The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Utah

Quincey's Knoll offers some of the freshest powder turns during or after a storm. It takes a while to get to which dissuades the average skier from making the journey. However, it isn't a big pitch....

Park City is pretty limiting on the uphill access allowed to skiers and splitboarders, but there is one route that's designated for skinning outside of operating hours. Therefore this one is a huge hit with the local athletic crowd....

Alta does not typically allow uphill access during the operating season, but the exception is Summer Road, which is outside the main resort area. It can be used to ski some inbounds terrain that's hard to reach by lifts, and also to reach popular backcountry zones....

Beaver Mountain is a tiny resort that's out of the way from just about anywhere, but there is some good backcountry skiing in the Bear River Range nearby. If you're in the area with your touring gear, you could enjoy generous uphill access provided by this small-town ski hill....

Cascade used to be marked on the map, but often lacks good snow depth to be open. IF the ropes are open and the snow deep enough Cascade is a fantastic steeper run that descends under the Mountaineer Express lift, staying left toward the hotel....

Broad evergreen forests cover some of the slopes of Deer Valley. The area was almost completely clear cut when at the peak of mining operations. The forests have grown back. X-Files is one such area....

Guardsman Glade is an unmarked piece of terrain between Bandana and Hawkeye. Skiers who follow the Ruby Express lift line will find gentle black terrain, moguls and widely spaced trees. There is a small rock garden to be aware of as the terrain steepens shortly after entering....

At the point where Gemini splits to the left from Star Gazer, Ooompa Loompa Land begins. It is not marked but there are several entrances on the two blue runs that border this off piste area....

Raintree is one of the “adventure” areas for cat skiing and touring at Powder Mountain. It’s typically accessed on single-ride snowcat trips that must be booked in advance. However, when the terrain is open you could instead skin out there on your own, and thus time your run down to avoid the snowcat crowds....

Park at the Porter Fork trailhead in upper Millcreek Canyon. Head through the gate and up the road through the cabins and enter the trail in the Olympus Wilderness. Follow the trail through the switchbacks and then in the meadow....

A pretty mellow bowl with some great powder skiing. Look for the snowgun on the right side of the Bananas flats and enter near here for the longest run. There are tight trees at the top that you have to make your way through, but it soon opens up into the bowl....

Head straight out the gate and begin the boot pack up the ridge. If the boot pack is already set, it will take about 20-30 minutes to reach the peak. If you have to put the boot pack in, it will take much longer....

Park at the S curves 4.2 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon on the S side of the road. From here follow the creek to the E then follow the summer trail into Mill B S drainage....

The Davis Gulch is a Wasatch classic with a wide, open slope at a consistent pitch in the upper thirty degree range. To access, park at the Porter Fork trailhead in upper Millcreek Canyon....

To access the Whipple Couloir, park at the Neff's Canyon trailhead in Mount Olympus Cove. From here follow the road grade up into the canyon, stay left at the first branch, and you'll be heading E on a well travelled trail....

This is the main uphill route at Brighton resort, and it's typically open during operating hours. This allows all-day access to inbounds runs as well as backcountry terrain. Skin up this route to ski from the Crest Express lift, or to exit the resort through the backcountry gate....

Twin Lakes Pass divides two valleys with backcountry skiing between Alta and Brighton/Solitude. Most people get there from the Alta side, but if you're starting from Brighton this is the way you can go....

Alta does not allow inbounds uphill travel during the operating season, but access is normally allowed in early and late season. During those times the resort is not patrolled, however, and should be treated as backcountry terrain....

Hit Moonshot at least once during any given day at Snowbasin. This run has consistently fresh lines even into the afternoon. The wind usually dumps snow into the area which means that even if there has not been a storm in a few days you can find thigh or waist deep powder....

Power Up is a quick, but necessary powder shot to add to your line from the top of the mountain to the bottom. Five to eight solid powder shots await you on this often-missed run off the side of the Snowbasin Power Station....