Brian Head Announces Earliest Opening Day in Utah

Brian Head Resort, Utah's southernmost ski area, will start spinning its lifts on November 7. It will be the first Utah resort to open this season, a full week ahead of Solitude Mountain Resort's planned opening on November 14. This move ties last season's early opening, where Brian Head kicked off an hour after Solitude, and signals a continued effort to reclaim the title of the first ski resort to open in Utah.

Brian Head has a track record of early opens. The resort first made headlines with a historic November 4, 2022, start. Its high base elevation of 9,600 feet, combined with investments in snowmaking technology, has been key to these early season starts and extended seasons.

The resort has invested over $1.4 million in upgraded snowmaking equipment, new rental gear, and an improved Bypass Terrain Park. Thanks to these upgrades and its high elevation, Brian Head is aiming for a record-setting 184 skiable days this season. Last winter, the resort ran 181 skiable days between November 8, 2024 and May 11, 2025.

Brian Head is also dropping their ticket prices this season. Daily lift tickets for November will start at a wallet-friendly $14 to $23, a 26% decrease from last year. For those looking for more, the resort is part of the Power Pass multi-resort season pass, which also provides access to other Mountain Capital Partners' resorts like Arizona Snowbowl, Purgatory, and Colorado, as well as Valle Nevado in Chile.

Brian Head is also rolling out a new development project. The resort is undergoing an expansion that could nearly triple its terrain footprint. The plan, currently under environmental review by the U.S. Forest Service, proposes adding 1,651 acres of Dixie National Forest and private land to its Special Use Permit boundary, increasing the total from 887 to 2,538 acres.

This ambitious project includes:

If approved, the resort's capacity would surge from approximately 4,300 to over 13,000 guests, cementing Brian Head as one of the largest skiing destinations in the West. The expansion also aims to improve beginner terrain and enhance access between the resort's bases. The project is expected to be finalized by 2028.

See more here.