 Brian Head may be Utah"s southernmost resort but it also has the state"s highest base, at 9600 feet. This translates into 400 or more inches of Utah powder a year on average. The resort"s 1320 feet of vertical increases to 1707 when the Peak Express snow cat skiing area is open. With over 500 acres of varied terrain for skiers and riders to play on and a setting in Utah"s spectacular red-rock country, Brian Head has honed its family appeal over the years. To ensure a good start for early-season visiting families about 35 percent of the trails are covered by snowmaking. Two peaks, Brian Head and Navajo, face each other across a road which leads to Cedar Breaks National Monument and the adjacent Dixie National Forest. Navajo is the tamer of the two, with a dedicated learning area and a full-service learning center for all ages. Once the basics are mastered beginners and those about to take the next step to intermediate will find the rest of Navajo Peak is dedicated to them. Beginners can continue to practice under the lights on Friday and Saturday nights and holidays. Over on the other side it"s a different story. Yes, solid beginners will enjoy the terrain off the Black Foot chair and will even find a bit more challenge from the top of the Giant Steps chair. But the trails run more toward blue and black here. The expert terrain looms above on the broad, treeless summit cone of Brian Head Peak, accessible via gate or snow cat when conditions allow. Chutes, difficult faces, and ledge are balanced by steep glades lower down. Four terrain parks and a ½ pipe are available for the freestyle crowd. The parks range in difficulty from novice/beginner to advanced/expert, and all told contain more than 30 features. When it"s time to take a break eat at the Giant Steps or Navajo Lodge Grills. If a quick jolt of java is all you need both lodges also feature Espresso Express. The Lift House Restaurant at the Navajo Lodge offers family dining in the evenings and a special children"s menu. It"s also a Utah State Liquor Licensee with so-called "adult beverages" available. The Cedar Breaks Lodge and Spa offers three restaurants, with the cafe open mornings and evenings, the club open evenings with appetizers and casual dining, and the Double Black Diamond Steak House open evenings with a full menu of steaks, wild game, pasta, and seafood. The Cedar Breaks Lodge and Spa is the resort"s only full-service hotel, with all the amenities you would expect in addition to the three restaurants noted above. It has 118 rooms. There are also a variety of condominiums around the mountain in several communities and even a handful of private homes available. The base development features a market, an outfitter and a sports shop, and even a day spa. The closest town of any size is Cedar City, about 35 miles away. Here you"ll find additional lodging, dining, and shopping. At least four outfits offer guided ATV and snowmobile tours or rental machinery. There is a fine cross-country skiing and snowshoeing network around the resort with access to some 300 km of backcountry trails. There"s also an extensive cross-country trail system that runs through the beautiful Cedar Breaks National Monument.
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Ski Report
Utah
