Powder Mountain, UT: Last Chance to Ski US’s “Biggest” Ski Resort?

Yall missed it ! If you were there in the 90's before the SLC olympics, you know what I am talkin about ! The old POMA lift, the rope behind the snowmobile that you grabbed and got dragged across the ridge to whatever powder section you wanted to drop into...........the old school bus that couldnt come to a stop as you ran alongside and other skiers grabbed your skis from the windows as you desperately grabbed the handrail inside the door to yank yourself inside as the bus just kept chuggin uphill in 1st gear ! Gettin lost all the time as a noob and marching along to find a lift. Ah yes. Planes, trains and automobiles was the slogan back then. I seem to remember the lift ticket being in the $ 30's. It was so cool, especially for all of us that lived by the Cottonwood canyons. A superb different goofy old school thing. Sadly, it will never be anything like that ever again.

1 ticket $230 !!!!! Pass $1600!!!!!!!! No wonder they’re empty 😂👍

I'm currently in Utah, but today is my last day skiing. Just left Snowbird and I'm on my way to Brighton for my last day of night skiing. Really would've loved to experience Powder Mountain in its current state before it goes too corporate, but it is what it is. I'll have to visit it next year!

My Super Senior Pass price was $69 this season, early renewal for next season $1,199. The other season passes are at least that expensive too. The resort isn't worth that price and it certainly isn't competitive either in price or skiing experience.

One suggestion I have for visitors is to stay in downtown Ogden near the #674 bus stops. Enjoy the many cool restaurants and breweries and then hop on the #674 bus in the morning which takes you right to the front steps of the Timberline Lodge. This is by far the best way to go. Powder Mountain Road is a 16% grade and when it is snowy it is treacherous. 4x4 AND snowtires required. Many slide offs. Take the #674 and don't stress the road.

Great review! This made me nostalgic for Kings Ridge, another (much smaller) top-down ski area in New Hampshire where I learned to ski. They went under in the late 90s but the top-down layout definitely has some benefits.

Powder Mountain is great for families and groups because you separate and chose your run from the top and then congregate at the lift. Being able to see and contact your friends and family on the way down while experiencing different skill levels makes for great shared memories. Iguana

I skied this resort last year . Amazing! Did 5 bowls in 4 hours with guide ! Unbelievable and way empty, no lines.

I just skied Utah this year with the Yeti pass, which means I skied one day at each mountain in the state. Here’s my take on Powder. 1. I skied in Feb, and the snow was excellent 2. Tons of people were skiing the Cat, hike and bus-only terrain (I did not) 3. The mountain is huge and extremely varied terrain-there’s tons of terrain for everyone. Great runs where you can take a chute and jump off a cliff, right next to a cruiser on one side and a powdery glade on the other. Your group can literally start on the same run, split up and ski their level, and meet at the bottom 4. The most friendly and helpful on-mountain staff 5. Very deficient facilities—lodges/restaurant etc are most completely lacking

As a regular skier of Powder Mt for last 15 years on vacations , your unbiased assessment I think is overall good. But the it’s hard to capture the stoke on powder days because fresh stuff is everywhere, usually not many powder moguls (giant moguls with some powder on them,) like Jackson Hole, and you can still find good stuff for another day or 2 after a storm. If not for that yes it’s got plenty of negatives. But if your into lots of easy tree skiing powder, no crowds and no glitz this could be your place. I have talked to a lot of people who once they ski here don’t want to go anywhere else. The access road is steep and they plow the heck out of it but it’s still the sketchiest in Salt Lake Area. Skied there today Friday 3/29/2024 , amazing powder day and in fact Monday and Wednesday also great days. I don’t think private lifts are a great idea. Build a great ski area and people will come buy lots, think Deere Valley, Vail ,Aspen, Whistler, Big Sky(née Moonlight Basin). You need regular folks buying season passes to pay the bills! Powder Mt is way too quirky for average affluent skier wanting a fancy home. I am going to keep showing up as long as I can!

those terrain restrictions sound ridiculous!

I skied this back in 2007 and I had a good time. I only skied it one day, so I am assuming I missed a lot of terrain. The place was like a ghost town back then. I do remember skiing some great trees. Nothing but powder and this was on a bad snow year.

This is why we hung up the skis a while ago. It’s become nothing but a playground for the 1% It’s a sad day what the west has become. I can’t afford to play let alone live in the places I grew up. I hope we wise up in the west and realize how quickly we are ruining what made us a fun and unique place to live/visit in the beginning…

Such a bummer that the new Lightning Ridge proposed chair will be a fixed grip quad. Building new chairlifts in 2024-2025 with outdated specs is absurd. All new lifts should at least be high speed quads (or better yet D-Line 6 pack chairs to allow for future growth). Wealthy homeowners will be disappointed to use a chairlift designed for the 1980's. Spend the extra money for modern chairs with shields (if not in a windprone area) and heated seats. That is what rich people want.

snowshoe WV & Blue Knob in PA are also upside down

No one local is happy about this change. They essentially took the things that made Powder unique and threw them out the window to try to make more money.

If your ever in Washington, check out White pass ski resort.

Snow shoe in WV has the village at the top of the mountain also.

I rode Pow Mow today and even took a cat ride. Conditions weren't bad but their paradise chair went down about a week ago due to a cable that was not pre-stretched and ended up having too much "sag" to be able to be used. This lift services some of my favorite terrain so it was a big let down. However, I was able to make a lot of laps on their high speed quad and their ungroomed terrain still had some good untouched lines. By 2pm the warm sun began taking its toll on the snow but still overall a good day. Glad to hit it on the indy before it's off next season meaning I'll likely never be back. The upcoming change to make Mary's and the Village lifts private is fine with me as they service some of the least enjoyable terrain and are not easy to access anyways.

Most of us who have skied Pow Mow for years won't miss the Village or Mary's lifts. They are both VERY slow and serve terrain that isn't that inspiring. Plus they were installed only a few years ago. Putting a lift on Lightening Ridge on the other hand is a winner! Steeper terrain!