Night Skiing In Utah

Bright Lights, Soft Snow And
A Totally Different Vibe

Night skiing in Utah flips the script. Cooler temps, softer groomers, fewer people, and a golden-glow mountain mood you can’t get at noon.

If you’re short on time, chasing after-work laps, or just want to see the Wasatch under the lights, here’s where to go. How it works. And a few local tips to make it smooth.

If I was a skier … and quite a bit younger … this kind of skiing would’ve been something I would’ve loved to have tried. I remember tubing in three feet of snow up Emigration Canyon with some football buddies in college just before midnight after a big snow dump.

If you’ve driven up the canyon, just above Ruth’s Diner, you might notice a series of two steep heels … connected by a short horizontal … which made for some major snow tubing. Night tubing. That area is now fenced off.

My wife gets tired of me telling that story every time we drive up or down that canyon. That story isn’t going away. Probably because it was a memorable experience due to the hour.

There might’ve even been some beer involved. Relax. We were in college and it was the 1970’s. If that was the worst thing we did during those years, then it wouldn’t have been the ’70’s.

Skiing was something I always wanted to try but it took a few years to recover from football-related injuries and surgeries. By the time I got healthy enough to do it, I was on to other outdoor adventures.

Photo: Travel Utah

Where You Can Ski At Night

Brighton Resort (Big Cottonwood Canyon) - Utah’s classic after-dark scene with multiple lifts spinning and parks lit. Typical schedule runs Monday - Saturday. 4:00 – 9:00 P.M. No Sundays. Select lifts (Explorer, Majestic, Crest 6, Snake, Milly). Check holiday blackouts and early/late season pauses.

Sundance Mountain Resort (Provo Canyon) – A locals’ favorite with front-mountain terrain lit. Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday. 4:30–9:00 P.M. Watch for “Twilight” or “Night-Only” ticket options.

Powder Mountain (Ogden Valley) – Night laps off Sundown with a park and mellow groomers. Daily. 4:00 – 9:00 P.M.

Brian Head Resort (Southern Utah) – Giant Steps side runs lights Friday - Saturday (and peak periods). 4:00 – 9:00 P.M. A great weekend combo with stargazing and red-rock day trips.

Cherry Peak (Cache Valley) – Utah’s newest ski area regularly advertises night skiing. Confirm hours when they post their winter ops calendar.

Woodward Park City – Park-forward laps under lights into the evening (chair typically spins to around 7:00 P.M. in winter). Ideal for progression sessions and quick hits.

What’s Changed Recently
About Night Skiing In Utah?

Nordic Valley paused night skiing in 2024–25 as part of a reset. 2025–26 status has varied across sources. Check their current ops page before you go.

Beaver Mountain runs primarily private-group night sessions with occasional public nights. Fun if you can snag one.

Major resorts like Alta, Snowbird, Deer Valley, Park City Mountain, Solitude, Snowbasin, Eagle Point generally do not offer public night skiing in Utah. Plan your after-dark turns at the areas above.

Why Ski At Night?

Cooler snow preserves the corduroy. Crowds thin after work. Lift tickets often cost less than day rates.

Lights flatten harsh daytime shadows which is great for confidence and for learning new skills in terrain parks or on mellow groomers.

How To Choose Your Hill

For the most terrain: Brighton covers the widest lit footprint along with a lively night scene.
Powder Mountain adds daily night ops in the Sundown zone.
For a date-night feel: Sundance under the pines. Then dinner at the base or in Utah County.
For warm weekends and red-rock day trips: Brian Head’s Friday/Saturday nights pair well with Cedar Breaks and even Zion/Bryce excursions.
For park progression: Brighton and Woodward keep features lit and dialed for reps after work.

Photo: Travel Utah

Tickets And Timing

Buy in advance when possible. Several mountains cap night tickets and popular nights do sell out (especially holidays and powder cycles).

To prepare for night skiing in Utah, aim to arrive 30 minutes early to park, boot up, and catch first glow on the lights.

What To Wear And Bring

Layer smart: Temps drop quickly and dramatically after sunset. Add a thin mid-layer and a neck gaiter.
Low-light lenses: Yellow/rose tints or clear lenses help contrast under lights.
Keep digits warm: Hand warmers = more laps.
Hydrate and snack: Cold masks dehydration. Stash water and quick calories. Alcohol (the old “bota bags” filled with wine from my college days) doesn’t correlate with getting down the hill safely. But who am I to judge?

A Few Favorite Lap Plans

Brighton: Warm up on Explorer/Majestic blues. Then chase fresh groom under Crest 6. Finish with Milly laps.
Sundance: Link Outlaw Express laps on front-mountain groomers. Sneak a soup break at the base and head back for a few more. In my college days, my skiing teammates would’ve snuck a different kind of refreshment break.
Powder Mountain: Spin Sundown top-to-bottoms. Then park laps to end the night.

Trip Planning Checklist

Check each resort’s current hours. They change with storms, holidays, and early or late season.
Pre-buy tickets when available. Bring QR codes ready to scan.
Dial in lenses and layers. Toss spares in the car or a base locker.
If you want coaching, look for night lessons. Several hills offer them at lower prices.

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