% N/A 35% 15% 35% 15%

  Lift Serviced      
UTAH Altitude Season Weather Restrictions, Powder Potential  
  Range Average and Other Considerations Best Time to Ski
         
Alta Guard UDOT, Utah 8,700 8,550-10,550 496 Long term Utah Transportation Dept. site near Alta's base. Abundant base area snowfall and sheltered exposure enhances early season coverage. Nearly anytime as Alta usually opens by Thanksgiving with close to its requisite 3-4 foot base. December to March for powder.
Alta Collins, Utah 9,600 8,550-10,550 526 Restrictions mainly for avalanche. Little wind compared to other open bowl areas. Powder preservation is a management priority enforced by lift placement and extensive traverses required to reach many runs. Nearly anytime for coverage, December to March for powder.
Snowbird Tram Base, Utah 8,100 7,900-11,000 462 Restrictions for avalanche and occasionally wind. Premier expert area, so direct lines competitive for untracked snow. Abundant north facing steeps can remain packed powder on warm spring days. January-April for surface conditions.  Needs a 5-6 foot base for good coverage.
Snowbird Mid-Gad, Utah 9,640 7,900-11,000 499 Monthly SNOTEL water content can be compared to same elevation as Alta to derive snowfall, which is 10% less than at Alta. Season totals are higher than 90% because Snowbird is open in May while Alta closes end of April. January-April for surface conditions.  Needs a 5-6 foot base for good coverage.
Silverlake-Brighton, Utah 8,740 8,740-10,500 377 Independent weather station near Brighton's base. About 80% as much base elevation snow as Alta/Snowbird, but still more snow than anything in Colorado. Nearly anytime. Better coverage than Solitude (or Snowbird) in early season.
Brighton, Utah 9,502 8,740-10,500 510 Some wind, but trees to top make lift closures rare.  Mellower terrain than Alta/Snowbird, but similar snowfall at comparable elevations. Nearly anytime. Better coverage than Solitude (or Snowbird) in early season.
Solitude 1, Utah 8,000 8,000-10,000 404 Only Honeycomb Canyon restricted for avalanche. Not as quiet as before Ikon Pass. January-March for surface conditions, powder.
Solitude 2, Utah 9,400 8,740-10,500 476 Summit chair and Honeycomb Canyon are just behind Alta and get nearly as much snow. January-March for surface conditions, powder.
Snow Basin, Utah 7,700 6,400-8,800 325 Low skier density makes this (and even quieter nearby Powder Mountain) an attractive choice on powder days. Powder Mountain has shorter fall lines but gets slightly more snow, about 350 inches per year. December-February for surface conditions. Low altitude and primary east exposure mean earlier spring conditions.
Park City 1, Utah 7,140 6,900-10,000 150 Weather restrictions and deep snow both unusual on lower mountain. Snowmaking dependent in early season, often slushy in spring. Base areas at Deer Valley and The Canyons are similar. January/February for surface conditions.
Park City 2, Utah 9,300 6,900-10,000 294 Some wind, but trees to top make lift closures rare. Park City often has a huge variation in snow conditions within the area, but these Summit House stats are representative of much ski terrain at similar altitude at Deer Valley and The Canyons (joined to Park City as of 2015-16)as well. January-March for surface conditions, powder.
Jupiter Bowl, Utah 10,000 6,900-10,000 359 Jupiter is as close to Brighton's Great Western as it is to Summit House. Thus its topography, surfaces and powder are more like Brighton/Solitude than the rest of Park City's terrain. January-March for surface conditions, powder.
Deer Valley, Utah 9,300 6,570-9,575 294 Snowfall and surface conditions by elevation are similar to Park City, so extensive Summit House data is most accurate here. January-March for surface conditions, powder.
Canyons at Park City, Utah 9,300 6,800-9,990 294 Snowfall and surface conditions by elevation are similar to Park City, so extensive Summit House data is most accurate here. 9990 may get somewhat more snow, but not as much as Jupiter Bowl. Low elevations and south sides of ridges can be sketchier than at Park City/Deer Valley. January-March for surface conditions, powder.
Brian Head, Utah 9,770 9,700-11,000 305 Best area in southern Utah for total snowfall, but far more volatile than the Wasatch. December-February for surface conditions.

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