Sundance Mountain Resort

Photo: Travel Utah

Sundance Feels Like A Hideaway

Sundance Mountain Resort feels like a hideaway. It showcases big Timpanogos views and intimate terrain. There always been a creative, conservation-first spirit about Sundance that traces straight back to Robert Redford.

If you want uncrowded groomers, legit night skiing, and a soulful base village tucked in Provo Canyon, this is your spot. It still conjures up a fondness for me even though I’m not a skier and have rarely visited Sundance over the years.

It’s got to be because of Robert Redford (more likely the characters he portrayed than the actor himself) and the two movies talked about later in this article.

Overview of Sundance

Strategically positioned in the north fork of Provo Canyon beneath Mount Timpanogos, Sundance skis compact yet varied. It is perfect for families, progressing intermediates, and anyone who prefers character over mega-resort sprawl.

You’ll find long fall-line blues, hidden glades, and a couple of short steeps. You’ll also find a night-skiing scene that lights up the front mountain several evenings a week.

Recent improvements include terrain additions and lift upgrades that make laps smoother without changing the resort’s laid-back feel.

Photo: Travel Utah

Why To Choose
Sundance Mountain Resort

Authentic, uncrowded vibe: Smaller footprint, thoughtful grooming, easy logistics.
Night laps: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings most of the season - great for after-work turns.
Creative roots: Galleries, classes, and a year-round arts culture you won’t find at many ski hills.

Mountain Feel

Sundance skis bigger than the numbers suggest because the trails weave across multiple aspects including pockets of trees. Intermediates can roam all day. Confident skiers will sniff out short, steeper pitches and soft stashes on storm cycles.

On clear days, the Timpanogos backdrop steals the show. For an easy sampler, warm up on front-mountain groomers. Then work over to longer laps off the upper lifts. Return at dusk for lit-up corduroy.

Photo: Travel Utah

Stats at a Glance

Skiable acres: 540
Vertical drop: 2,150 feet
Lifts: 9
Runs: 72
Elevation: 6,100 foot base/8,250 foot summit. These vary a touch depending on the source and seasonal op but the picture is consistent. Sundance is compact, efficient, and fun to lap.

Tickets, Passes, Night Skiing,
and Lessons

Sundance Mountain Resort sells afternoon/evening and night-only products. Night skiing typically runs Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat, 4:30–9:00 P.M. Capacity can be managed on busy dates so buying ahead is smart especially around holidays.

This is an excellent mountain to build skills. The ski school leans into small-group and private lessons.

The terrain is confidence-friendly and night sessions are perfect for repetition. If parks are your thing, watch the nightly refresh and rotate laps under the lights.

Rentals And Gear Tips

Rent slopeside for quick swaps. On storm days, grab an all-mountain ski for the trees.

On groomer days (which are most), a frontside carver makes the hill feel like a private training run.

Where To Stay And Eat

Lodging clusters around the base with cozy rooms and cabins. Dining skews local and seasonal with a few destination-worthy spots for a post-ski meal.

If you want city options, Provo and Orem are an easy drive down-canyon. Orem is only 20 minutes away. Provo is just south of Provo.

I’ve been told …and we’ll be verifying this soon … that the Sunday brunch at the Sundance Foundry Grill is outstanding. Last I checked, it was $50 - $60 per person including tip.

Getting There

From Salt Lake City, it’s typically 60 - 80 minutes depending on traffic and conditions. Take I-15 to Orem/Provo.

Then drive up Provo Canyon (US-189) to the signed turn for Sundance. Winter storms can stack up in the canyon. Check the forecast and road reports.

Robert Redford’s Sundance

The resort began as Timp Haven in the 1940s. In 1969, Robert Redford acquired the area. He renamed it Sundance after his role in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

There are two reasons … and two only … why that movie was classic. Robert Redford and Paul Newman. I just recently watched it and … as an aficionado of westerns … it is a terrible movie.

It was released in 1960. The late 1960’s and early 1970’s produced some of the worst movies ever made. Some good ones to but not this one.

The music from this movie alone makes me want to vomit. But some of the lines uttered between these two were classic. “Who are those guys?” uttered over and over again. “Sure you used enough dynamite there Butch” as the entire bank explodes.

Jeremiah Johnson was a much better movie. It helped cement the canyon’s rugged mystique on screen. It especially advertised the snow-covered mountains which, I’m sure, contributed to Sundance’s allure.

Sundance Mountain Resort set a conservation-minded course that later birthed the Sundance Institute and eventually the Sundance Film Festival. Redford sold the resort in December 2020 to Broadreach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners.

He sold it with conservation commitments attached. It was part of ensuring the place kept its character as it evolved. Redford died just this past September (2025) at the age of 89.

When To Go

January: Post-holiday calm and consistent snow.
February: Prime storm track and best surface conditions.
March: Longer days. Chase morning corduroy and afternoon soft-snow laps. Keep an eye on the night-skiing schedule as daylight shifts.

How It Compares

If Park City Mountain is the big city and Deer Valley is the polished neighbor, Sundance is the artsy village up the canyon. It is smaller, friendlier, and easier to learn at without sacrificing views or variety.

Alta and Snowbird offer steeper terrain and bigger snow totals with a different vibe. It also depends on where you’re driving from as to which resort is best for you. Utah County residents and visitors are closer to Sundance than any other resort.

Photo: Travel Utah

Arrive early for day parking. For night skiing, aim for 30 minutes before lifts spin.
Layer up - Temperatures drop quickly after sunset.
Check ops on windy or stormy days. Smaller resorts like Sundance Mountain Resort can pause lifts more readily for safety.
Make a day of it: Add a Nordic ski at the Sundance Nordic Center or a quick snowshoe lap if legs need a break.

My Take

Sundance Mountain Resort is where Utah snow meets story. It offers tight-knit trails, night-skiing glow, and a creative heartbeat that still echoes Redford’s original vision.

If you like your turns clean, your evenings under the lights, and your après low-key, you’ll feel right at home here.

Sundance Mountain Resort
8841 Alpine Loop Scenic Byway
Sundance, UT 84604
Website: https://www.sundanceresort.com/

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