Snowboarding in Utah: Where You Can Ride

Which resorts allow snowboarding

Most Utah resorts welcome snowboarders, so riders have plenty of choice. Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Park City, Snowbasin, Sundance, and Powder Mountain all allow snowboarding, covering the Cottonwood canyons, the Park City area, and the northern resorts.

The two exceptions are well known: Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon and Deer Valley near Park City are skiers-only and do not allow snowboarding. These are long-standing policies, not seasonal quirks, so build your trip around them if anyone in your group rides.

Planning a mixed skiers-and-riders group

If your group mixes skiers and snowboarders, the skiers-only resorts need a workaround. In Little Cottonwood Canyon, riders can use Snowbird while skiers do Alta, since both sit in the same canyon. Near Park City, riders can use Park City Mountain while skiers do Deer Valley.

That way everyone has a home mountain within easy reach, and the group can regroup at the end of the day. Planning this in advance avoids the surprise of showing up somewhere a rider cannot board.

Terrain parks and pipes

Many Utah resorts build terrain parks and, at some mountains, pipes, with features ranging from beginner-friendly boxes to larger jumps. Brighton in particular has a long snowboarding culture, but parks exist at a number of resorts. The exact setup changes every season.

If parks are a priority for your trip, check each resort's current park information rather than assuming, since features and which parks are open vary with the season and conditions. Park terrain is also weather-dependent and gets built up over the season.

What beginner snowboarders should know

Learning to snowboard has a famously tough first day or two as you get used to riding sideways and linking turns. A lesson pays off here, both for progress and for avoiding bad habits. Pick a resort with good beginner terrain and a learning area to start.

Approachable mountains like Brighton and Solitude in Big Cottonwood, or the learning areas at larger resorts, are common places to start. Rent gear that fits, dress in warm waterproof layers, and expect to spend time on the ground early on. It gets much better quickly with practice.

Powder riding and conditions

Utah's deep, dry powder is a big draw for snowboarders, especially in the Cottonwood canyons. Riding powder is a different feel from groomed snow and is part of what makes the state special. Snowbird, for example, is a popular powder mountain that allows riders.

Powder days are weather-driven, so watch the conditions report and remember that the same storms can trigger canyon road closures for avalanche control. Plan flexibly, and if you venture beyond resort boundaries, treat it as backcountry with all the avalanche preparation that requires.