Brian Head ski resort is southern Utah’s hidden gem averaging 400 inches of snow per year and an overall great value when skiing with kids. Utah is also known to have “the greatest snow on Earth”. Here are things to do in winter at Brian Head, Utah.
Getting to Brian Head
We’ve spent many winters at Brian Head resort, Utah’s highest ski resort, and hope to keep going back. One of the great things about this drive is that we break up the road trip by spending a night in Las Vegas going there and coming home.
As a Vegas fan, it’s a major plus. It’s a three hour drive from Las Vegas. It can even be a trip to combine with visiting Utah’s national parks and monuments like Zion and Bryce Canyon. This resort offers plenty of family-friendly winter activities whether you get on the ski lift or not.
Go Snow Tubing
Upon entering the ski resort village, it was hard to miss the steep hill with six lanes for snow tubing next to the Navajo Lodge. One of the things my kids love about the snow other than playing in it is snow tubing.
Needless to say, they were beyond excited to see this much bigger tubing place than the snow tubing in Colorado we did a couple of years ago. The best description I’ve seen for snow tubing was “water slide on snow“. It is a fun, exhilarating activity for the whole family.
Reservations are highly recommended for Saturdays and holiday weekends and at least 48 hours in advance. Make tubing reservations online where you had to specify the date and specific 1.5 hour period you plan to go. Their rates are quite reasonable.
Every rider is then directed to a little shack outside at the base of the tubing hill where the riders have to watch a short safety video. It was a good orientation video especially for beginners.
The only bad part is sitting there in the cold and watching it. I’m not sure how much they enforce watching it since there was no one around.
It was pretty much grab your own inflatable tube from the racks or whatever was left on the snow. A tow lift rope was towards the side where riders can sit on their tube to be carried up.
The staff at the top then directed riders to specific lanes for a slide down the hill. It was such a delight to hear squeals of joy from kids riding on their tubes. We didn’t see any tubes that were linked together but most likely possible as we’ve seen it elsewhere.
Despite the cold weather and snow flurries, the kids always have a lot of fun. This is always a popular activity. For many, it was definitely worth the cold for this adventure.
The new location of the Navajo Tubing Park is to the right of Chair 6, Pioneer. Tubing is also available and open daily at the Giant Steps Tubing Park.
Tips for Snow Tubing
- Make reservations online at least 48 hours in advance. It is highly recommended for holiday weekends and Saturdays.
- Fill out waiver beforehand to save some time.
- Wear a lot of layers.
Go Skiing and Snowboarding
My kids learned to ski and snowboard at Brian Head Ski Resort. While we’ve visited ski resorts in Colorado, Whistler and even the Swiss Alps, this ski resort holds a special place in our family’s memories and heart. My now teens still ask to go on a road trip here during winters.
Having taken ski and snowboard lessons before in Southern California’s ski resorts, they were intimidating and not fun. It got really warm in the afternoon and the man-made snow became wet, slippery and slushy. These weren’t ideal conditions when falling on your behind a lot as a beginner.
The worst for me were the crowds and lines for everything. The beginner mountains were crowded and it was scary enough trying to go down a mountain but it being littered makes it more scary. Granted we’ve gone on weekends, it was very off-putting.
When I took my lesson at Brian Head, it was a completely different experience. Everything was SO much better. There’s a reason this resort is gaining popularity and is also a popular weekend getaway for Vegas residents.
They take pride in its lack of lines and the wide open spaces for learning. For once, it was an enjoyable experience.
These are the same reasons why my kids seem to have greatly improved on their skiing and love returning here. This was the ideal place to take them even if it required a long road trip.
Reservations are required for the ski school at least 48 hours in advance. Their prices were still cheaper than most Colorado’s ski resorts and way cheaper than Vancouver’s Whistler resort. Sessions run from 10AM -3 PM which included lunch and equipment rentals.
We’ve usually reserved and paid a few weeks before our trip through their Kid’s Programs page and we haven’t had issues with space. Waiver forms can also be printed in advance to skip the lines. Another great thing for parents who have kids, 3 years old and under, is the daycare where reservations were required.
Brian Head’s ski programs for kids were wonderful. The ratio was low so the instructors can pay enough attention to the kids.
They get priority in the lift lines and there’s a dedicated mountain for kids and beginners. Plus, how can one not enjoy these scenic views as you’re skiing down the mountain.
The Giant Steps trail is open at night for a fraction of the cost. The trails are well lit and my family actually enjoys the more peaceful rides and lesser crowds. The village has several stores for rental equipment and the prices are very reasonable.
Go Sledding
The village has a free sledding hill on Vasels Road by Evergreen Condos. Don’t have a sled? It’s okay because some of the resort stores sell them.
It wasn’t a very big or wide hill but suited my kids just fine. There was plenty of space where they didn’t have to compete for space with other kids. We also saw some people sledding on other hills throughout the town.
Preview Cedar Breaks National Monument
Not many ski resorts have a national park entity as its neighbor. Cedar Breaks National Monument is a red rock wonderland.
While the main scenic highway and many other parts of the park is inaccessible during the winter, there are a couple of lookouts to admire the panoramic views. The park has a red rock amphitheater with unique formations.
The red rocks provide a dramatic backdrop to the fallen snow blanketing the area. It is a beautiful sight and shouldn’t be missed. It provides a preview of what this park has to offer visitors during warmer months.
The Visitor’s Center and restrooms are closed during the winter season which is usually from mid-October to late May.
Go Snowshoeing
One of the best ways to see Cedar Breaks during the winter is through snowshoeing. There are trails for those with snowshoes for a DIY sightseeing tour.
The Cedar Breaks National Monument park rangers also offer snowshoe tours in January through March. I actually participated in one of these tours a few years ago while my family was skiing and snowboarding. They also provided snowshoes and poles.
The altitude here is over 10,000 ft. The air is a bit thin. So, it was a bit of a challenge going up some of the little hills or I was just really out of shape.
The rangers were helpful and it is more of an interpretive walk but a great way to see the park as a winter wonderland. We stopped at a yurt within the park for some warmth and hot cocoa.
See the calendar of events for dates, times and registration information.
Stargazing
Cedar Breaks National Monument also hosts several stargazing parties during the winter months. This area is one of the country’s best places for stargazing. The park staff and astronomy volunteers provide a complimentary and informative talk about constellations and beyond. There are also telescopes set up for star gazing.
We haven’t made it to the star parties yet since it’s not scheduled during our visits but it is on the bucket list. See the calendar of events for dates and times of upcoming star parties.
Snowmobiling
While visiting nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument, we saw the mountain with many snowmobiles. Their tracks lining the white surface of Brian Head Peak was such a glorious sight to see.
There were plenty of snowmobile tours touring the Dixie National Forest and enjoying the bright sunny day. Snowmobilers sure made the rides look fun.
While the kids were at ski school and in between snowboarding time, my husband and I decided to experience a snowmobile tour for the first time a few years ago. We went with Thunder Mountain Motorsports . Tours range from 1.5 hour to an all-day one.
They accepted kids as young as three years old for passengers. Drivers must be at least 16 years old. The tour and experience were definitely unforgettable and so beautiful. Reservations are recommended.
The Cedar Mountain and East Fork Snowmobile Complex offers many wide-open and scenic trails. Some of these offer excellent views around the Cedar Breaks National Monument.
We also like the Brian Head Trail that runs through the town and ski area. It also goes up to a wide expansive area and mountain trail that reaches 11,000 feet in elevation.
Where to Stay in Brian Head
While the resort town is quaint with a small town atmosphere, it provides enough lodging and some small shopping centers for provisions. There were no cobblestone streets lined with stores and restaurants. But, that is what makes this place special and not overrun with tourists.
Lodging options are primarily condos and hotels. Many come with kitchenettes.
There is also an option to stay at Cedar City, about 30 miles away, which had plenty of family-friendly hotels and restaurants. Since there seemed to be only one general store and market, it is best to get all provisions at the Super Walmart in Cedar City.
*Have you experienced Brian Head ski resort?
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