Southwest Utah Skiing

If you think southwest Utah is only red-hot sandstone desert, you're missing out on some of America's best winter recreation. Brian Head is southwest Utah's foremost down-hill skiing resort, with an average snowfall of 400 inches of arid Utah powder. Cross-country and snowshoeing trails give adventurers opportunity to delight in a real-life winter wonderland.

Newbies to professionals flock to Brian Head to ski the unspoiled and variegated terrain of the lower corner of Utah. Boasting one of Utah's longest ski seasons, the 500 acre Brian Head Resort is the ideal place for alpine skiing from November through April.

Beginners learn the ropes at Navajo Lodge Learning Center, which designates an entire mountain for those just starting out. More experienced skiers can tackle Giant Steps, which is filled with short moguls and a wide variety of more challenging slopes. For the daredevils, the Peak Express can take you on a short drive up the mountain to height of over 11,000 feet. Advanced skiers can carve deep powder as they make their way down narrow chutes and rock-drops.

For those who want to enjoy the fresh winter air a bit more leisurely, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing is the way to go. Just forty-five minutes from Zion National Park, Duck Creek Village has over fifty miles of Nordic ski trails. Duck Creek gets around twenty feet of snow each year, so all you have to worry about is bringing your skis. The East Rim of Zion National Park is perfect for snowshoeing and winter hiking, with easy to moderate trails.