Skiing
Cross-Country
North Fork Park. The 14 well-maintained miles of cross-country trails here, plus 6 miles of snowshoe trails, are perfect for all experience levels and also popular in summer for hiking and biking. Cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals are available, and day passes cost $10 for hiking, $8 for biking, and $5 for snowshoeing. 4150 E. 5950 N, Eden, Utah, 84310. 801/648–9020; www.ogdennordic.com.
Downhill
If you're staying in Ogden and want to head for the mountains for a day of skiing or snowboarding, you can catch the Ski Bus, which runs between several downtown Ogden hotels and the ski resorts in the Ogden Valley. For details of schedules and routes, call 888/743–3882, or ask at the front desk of your local hotel. Black Diamond Shuttle also offers taxi service from hotels and the airport. Call 801/920–1774.
Powder Mountain. This classic ski resort offers huge terrain—more skiable acres than any other resort in North America— even though it doesn't have as many lifts (nine all together) as some of Utah's destination resorts. Two terrain parks and a half-pipe are popular with snowboarders. Snowcat skiing (for an additional $25) and night skiing are also popular. Although plenty challenging, the intermediate options (40 percent of the 154 runs) are heavenly in contrast to nearby Snowbasin, which is generally steeper and more exposed. You won't find fancy lodges or haute cuisine here, but with caps on passes (3,000 per season and 1,500 per day), crowds are nonexistent, and the laid-back slope-side eateries serve everything from scones and hot soup to flame-broiled burgers at the Powder Keg. 6965 E. Hwy. 158, Eden, Utah, 84310. 801/745–3772; www.powdermountain.com. Lift tickets $96.
Snowbasin. A vertical drop of 2,959 feet and a dramatic start at the pinnacle of Mount Ogden made this resort just 17 miles from Ogden the perfect site for the downhill ski races during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. With nine lifts accessing more than 3,000 acres with 104 runs of steep, skiable terrain, this is one of Utah's largest resorts. It also offers miles of Nordic trails for cross-country skiing. Served in spectacular lodges, the on-mountain food consistently ranks among the best in the state, and the resort also scores high marks for service, lifts, and grooming. 3925 E. Snowbasin Rd. (Hwy. 226), Huntsville, Utah, 84317. 801/620–1000; 888/437–5488; www.snowbasin.com. Lift tickets $125.
Nordic Valley. Utah's smallest ski resort was used for downhill training for the 2002 Olympics. A great place to learn, this charming family-oriented resort is one of the most affordable in the state, and the whole mountain is lighted for night skiing and boarding. 3567 E. Nordic Valley Way, Eden, Utah, 84310. 801/745–3511; www.nordicvalley.com. Lift tickets $50. Daily Dec.–Apr..
