Brighton Ski Getaways

Brighton is located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, one of those special places in Utah that regularly collects 500 or more inches of snow a season. It's the next big canyon system over from the one that's home to Alta and Snowbird, and big winter storms don't make too much of a distinction over a difference of a few square miles.

The abundant Utah powder settles on more than 1000 acres and almost 1800 vertical feet. While a good chunk of this terrain is dedicated to beginners and intermediates, there are also enough hair-raising drops to keep experts happy. Those with back-country experience have access to it via six gates.

The heart of Brighton for experts, intermediates, and solid beginners may well be the trails served by the Snake Creek Express. A couple of black diamonds, two double blacks, and two or three each of everything else make this a fine place for a family or group of different abilities to hang out for a morning. Lower down the Majestic fixed-grip quad serves up much the same experience on a smaller scale. Beginners need only avoid the Millicent (recently upgraded to a high-speed quad), Crest Express, and Great Western Express lifts; intermediates have at least one choice from the top of every chair.

Two hundred acres and 22 trails are open for night skiing several days a week. This is very convenient for travelers who can't arrive in Salt Lake City, 35 miles away, until mid-afternoon or later but who would still like to get on snow.

A half pipe and four different of terrain parks with plenty of features will keep freestylers of all ability levels happy.