Sundance

Sundance isn't just the home of an annual film festival. Actor Robert Redford purchased this area in 1968, and today's all-season resort offers visitors plenty to do. It offers alpine skiing and other winter fun north of Provo and southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Guests flying into the winter venue will use the Salt Lake City International Airport. Interstate travelers can use I-80 and I-15 to reach the region and then transfer to US Route 189. Utah State Highway 92 brings visitors to the resort, which sits on the west side of the highway.

A Sprawling Resort

Anyone visiting the Sundance resort area is surprised at the acreage the facilities cover. The mountain resort sits across 5,000 acres on the slopes of Mount Timpanogos and is large enough that it registers as a census-designated place in 2020. A lower elevation means a shorter ski season, requiring other activities to keep the resort busy.

Winter activities center on the 450 acres of skiable terrain found on the slopes here. A full-service Nordic Center provides a hub for cross-country skiers. The demo and service center keeps explorers up and running, with lessons available for newbies. Trail passes are available for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, and the ladies and kids clubs offer frequent guests a group to center exploration around.

Access from the Outlaw trail brings skiers and riders to the terrain park at Sundance. It is progressive in design, providing features that all skill levels can enjoy. Those wanting to learn a little more about the mountain can meet at the base of Ray's lift for daily tours. The majority of the front mountain area, and portions of the Nordic trail system, are open for night skiing four nights a week. Another to-do a guest can try is the Winter ZipTour, providing over 3,870 feet of zip-line riding at Sundance.

Short but Sweet

Sundance may have a shorter ski season than other resorts in this part of the state, but it still gets an average annual snowfall of 320 inches. Over 100 acres of the resort has snowmaking capabilities, which helps maintain ideal conditions for carving the pow.

The base elevation of the Sundance ski area rests at 6,100 feet. A summit height of 8,250 feet creates the 2,150-foot vertical skiers and snowboarders enjoy here. The longest run is over half a mile, which means guests can bomb down the slopes if they aren't careful.

The terrain has 44 runs, with only 20-percent of the mountain rated as black diamond or double diamond for advanced/expert skiing and riding. Beginner-friendly green ratings cover 35-percent of the runs, with the remaining 45-percent of Sundance rating blue for intermediates to enjoy.

A hand tow, a triple chair, and three quad chairs move guests uphill here. Things can get busy around holidays, but the lifties keep things moving nicely between the lower village and Bearclaw cabin. Guests here are well-served, with all amenities found on-mountain at Sundance. The resort's proximity to Provo and Salt Lake City also makes it a day or evening destination for local park rats who have a few hours to spare.