The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Brian Head operates across 650 acres with 71 runs and a vertical drop of 402 metres, spanning elevations from 2,926 to 3,343 metres. The resort holds Utah's highest base elevation at 2,926 metres and receives 9.1 metres of annual snowfall. Children aged 12 and under ski free, whilst lift tickets start from $19 on select dates through dynamic pricing.
Terrain splits 30% beginner, 35% intermediate, 32% advanced and 3% expert across two interconnected peaks, Navajo and Brian Head. Navajo Peak serves beginners and intermediates with gentle groomers accessed by the Navajo Express quad, whilst Brian Head Peak delivers steeper terrain off lifts including Roulette, The Dunes and Giant Steps Express. A ski bridge crosses Highway 143 to link the two areas. Runs like Engens and Georg's Rock provide challenge for confident skiers, though the resort suits families and progressing intermediates more than experts seeking steep terrain.
The base elevation creates cold, dry conditions that preserve powder quality days after storms, despite lower snowfall than northern Utah resorts. Two base lodges serve the mountain: Giant Steps Lodge on the main peak and Navajo Lodge on the learning zone. The Last Chair Saloon offers après atmosphere with live music most Saturdays during season. Uncrowded slopes define the Brian Head experience outside holiday periods, with minimal lift queues and fresh tracks available well after snowfalls.
Mountain Capital Partners acquired the resort in 2019. Power Pass season passes starting at $749 grant access to nine additional resorts across the Mountain Capital Partners network, including Nordic Valley and Lee Canyon. The 2025-26 season runs 7 November to 26 April. Brian Head appeals to families seeking affordable skiing, Las Vegas weekenders, and intermediates prioritising value and space over extreme terrain.
1,368ft
Vertical
71
Runs
650 acres
Skiable
29ft
Annual snow
The Terrain
71 runs across 650 acres skiable
Brian Head spreads 71 runs across 650 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 35%, with 21 beginner runs to find your feet and 25 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
71
runs
71 runs across 4 grades
Beginner21 runs · 30%
Intermediate25 runs · 35%
Advanced23 runs · 32%
Expert2 runs · 3%
Time it right
When to visit Brian Head
The 2025-26 season operates 7 November 2025 through 26 April 2026. Brian Head typically runs mid-November to mid-April, with the 2024-25 season achieving 181 operational days. Operating hours are 10am-4pm Monday-Friday and 9:30am-4:30pm weekends and holidays. Night skiing runs Friday-Saturday 4pm-9pm on the Blackfoot lift, expanding to seven days weekly during peak periods.
The resort averages 9.1 metres annual snowfall, with the 2,926-metre base elevation delivering cold, dry powder. Snowmaking covers 170 acres, concentrated on Navajo Mountain and key runs. February averages the heaviest snowfall with 1.35 metres, whilst December and January each deliver approximately 1.1 metres. Storms depositing over 12 centimetres occur 27 times annually on average. The high elevation preserves snow quality better than lower resorts, maintaining coverage into late April during strong seasons.
January and February offer peak powder conditions, though the uncrowded nature means untracked snow lingers days after storms. March delivers spring skiing with warmer temperatures and long sunny days. Weekday visits from December through March provide the best value and emptiest slopes. Holiday periods see increased traffic from Las Vegas and Southern California, particularly Christmas through New Year and Presidents Day weekend.
The resort hosts monthly Star Parties with Cedar Breaks National Monument rangers providing stargazing sessions with telescopes at Navajo Lodge. Summer operations run weekends mid-June through mid-October, offering chairlift-accessed mountain biking, disc golf, archery and tubing. Events include Fourth of July celebrations, classic rock festivals and car shows. Two terrain parks and tubing hills operate during winter, with tubing requiring advance reservations by calling 435-677-2035.
Season 2025 - 2026
7 Nov 2025
Opens
26 Apr 2026
Closes
170
Days open
29 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Brian Head, and where to stay
Brian Head sits in the Dixie National Forest in southern Utah's Markagunt Plateau at 2,926 metres base elevation. The resort occupies a high desert mesa surrounded by red rock formations, pine forests and distant views toward Cedar Breaks National Monument. Utah Highway 143 climbs steeply through the small town of Brian Head, population 120, which spreads along the access road between the two base areas. Cedar Breaks National Monument lies 8 kilometres south, whilst red rock hoodoos visible from upper lifts create scenery unlike typical alpine resorts.
Cedar City sits 47 kilometres southwest via Highway 143, a 40-minute drive descending 1,220 vertical metres through switchbacks. The town offers additional lodging, dining and services 29 miles from the slopes. Parowan, 23 kilometres west on Interstate 15, provides the highway exit for mountain access. Bryce Canyon National Park lies 98 kilometres east (90 minutes), Zion National Park 117 kilometres southwest (90 minutes) and St George 135 kilometres southwest (90 minutes). The location enables combined ski and national park itineraries during winter when crowds thin.
Interstate 15 provides primary access, with Exit 75 at Parowan connecting to Highway 143 for the final 23-kilometre ascent. From Las Vegas, the drive runs 325 kilometres northeast (3 hours) via I-15. Salt Lake City sits 395 kilometres north (3.5 to 4 hours), also via I-15. The steep Highway 143 approach requires winter driving preparation; four-wheel drive or traction devices become mandatory during storms. Road conditions via UDOT should be checked before departure as the climb gains over 1,200 metres elevation.
Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport lies 340 kilometres southwest (3 hours driving), offering the most flight options. Salt Lake City International Airport sits 403 kilometres north (4 hours). Cedar City Regional Airport, 53 kilometres away (35-45 minutes), provides limited Delta Connection service primarily linking Salt Lake City. St George Regional Airport, 129 kilometres distant (90 minutes), serves flights from Denver, Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth and Salt Lake City. The St George Shuttle and Brian Head Express Shuttle operate weekend service from Cedar City to the resort, whilst rental cars suit visitors combining skiing with regional exploration.
Where to stay
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Brian Head Lift System
Brian Head operates 10 lifts: two high-speed quads, five triple chairs, one double chair and two surface lifts. Giant Steps Express and Navajo Express are the resort's two detachable quads, both built by Doppelmayr. The system carries 17,400 skiers per hour across the two peaks.
Giant Steps Express, installed in 2014 after operating at Tamarack Resort Idaho, is the flagship lift with 402 metres vertical drop and approximately five-minute ride time. Navajo Express, a 2019 Doppelmayr installation, replaced a 1980 Lift Engineering triple and improved beginner area access with shorter ride times. Both quads minimise wait times during peak periods and serve the longest runs at the resort. The Blackfoot triple chair services night skiing terrain and terrain parks on Friday and Saturday evenings from 4pm to 9pm.
Navajo Peak lifts include Wildflower triple, Pioneer double and two surface carpets for absolute beginners near the lodge. Brian Head Peak accesses intermediate and advanced terrain via Roulette, The Dunes and Alpen Glow triple chairs, plus the Giant Steps Express. Wildflower chair connects to the Alpen Glow lift via the ski bridge over Highway 143, allowing skiers to traverse between peaks without removing skis. Lifts open at 10am weekdays and 9:30am weekends, closing at 4pm or 4:30pm depending on day.
The resort invested over $1 million in improvements for 2025-26, including expanded snowmaking on Navajo Mountain and RFID ticketing systems. Chair 2 underwent restoration work. A proposed expansion would add 14 lifts across 1,651 acres of new terrain, though approval remains years away. The current lift network efficiently serves the compact 650-acre footprint without significant bottlenecks.
10lifts across 4 types
2
Quad Chairs
5
Triple Chairs
1
Double Chair
2
Surface Lifts
Brian Head lift system
Brian Head is served by 10 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Brian Head intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.