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    Utah, Usa · Ikon

    Brighton

    Salt Lake's favorite night skiing destination. Features 1050 acres of terrain epic powder days extensive terrain parks and perfect learning programs.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    14 Nov 2025
    Closes
    18 May 2026
    Days open
    185
    Annual snow
    42ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Brighton Resort delivers exceptional skiing and snowboarding across 1,050 acres of diverse terrain at the head of Big Cottonwood Canyon, with elevations ranging from 2,668m base to 3,200m summit. Utah's oldest ski resort combines 66 runs spanning all ability levels with some of the most reliable snowfall in North America, averaging 12.7m annually in one of the snowiest microclimates on the continent. The resort's claim to fame extends beyond daytime operations, offering over 200 acres of illuminated terrain across 32 runs six nights weekly, making Brighton the only Salt Lake area resort with extensive night skiing.

    Brighton's authentic, welcoming atmosphere attracts everyone from first-time learners to expert cliff-huckers, earning consistent recognition from locals for best value and family-friendly terrain. The resort's historical significance as the first Utah ski area, established in 1936, blends seamlessly with modern lift infrastructure including the Crest Express, currently Utah's fastest chairlift. Five terrain parks cater to freestyle progression, whilst natural features including bowls, chutes, and extensive tree skiing provide endless exploration opportunities across two main zones.

    The resort's straightforward layout and accessible pricing structure keep the focus squarely on quality skiing rather than resort frills. Children aged six and under ski free with paying adults, whilst direct connections to neighbouring Solitude Resort via the SolBright pass expand terrain options for multi-resort adventures in the legendary Cottonwood Canyons.

    1,745ft
    Vertical
    66
    Runs
    1,050 acres
    Skiable
    42ft
    Annual snow
    Ikon
    Pass
    The Terrain

    66 runs across 1,050 acres skiable

    Brighton spreads 66 runs across 1,050 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 39%, with 14 beginner runs to find your feet and 27 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    66
    runs
    66 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner14 runs · 21%
    Intermediate26 runs · 39%
    Advanced17 runs · 25%
    Expert10 runs · 15%
    Time it right

    When to visit Brighton

    Brighton typically operates from mid-November through mid-April, with the most consistent conditions occurring January through March when the Cottonwood Funnel microclimate delivers its legendary snowfall. The resort's elevated position between 2,668m and 3,200m combined with predominantly north-facing aspects creates exceptional snow preservation throughout the season, often maintaining quality conditions when lower-elevation resorts struggle. The 12.7m average annual snowfall frequently exceeds 500 inches in exceptional years, occasionally surpassing 700 inches during particularly active storm cycles.

    Early season openings become possible through the resort's high base elevation and reliable pre-Christmas snowfall, whilst spring skiing extends well into April with excellent corn snow developing on sunny afternoons. The microclimate's position at the head of Big Cottonwood Canyon intercepts westerly storm flow efficiently, with the Wasatch Range forcing moisture-laden air upward where it condenses and deposits exceptionally dry, light powder across Brighton's varied terrain.

    Night skiing operations run six nights weekly from mid-December through mid-March, offering extended riding opportunities under lights during the season's core months. The resort's snow quality benefits from Utah's famously low-density powder, creating forgiving conditions for progression whilst delivering the deep, consistent coverage that attracts powder seekers to the Cottonwood Canyons. Clear, sunny days provide spectacular alpine vistas whilst maintaining excellent snow quality on shaded aspects throughout winter.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    14 Nov 2025
    Opens
    18 May 2026
    Closes
    185
    Days open
    42 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Brighton, and where to stay

    Located at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon approximately 58km southeast of downtown Salt Lake City, Brighton sits just 56km from Salt Lake City International Airport with drive times averaging 45-50 minutes under normal conditions. The resort's position in the Wasatch Range places it amongst North America's most accessible alpine skiing destinations, with the scenic Highway 190 canyon approach providing a straightforward route from the Salt Lake valley floor. Brighton's proximity to metropolitan Salt Lake creates convenient access to diverse accommodation options in surrounding communities including Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, and Midvale.

    The resort shares Big Cottonwood Canyon with neighbouring Solitude Mountain Resort located just 3km away, with interconnecting terrain and combined SolBright passes allowing skiers to experience both mountains during single visits. This strategic canyon position creates a powder haven where orographic lift generates substantially higher snowfall than the valley below, whilst maintaining remarkably short transfer times from major transport hubs. Free UTA ski bus services connect downtown Salt Lake and park-and-ride facilities directly to the resort throughout winter, providing economical transport alternatives.

    Brighton's location within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest surrounds visitors with pristine alpine scenery and direct backcountry access gates for adventurous skiers seeking terrain beyond the resort boundary. The canyon's year-round recreation opportunities extend Brighton's appeal beyond winter months, with lift-assisted mountain biking and disc golf available during summer. Weekend parking reservations become essential during peak periods, though the robust public transport network and carpool options provide practical alternatives to private vehicle access up the canyon.

    Where to stay

    Search all stays →

    Hotels and lodges near Brighton, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business

    Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business

    Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.

    25 Aug 2026
    Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed

    Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed

    I'm not a gamer. I'm a skier and snowboarder who happens to have a laptop. So when a ski resort management game called Ski-E-O! landed on Steam, I wasn't expecting to lose an afternoon to it - but here we are. Real mountain terrain, a full weather system, storms that roll in and wreck your snow base, avalanche danger, and enough depth to make RollerCoaster Tycoon feel simple by comparison. Early access lands in November. Here's what a few hours in the free demo actually looks like.

    23 Aug 2026
    Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola

    Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola

    The rumours are true: Sugar Bowl is tearing out its Emerald gondola, in place since 1983, and replacing it with a new 8-person Doppelmayr system - nearly doubling uphill capacity to 1,800 people an hour. It's the fourth generation of a gondola line that dates back to 1953, when Sugar Bowl became the first resort on the West Coast to run one at all, and it's just one piece of a $100 million overhaul touching lodges, parking and snowmaking. Here's what's changing, and what's staying the same.

    23 Aug 2026
    Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire

    Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire

    The death toll from Thursday night's fire at Restaurant Beverin in Thusis, Switzerland, has begun to firm up. One Swiss outlet, citing Graubünden Cantonal Police, reports that two of the five people initially reported missing have now been confirmed dead, leaving three unaccounted for. The building's collapsed stairwell and structural instability have slowed recovery efforts throughout. Here's what's changed since the fire broke out, and what's still unconfirmed.

    22 Aug 2026
    Selwyn Snow Resort Closes Early as Rain Ends Its 2026 Season

    Selwyn Snow Resort Closes Early as Rain Ends Its 2026 Season

    Selwyn Snow Resort has called an early end to its 2026 season, a day after Victoria's Mount Baw Baw did the same. Rain on Thursday stripped what was left of the snowpack, and the cold nights needed to rebuild it through snowmaking never arrived. It's a rough result for a resort that only just found its footing again after being burned to the ground in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires and a multi-year rebuild. Here's how the season fell apart, and where Selwyn's been since the fire.

    22 Aug 2026
    Mt Baw Baw Becomes First Australian Resort to Close for 2026

    Mt Baw Baw Becomes First Australian Resort to Close for 2026

    Mt Baw Baw is calling time on its 2026 season this Sunday at 5pm, becoming the first Australian resort to close for the year after warm spells and rain wore through its snowpack. Lifts stop, but the resort stays open, entry fees get waived, and there's one last Bollywood Weekend before the lights go out. Fifty-seven days after opening, here's how the season ended and what it means for the rest of Australia's struggling snowpack.

    21 Aug 2026
    Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair

    Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair

    Arosa's Hörnli sector is getting its biggest overhaul in decades. The 1986 gondola and 1994 chairlift linking toward Lenzerheide are both being replaced, with capacity up, tower count down and a new base station lower on the hill. At roughly CHF 67 million, it is the largest single investment Arosa Bergbahnen has ever made - and the target opening has already slipped a year, to December 2028. Here is what is changing, and why the timeline moved.

    20 Aug 2026
    Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

    Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

    Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.

    19 Aug 2026

    Current conditions

    Snow Report
    Updated 24 Aug 2026
    10,499ft
    summit
    +0in
    new snow · last 24 hours
    Overcast51°F / 73°F · W 15mph
    Snowfall
    24 hours
    0in
    48 hours
    0in
    7 days
    0in
    Base depth
    0in
    Season total
    0in
    Total lifts7

    Live open status isn’t available right now.

    14 Nov 2025 - 18 May 2026

    Hour by Hour

    Next 40 hours· Updated Aug 24, 2026 at 6:02 PM
    Tue2aNow4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pWed12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p
    Conditions
    Temp°F · feels
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    6660
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    Snowfallin
    0
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    Precip chance%
    5%
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    1%
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    Precipin0.000000000000000000000000000000000000.00000
    Wind / gustmph
    8G17
    3G3
    6G8
    8G10
    8G11
    8G9
    11G13
    10G13
    11G12
    3G4
    4G11
    7G12
    11G12
    10G11
    10G11
    15G18
    6G12
    5G9
    4G6
    3G5
    4G6
    7G10
    9G14
    6G7
    9G10
    9G9
    9G11
    8G8
    5G5
    5G5
    8G7
    6G7
    5G5
    6G6
    7G8
    6G9
    8G9
    9G10
    11G10
    9G9

    Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo

    7-Day Outlook

    10,499 ftUpdated Aug 24, 2026 at 6:02 PMOpen-Meteo

    Days 1–7

    0.0"

    Days 8–14

    0.0"

    Unlock days 8–14

    Free account required

    Tue, Aug 25

    Light Drizzle
    Temp73° / 51°°F
    Snow0.0"(9%)
    Wind15 mph W

    Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.

    Understanding the Brighton snow report

    Planning a day at Brighton? Our snow report combines official mountain data with live weather so you know exactly what conditions look like right now, from the 2668m base to the 3200m summit.

    Snow measurements

    Snow depth at Brighton is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 532m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.

    Weather conditions

    Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at Brighton are holding up or starting to soften.

    Data sources

    Brighton snow data is collected through a combination of on-mountain reports and weather forecasting services, giving you both official resort updates and independent forecast data in one place. The mountain is served by 7 lifts, including 4 quad chairlifts and a 6-person chairlift.

    When to check

    The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Brighton's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.