Brian Head Resort First Utah Ski Resort To Open This Season

Officials at Brian Head Resort announced that they will become the first ski area to open in Utah when the lifts start turning this Friday, November 4, the earliest opening in resort history.

Cold temperatures and early season snow (including the 17” that fell this month and the projected additional 19” expected to fall before opening day, according to OpenSnow) will allow Brian Head Resort to open the mountain two weekends ahead of schedule.

Brian Head will be open Fridays from 10:00 am - 4:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through November 18, when the Resort will begin daily operations.

In addition to being the first resort open in Utah, Brian Head Resort is one of just 5 resorts to open in the country by November 4th, according to onthesnow.com. “We are excited to welcome winter and our guests back to Brian Head Resort,” said Marilyn Butler, general manager. “Our dedicated teams and Mother Nature have come together to allow us to experience the mountain in an unprecedented early season opening. We anticipate a great winter season and have been working diligently to enhance our guests’ experience and exploring new ways to give people the freedom to ski.”

Brian Head Resort will open the resort’s newest high-speed lift, Navajo Express, at the Navajo Base area Friday, November 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with access to the beginner run Paradise. Navajo Lodge will offer full-service rentals, food and beverage and retail offerings at High Mountain Outfitters.

Lift tickets will start at $29 for adults (ages 13-74). Kids 12 and younger ski free with the Power Kids Pass and guests 75 and older ski free with the Super Senior season pass. Both passes are valid everyday at Brian Head Resort, Nordic Valley Ski Resort, Arizona Snowbowl, Purgatory Resort, Hesperus Ski Area, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, Willamette Pass Resort, and Spider Mountain Bike Park.

Shad Hunter, Brian Head’s ski patrol director, said that while early season conditions will exist, the team is excited to open and will be opening additional terrain as conditions allow. “We have the highest base elevation in Utah allowing for prime early season conditions,” he said. “We are eager to remind everyone about our powder, breathtaking red rock views, and remarkably high quality and quantities of snowfall. The recent snowfall and dedicated round-the-clock teams are allowing for our earliest opening day in our history.”

New this 2022/2023 season, Brian Head Resort is adding more carriers to Navajo Express increasing chair capacity to 100% in-turn reducing lift line wait times. In addition, the snowmaking updates made in summer 2022 increased production and performance, which contributed to this season's historic November 4 opening day.