Brian Head Ski & Summer Resort

Brian Head Ski & Summer Resort — Four-Season Mountain Adventure

Brian Head Resort stands as Southern Utah's premier mountain destination, offering ski and snowboard terrain in winter and mountain biking, hiking, and scenic adventures in summer at elevations between 9,600 and 11,307 feet in the Dixie National Forest. Located just 30 miles east of Cedar City on State Route 143 and approximately 90 minutes from St. George, Brian Head occupies a singular position in the regional recreation landscape: high enough to receive consistent annual snowfall and escape summer desert heat, yet close enough to Southern Utah's population centers to serve as a day-trip destination for families from St. George, Hurricane, and Cedar City who want mountain recreation without an extended drive. The resort's character — less crowded than the Wasatch Front mega-resorts, more affordable than destination ski areas, and possessed of genuinely beautiful alpine terrain — makes it a beloved local secret that Southern Utah families return to year after year.

Winter Skiing and Snowboarding

Brian Head Resort spans two mountains — Giant Steps and Navajo — connected by on-mountain terrain and base area shuttles, offering 71 named runs across more than 650 acres of skiable terrain. The mountains receive an average of 360 inches of annual snowfall, with peak elevation at 11,307 feet ensuring cold temperatures that preserve snow quality throughout the winter season. Terrain distribution provides options for every skill level: gentle beginner slopes served by dedicated magic carpet lifts and easy chairlifts, groomed intermediate runs that build skills efficiently, and black diamond and double-black terrain that challenges advanced skiers and riders. The resort's ski school handles lessons for first-timers through advanced technique refinement, and the Tiny Tracks program introduces children as young as three to snow sports in a developmental environment designed specifically for young learners.

Snow Tubing and Winter Fun

Brian Head's snow tubing hill provides winter fun that does not require skiing or snowboarding skills, making it the perfect winter outing for families with young children, non-skiers who still want snow play, and groups that prefer the pure joy of sliding downhill over the learning curve of alpine sports. Tubing lanes are groomed and maintained for optimal sliding, and magic carpet lifts return tubers to the top without the exhausting hike that made old-fashioned tubing hills a workout. Evening tubing under lights extends winter recreation into the evening hours on select nights, creating a magical high-mountain atmosphere that St. George's desert floor cannot replicate. Tubing tickets can be purchased independently of ski lift tickets, allowing mixed groups to enjoy the resort together even when skiing interests diverge. For year-round outdoor activities, explore the Southern Utah things to do guide.

Summer Mountain Biking and Hiking

When the snow melts from Brian Head's slopes — typically by late June — the resort transforms into a summer mountain recreation destination with trail access to over 200 miles of mountain biking and hiking routes through the Dixie National Forest. The chairlift operates as a mountain biking uplift during summer months, allowing riders to reach the mountain's upper terrain and enjoy gravity-assisted descents through aspen groves, across wildflower meadows, and down technical rock gardens without pedaling uphill. Trail difficulty ranges from smooth, flowing cross-country routes appropriate for recreational cyclists on hardtail bikes to demanding technical descents that challenge expert downhillers. Hikers access the same trail network on foot, with routes connecting to nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument's rim trail and the Brian Head Peak summit trail, which rewards climbers with panoramic views stretching across three states.

Scenic Chairlift Rides and Sightseeing

Non-athletic visitors and families with young children enjoy Brian Head's scenic chairlift rides during summer operations, ascending to alpine elevations where summer temperatures in the 65-75°F range provide a refreshing contrast to St. George's 100°F+ valley heat. The views from Brian Head's upper terrain encompass Snow Canyon State Park, Zion National Park's white cliffs, the Pine Valley Mountains, and on exceptionally clear days, Las Vegas on the southern horizon. Sightseeing chairlift tickets are priced accessibly for family visits, and picnic areas at mid-mountain and summit locations allow visitors to linger in the alpine environment with their own food and beverages. Wildflower season from late June through August transforms the meadows into a color display that rivals anything the valley offers in any season.