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SHUT UP ALREADY!Safe to say, one of the reasons you are visiting this site in the first place was that you saw all the ink in various ski magazines regarding Ogden-area skiing. Fine. Welcome. Enjoy. Just keep it to yourself. There’s plenty to go around, but most locals are still coming to terms with seeing their favorite stashes splashed across magazine pages as ski meccas. The world got a glimpse of the area during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games when Snowbasin hosted the downhill, combined and super-G events. What the world didn’t see was all the off-piste and powder shots that abound in the area. If that’s your thing, hit the upper bowls at Snowbasin Resort or the powder country of Powder Mountain. If groomers are more your speed, both resorts offer plenty. If you’re just needing to get your ski legs on or get a newbie up to speed, hit Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort. NORDICUtah’s snow is legendary among alpine skiers, but skinny skis reap all the benefi ts of our generous helpings of the white stuff. The local Nordic club, Ogden Nordic, hosts events and is actively involved in sharing their vast knowledge and resources. Hang out on a closed course with their masters team and get coached by some of the best. SKI SHUTTLEOgden offers a shuttle service from participating hotels to all three local resorts. For details on schedules and routes, call 866-867-8824 or ask at the front desk of your local hotel.SNOWBASIN RESORT(alpine)Skiing Magazine’s 2007 rankings of resorts put Snowbasin, a Sun Valley Resort, in its top ten while SKI Magazine’s readers’ survey named it third overall in service, second in on-mountain food and first for lifts. Nearly 3,000 vertical feet on over 2,800 acres of varied terrain serviced by 12 lifts including two high-speed gondolas providing a capacity of 14,500 skiers per hour: 7% novice, 29% intermediate, 34% expert and 30% expert only. The resort features a superpipe, three terrain parks and a tubing hill. Once you’ve skied the Needles Express Gondola, head over to the Strawberry Gondola or the John Paul Quad to experience skiing on the edge. Make sure you take time for lunch at any of the three lodges.POWDER MOUNTAIN(alpine)For the three years, the readers of SKI Magazine, have ranked Powder Mountain in the Top 3 for Snow and for Value. Powder Mountain offers 5,500 acres in-bounds and an additional 2.000+ acress reserved for 12 people per day on the Snowcat Powder Safari. With this much space, you won't share any of 124 trails with a crowd. 7 lifts provide easy access for 25% novice, 40% intermediate and 35% advanced trails. A $12 snowcat ride to Lightning Ridge leads to 800 acres of powder and a 2,500 vertical drop. For more untouched snow, ski down Powder Mountry and ride the shuttle back to the lifts. Mountain adventures are completed by snowkiting, two terrain parks, a half pipe, night skiing and heliskiing.WOLF CREEK UTAH SKI RESORT(alpine)Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort is arguably the best learning mountain in the western United States. It’s located approximately 20 minutes from downtown Ogden. Four lifts service 1,000 vertical feet of primarily novice and intermediate terrain with some nice, steep faces. The Wolf’s Lair terrain park includes 20 features with boxes, rails and some good size jumps. Their Magic Carpet provides plenty of short runs for the little guys to get the hang of it. Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort offers Utah’s largest night skiing operation, with specials almost every night that make “The Wolf” one of the most affordable skiing and riding hills in the West.NORTH FORK PARK CAMPGROUND(nordic)North Fork Park was nominated as a potential venue for the Nordic and biathlon events of the 2002 Winter Olympic games. It’s located at the northern end of the Ogden Valley in Liberty. There’s a place to park vehicles and begin skiing on the summer roadways. The snow conditions here are very good throughout the winter. All levels of skiing ability can be found in this area, including serious backcountry skiing along the flanks of Ben Lomond Peak.Length: 12+ miles; groomed daily Difficulty: 40% easy, 40% moderate, 20% difficult Elevation: 5,500’ to 6,000’ PINEVIEW RESERVOIR(nordic)Pineview Reservoir is located five miles east of Ogden accessed via Highway 39 (12th Street). The best skiing is at Anderson Cove Campground when the snow conditions are good. Periodically a Nordic track is prepared that circles through the campground taking advantage of the rolling terrain and summertime roadways. Restrooms are open in the campground but are not maintained on a regular schedule. This area is classified easiest level with generally flat terrain with a few steep sections. Parking is limited at the campground entry roadway near the Host Cabin.Length: variable Difficulty: easy Elevation: 4,900’ to 4,950’ ART NORD TRAILHEAD(nordic)Art Nord Trailhead is found along State Road 226 — what locals call Old Snowbasin Road. During the winter months, the roadway is closed to vehicle traffic past Art Nord. This allows skiing and sledding on the road itself (once the snow depth allows it) and ends at another set of barriers near Snowbasin. Nordic skiers have a few options from this parking area: 1) Head north down Wheeler Canyon following the stream through the deep and shady canyon. 2) Cross the paved highway and follow the East Fork of Wheeler Creek trail ending at either the Snowbasin Road at Green Pond Trailhead or following the Middle Fork Trail back to the Old Snowbasin Road and back to the trailhead. 3) Ascend the main Wheeler Creek trail to end at the parking lot of Snowbasin. All levels of skiing difficulty level can be found in this area. The greatest dangers are in crossing live streams and some avalanche slide paths in Wheeler Canyon. A Nordic trail is groomed occasionally that follows the paved road toward Snowbasin or along the Main Wheeler Creek trail. A snowmachine packs a trail along the East and Middle Fork trails when needed.Length: 1.8 to 2.5 miles Difficulty: 80% moderate, 20% difficult Elevation: 5,500’ to 6,300’ SNOWBASIN SKI AREA(nordic)Snowbasin grooms and maintains 26 km of Nordic trails suitable for both skating and classic-style Nordic skiing. The trails start near the 2nd parking lot, where Nordic trail users may park. There is no charge for Snowbasin’s Nordic trails. For starter trails, choose between the Stadium, the Meadows Loop or Maples Loop. Gear and Nordic ski maps are available at Snowbasin.
ATTENTION DOG OWNERS:The impacts from dogs (tracks in the groomed trail or feces left on the trail) have become an issue of concern to both the Forest Service managers and those who groom the trails. We ask that those who take dogs on the groomed trails find ways to prevent or minimize these impacts. |
