The lifts have stopped spinning and the season’s melting snow is filling countless small streams. Soon, Utah’s mountainous ski resorts will pop with wildflowers, offering a scenic escape from the heat in the valleys.
Ski-town locals know resorts are a great place in both winter and summer. The high elevation and rugged terrain combine to provide not only great skiing, but lots of summer activities as well.
We researched summer activities and events at Utah’s ski areas and found so much it wouldn’t all fit in this post. However, I’m going to try to share as much as I can! If you’re ready to summer like a ski-town local, keep reading.
First of all, the resorts normally close during the early snowmelt, we sometimes call this the shoulder, or mud season, so make sure to check summer opening days before making plans:
Utah Ski Resort Summer Opening Days
Alta: July 1 – September 13
Beaver Mountain: May – October
Brian Head: June 26 – September 7
Brighton: Closed for Summer
Canyons: June 18 – TDB
Cherry Peak: Closed for Summer
Deer Valley: June 19 – September 7 (September 12 – 13 & September 19 – 20)
Eagle Point: June 26 – September 7
Nordic Valley: Closed for Summer
PCMR: May 22 – TBD
Powder Mountain: TBD
Snow basin Resort: June 13 – September 27 (Open Weekends)
Snowbird: June 13 – October 11
Solitude Resort: June 15 – September 7
Sundance: May 15 – September 7
Now let’s talk about all the fun you can have and how to pick the best resort for your vacation. First, have a look at the events calendar for each destination. You may see something you know you simply cannot miss. Next, look at the activities to decide what fits your vacation style.
For example, if you have children, you may want to pick a resort offering child-centric fun. From zip-lines to roller coasters, you’ll have some a lot to select from. If a romantic getaway, or even a destination wedding, is more your style, check out the fine dinning and spa packages offered at several properties. Suffice to say, there is something for most everyone.
Summer Highlights:
Alta Ski Area
Alta Ski Area includes the Albion Basin, a prime wildflower hotspot in the Wasatch Range. Visit during July and August for the best display. Cecret Lake is tucked into the base of the mountains and makes a perfect picnic destination.
Alta Lodge
Alta Lodge opens for summer season on May 31 with Sunday Brunch. The brunch is a favorite for many locals and features a rich variety of entrées, salads, baked goods and desserts, as well as made to order Belgian waffles and Eggs Benedict. Brunch is served from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Prices are $24.95 for adults, $13.95 for kids ages seven to 12 and $6.95 for those under age 6. Beer, wine, and cocktails are served beginning at 11:30 am. Saturday lunch begins on June 20 and is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Alta Lodge is open seven days a week during the summer season from June through mid-October, for weddings, conferences, retreats, private parties, and individual lodging. Continental breakfast is included with overnight lodging.
Beaver Mountain
Mark you calendars for the multi-day Beaver Mountain Music Festival featuring up and coming bands, kids activities, and venders, August 21st through the 23rd. Beaver Mountain also offers tent and RV sites, plus lodge and yurt rentals for larger events.
Brian Head
Summer is almost here, and the warm weather doesn’t mean high altitude excitement stops. Rock your world this summer at Southern Utah’s Premiere Mountain Destination, Brian Head Resort. Entertain your inner adrenaline junkie with our zipline and bungee trampoline. If that is not enough give base-jumping a try with our 50’ x 50’ airbag. If you are up for a physical challenge, spend the day at the climbing wall and then ride your cares away at our alpine tubing attractions at the base of the Giant Steps Lodge.
If you want to raise your game, ride the Giant Steps Express or Navajo chair lift 4 into improved mountain bike trails, disc golf, scenic hiking and lift rides. Summer lift operations run from June 26 to September 7, Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Giant Steps and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for Navajo. For the water enthusiast, look no further than the Brian Head Pond for fishing and other water activities.
Canyons
Canyons is one of the country’s largest four season destination resorts offers you an expansive variety of summer adventures and events. In addition to fresh mountain air, Canyons provides luxury accommodations, gourmet dining, scenic gondola rides, breath-taking hikes, expansive array of mountain bike trails and instruction, plus live music concerts.
From zip-lines to golf, Canyons has something for the whole family in summer.
Deer Valley
Deer Valley Resort is filled with nonstop activity such as lift-served mountain biking, hiking and scenic chairlift rides, Summer Adventure Camp for children and music-filled evenings at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater. The resort offers award-winning cuisine served on the outdoor decks of Royal Street Café and Deer Valley Grocery-Café, or enjoy Deer Valley-inspired brick oven cuisine at their newest restaurant, The Brass Tag. Grab a custom Gourmet Picnic Baskets or Bags for one of the many evening concerts and don’t miss the Silver Lake Snack Shack for a quick bite on the hill.
Deer Valley’s Summer Adventure Camp for children two-months to 12 years-of-age is based out of the Children’s Center at Snow Park Lodge surrounded by incredible mountains with hiking trails, hillside playgrounds, and duck ponds. The center has built-in nooks for entertainment and performances, a bouldering rock climbing wall and a full supply of craft projects, games, puzzles, videos and books to complement our outdoor activities. Summer Adventure Camp is open June 8 through August 19, 2015. Camp will not be held Friday, July 3 and July 24, 2015.
Eagle Point
Eagle Point is an authentic mountain getaway especially for guests living in the surrounding desert heat of Las Vegas, Arizona, southern Utah and southern California. Plan your next summer time event at Eagle Point Resort. Weddings, reunions, team-building events or even a romantic getaway are some of the many occasions to spend at this beautiful location.
Here are some of the many activities at Eagle Point Resort: 12,000 square foot Canyonside Lodge with restaurant, bar and lounge facilities; the village of Eagle Point, over 120 condos and cabins with many affordable rental options; mountain biking; hiking; fishing; paintball; disc golf; horseback riding; the Paiute ATV trail system; day trips to Zion National Park; and day trips to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Park City Mountain Resort
Park City Mountain Resort’s Alpine Slide is one of the longest slides in the world, with over 3,000 feet of gliding and sliding down a luge-like track. The slide is only one of many activities offered at PCMR, you can also hike or bike the resorts many trails, zip-line, and too much more to list. Check out their site for a list of all the activities offered.
Snowbasin Resort
Snowbasin Resort will be open for operations Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer staring June 13th. Enjoy scenic Gondola Rides to Needles Lodge, mountain bike and hike on 26 miles of trails, go on one of the free Saturday guided tours, play some Frisbee Golf on the nine-hole course, enjoy Sunday brunch at the top of the gondola, explore your cravings at a themed mountain top dinner, or come to a free outdoor concert series starting June 14 in the beautiful high alpine environment. They also have family oriented activities this summer including a playground, a euro bungee, and new climbing wall for the kids.
Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort
Snowbird invested heavily in their summer offerings including mountain bike trails, Alpine Slide, Mountain Coaster, ropes course, and much more. Additionally they feature barrier free trails and a partnership with Wasatch Adaptive Sports to offer: nature hikes; fishing; adaptive mountain and road biking; Snowbird activities including tram rides, bungee trampoline and alpine slide; mine and water tunnel tours; GPS/orienteering classes; boundless playground; and bowling.
Solitude Resort
Taste of the Wasatch at Solitude
This year, summer at Solitude includes mountain biking, hiking, trail running, and lots of special events including the Vigor Half Marathon and Trail Run Series and Midweek Mountain Bike Series. In August, Utah’s premiere culinary event, Taste of the Wasatch, will feature food tastings presented by chefs from over 50 top Utah restaurants and resorts.
Sundance Mountain Resort
Bearclaw Supper Club at Sundance
Summer at Sundance includes adventure, culture, and romance. Take a nearly 2-mile long scenic zip-line tour, and then finish the evening with a mountaintop gourmet dinner at the Bearclaw Supper Club or a full-moon lift ride (offered monthly during the…you guessed it…full moon.) Wow, it sounds like a great date night! Also check out their concert and theater schedule.
Now that you know about all the fun to be had at Utah’s ski resorts in the summer, the next question is where to start. What sounds like the most fun to you? Personally, I like a high picnic spot or outdoor dining. If there is yummy food with a view, look for me!
For more from Ski Utah, head on over to their website. And don’t forget to follow them on Instagram. Likewise, for more from Erika Wiggins, head on over to her website, The Active Explorer.
