Before arriving at Brian Head, I really had no idea of what to expect. I have been to the Park City area and I am an avid Rockies skier but I had never ventured to the southern Utah desert. The drive from the east was amazing with striking, red rock formations and snow-capped peaks in the distance. The beautiful drive continued as we proceeded up the canyon to the ski area. The road is well kept and rather steep, which alludes to the big change in elevation from the valley floor to the resort, and the snow just keeps getting deeper and deeper as you climb in elevation. Along the way, glimpses of lifts and mountaintops give a sneak peak of what is to come.
Once you hit the top, it turns into a winter wonderland. Deep snow is everywhere and immediately the resort is upon you. The area is divided into two parts, which consist of the Navajo Peak and Brian Head peak areas. I skipped the Navajo area because it is for the beginners. Even I am good enough to pass it by but it looked nicely set up for the novices. The main peak, however, is right up my alley. This hill is set up perfectly for boarders and skiers alike and everything funnels into a central area so it makes losing your friends real hard. The runs were wide open and well groomed and the terrain parks were spaced nicely along the mountain so as to integrate them into your runs. I found Brian Head to be an excellent boarders mountain with all the challenges that make big mountain riding fun. Plenty of steeps and wide-open cruisers. The weather was amazing with cerulean skies and warm, comfortable days. The locals told us that this was pretty much the norm except when it was snowing.
The town of Brian Head is cozy and friendly with a plethora of shops, stores, and restaurants. Everything you need for a ski vacation is available from rentals to top-notch new equipment as well as knickknacks and souvenirs. Restaurants are all over and we found all of our meals to quite excellent.
All in all, Brian Head is an oasis of skiing in the Utah desert and an ideal location to bring the family for a week or a weekend.