Top Spring Skiing Resorts in Colorado and Utah

[skiersleft]

Planning a spring skiing vacation to CO or UT and I need your help.

What are the top two or three spring skiing resorts in Colorado and Utah, respectively? I'm talking resorts that offer a lot of terrain and good conditions well into April. Also, I know Snowbird/Alta is probably tops in this regard, but I've already done that, so I'm looking for other suggestions. I also know there's great spring skiing to be had elsewhere (Mammoth, Squaw, Bachelor, Whistler, Lake Louise, etc), but I'm interested in Colorado and Utah only. Thanks!

 

[MarkC]

A basin has to be one of the top springtime resorts.

 

[Nick]

Yeah, A basin got a ton of traction here last year, some of the pics were incredible.

 

[thetrailboss]

I can speak to Alta and Snowbird. Snowbird will go as long as they can. Just search the trip reports and you will see that I was skiing (lift served) at Snowbird in June and July last year and it was good. Alta usually closes in early May. This year though anything can happen. We are down in snow.

 

[Tooth]

I can speak to Alta and Snowbird. Snowbird will go as long as they can. Just search the trip reports and you will see that I was skiing (lift served) at Snowbird in June and July last year and it was good. Alta usually closes in early May. This year though anything can happen. We are down in snow.

Trailboss, Im going to need your input here big time in the next few weeks. Im going to pull the trigger very last minute. Leaning towards Snowbird first week of April.

As far as Colorado goes, a buddy of mine runs a lift team out at Abasin. Its very shallow out there as you know. If they dont get some serious snow soon I would stay out of Colorado. Solitude is fun. Good snow. Did you like Snowbird?

 

[thetrailboss]

Trailboss, Im going to need your input here big time in the next few weeks. Im going to pull the trigger very last minute. Leaning towards Snowbird first week of April.

As far as Colorado goes, a buddy of mine runs a lift team out at Abasin. Its very shallow out there as you know. If they dont get some serious snow soon I would stay out of Colorado. Solitude is fun. Good snow. Did you like Snowbird?

Feel free to PM me for more information, including pics. I go there almost weekly.

I love Snowbird. The service is great, we got a good price on passes, and the terrain is endless. It does get crowded and yes things do get skied out, but I am finding a lot of terrain and lesser traveled areas.

I also like Alta, but Snowbird has more pitch, taller summit, and more open terrain. Mineral Basin is awesome.

FWIW I also have skied at Loveland and liked that too, but Snowbird is just a different ballgame.

 

[drjeff]

A-Basin and Snowbird - end of story for LATE season in CO and UT.

Most places in CO and UT are pretty good up through the end of March. Once you get into late March and beyond you often have to be aware of how much South facing vs. North facing terrain a resort has.

You also have to be aware that many resorts in CO and UT pretty much stick to a hard closing date in mid/late April

 

[skiersleft]

As far as Colorado goes, a buddy of mine runs a lift team out at Abasin. Its very shallow out there as you know. If they dont get some serious snow soon I would stay out of Colorado.

Do others agree with this? Is April skiing in Colorado a bad idea this year unless they get hit with snow big time between now and then? I feared that this might be the case, but trail counts now are healthy and I thought that they would perhaps be able to make it to the first two weeks in April without much problems. Thoughts?

 

[Tooth]

Feel free to PM me for more information, including pics. I go there almost weekly.

I love Snowbird. The service is great, we got a good price on passes, and the terrain is endless. It does get crowded and yes things do get skied out, but I am finding a lot of terrain and lesser traveled areas.

I also like Alta, but Snowbird has more pitch, taller summit, and more open terrain. Mineral Basin is awesome.

FWIW I also have skied at Loveland and liked that too, but Snowbird is just a different ballgame.

I will for sure. Thank you. I loved the Ut trip reports. Very jealous. Do you think Snowbird will be busy that time of the year? Weekdays?

 

[drjeff]

Do others agree with this? Is April skiing in Colorado a bad idea this year unless they get hit with snow big time between now and then? I feared that this might be the case, but trail counts now are healthy and I thought that they would perhaps be able to make it to the first two weeks in April without much problems. Thoughts?

Alot can happen in the next few weeks. But with base depths over most of the West running FEET below what they typically are this time of year, closing dates fof the "ski until there's no snow left" resorts could be earlier than usual this year for sure.

 

[Tooth]

Do others agree with this? Is April skiing in Colorado a bad idea this year unless they get hit with snow big time between now and then? I feared that this might be the case, but trail counts now are healthy and I thought that they would perhaps be able to make it to the first two weeks in April without much problems. Thoughts?

For anything close to what you are expecting Colorado to be. Steamboat just got hammered. Its just been a very bad snow year. Look at snow totals. I just asked the same Abasin friend where he'd go and he said Europe. I am supposed to be in Vail the last week of March and I'm not sure Im going. I like it deep if I go West. I can ride groomers all day in the East. I want fluff.

 

[marge.kilgus]

Vail is only open thru April but it is the best resort in Colorado....all types of
terrain, trails, bowls....huge!!

 

[thetrailboss]

I will for sure. Thank you. I loved the Ut trip reports. Very jealous. Do you think Snowbird will be busy that time of the year? Weekdays?

Weekdays are quiet; hell, this season even weekends have been quiet. Just be sure that they are open because last season they closed midweek after a certain point.

 

[snowmonster]

Two years ago, I had to go to Denver at the end of April. My plan was to ski from April 25-27. Snoseek was out there and he was my ski guide. He kept warning me about the terrible winter they've been having and how it totally sucked. As soon as I landed in Denver, the Front Range got pounded. Skied A Basin and Loveland. Three glorious days of plowing through pow and hearing avy bombs go off in the morning. May you have the same luck as I!

 

[vdk03]

Unless we start getting hammered I'd stay away from A'Basin, but we had an awesome day at Vail today. They only claimed 8" in the past two days but we were able to make tracks in some nice deep powder. Everything is open and even though it may be bare in spots there is powder to be found. Steamboat got 27" over the weekend and they are calling for another 18" between today and tomorrow. Never been there but they broke records for 24 hour snow fall, and I hope we will be able to post a trip report within a few days. Anything is possible in the next few weeks.

 

[snoseek]

If you're in Utah snowbird is hands down the best spring skiing around. There's a reason they stay open late.

I wouldn't count out a basin. A lot of the time it doesn't fill in till late and the snow preserves pretty good. With that said i hear zuma isn't open and thats just crazy!!

Loveland is the tits in the spring, often dry snow right into may on the ridge.

Breck is also at its best imo in the spring as the elevation preserves really well. Copper also.

I don't think vail is a very good bet after april 1 unless it either storms or the base is big. this year skip it. Back bowls are cooked early

 

[skiersleft]

If you're in Utah snowbird is hands down the best spring skiing around. There's a reason they stay open late.

I wouldn't count out a basin. A lot of the time it doesn't fill in till late and the snow preserves pretty good. With that said i hear zuma isn't open and thats just crazy!!

Loveland is the tits in the spring, often dry snow right into may on the ridge.

Breck is also at its best imo in the spring as the elevation preserves really well. Copper also.

I don't think vail is a very good bet after april 1 unless it either storms or the base is big. this year skip it. Back bowls are cooked early

I did Snowbird last year in April because I knew it was the best and it was phenomenal. However, this year I want to do a different place. Is there any other Utah resort that skis good well into April or is Snowbird/Alta the only good Utah option?

 

[snoseek]

I did Snowbird last year in April because I knew it was the best and it was phenomenal. However, this year I want to do a different place. Is there any other Utah resort that skis good well into April or is Snowbird/Alta the only good Utah option?

You could stay central down in town and follow the weather a bit. Alta skis ok and I imagine Brighton would be ok. Honestly it could go either way.

Without new snow in the spring I would sctually rather being skiing in Summit County to be honest. The elevation definately comes into play in a month like april

 

[kingslug]

I stayed at the Cliff Lodge at Snowbird last April 18 to 22...got a great deal that I split with someone..$800.00 including lift tix...yeah they had almost 800 inches for the season so this year will be different..but its not even March yet so who knows...

 

[dropKickMurphy]

I did Snowbird last year in April because I knew it was the best and it was phenomenal. However, this year I want to do a different place. Is there any other Utah resort that skis good well into April or is Snowbird/Alta the only good Utah option?

The Cottonwoods (Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, Brighton) get a lot more snow, and are higher in elevation than the Park City areas as well as Snowbasin and Powder Mountain. That's why the Cottonwood areas will almost always have better conditions in April than the other Utah areas.

Alta has to close by the first weekend in May, due to it being on USFS land. Snowbird can stay open longer because it is on private land.

If Snowbird remains open after Alta closes, you can access Alta terrain fairly easily (especially Baldy chutes and Baldy Shoulder) from the Snowbird tram. Just be aware that there will be no lifts, ski patrol, or avalanche control .