Winter Wonderland

Utah is home to "The greatest snow on earth". And Davis County is home to the best ski/shred values in the state: Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Wolf Creek.

The temperature at the higher elevations maintains a light fluffy snow which is ideal for powder skiing. The location of the ski resorts are also a key factor. As the storms approach the west side of the mountains, the airstream picks up evaporative moisture from the Great Salt Lake. As the moisture-laden air rises up the mountains, it dumps the moisure in the form of snow onto the Wasatch Front mountain range.

The Layton area is among the closest lodging to Snowbasin and Powder Mountain.  Ski or board during the day, then walk to all of the area's restaurants and shops at night.  

Right in the geographic center of a line of resorts - North Salt Lake is the mid-point between the Cottonwood Canyons and the northern Utah resorts. It is a short drive to Snowbird, Solitude, Alta and Brighton to the south and Powder Mountain and Snowbasin to the north. In fact, Layton hotels are among the closest lodging to Powder Mountain and Snowbasin; the latter is where the 2002 Winter Olympic downhill and Super G racing events were held.

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in Farmington Canyon is a favorite activity of locals. Stop by local ski shops to learn about conditions and the best trails. If you want to avoid exercise but love the winter wonderland, try snowmobiling. Local businesses rent snowmobiles, but first timers should make a reservation with a local outfitter, such as Red Rock Ranch in Huntsville. They specialize in Monte Cristo, Utah’s most popular snowmobiling destination.

Adventurous skiers may consider a pick-up by Diamond Peaks heli-skiing to discover untracked snow at Powder Mountain.

Park City, famous for Sundance Film Festival, is only a 40 minute drive from the south end of the county, and about an hour from the Layton Hospitality Zone. Two of the area’s premiere ski resorts, Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort, were Olympic venues. If you are headed that way, a stop at the Utah Winter Sports Park is a must. The park was the Olympic site for ski jumping, nordic combined, bobsled, skeleton and luge. Watch future Olympians practice or try the bobsled out for yourself. Midway, Utah is just around the corner from Park City, and it is where the cross-country skiing events took place during the 2002 Olympics at Soldier Hollow. On your way to the Park City resorts, take advantage of Gorgoza Winter Tubing Park on the east side of Parley's Summit on I-80. Start your day in Park City with a balloon ride over the Rockies with Morning Star Balloon 801-685-8555.

See our Ski Resort Statistics Chart for more information.

Snowbasin: A Sun Valley Resort
World-class ski resort and site of Olympic Winter Games in February 2002.