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OGDEN — Move over Salt Lake City and Park City; Ogden has been named one of the top 10 emerging ski towns.
According to National Geographic Adventure, Ogden boasts Utah's famous snow but without the crowds. Its two primary resorts, Snowbasin and Powder Mountain, aren't used nearly as much as the state's other resorts, the magazine said. The article called Ogden a cultural melting pot with historic buildings, hip bars and eateries, which add to the up-and-coming ski town's charm.
Powder Mountain ... is an intermediate powder skier's dream but is more simple and less expensive.
–National Geographic Adventure
National Geographic said part of the city's appeal is because of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Snowbasin was revamped for the games and now features state-of-the-art equipment and lifts. Powder Mountain, on the other hand, isn't as up-to-date, but its enormous terrain makes up for it.
"Snowbasin, which has expert terrain rivaling anything in Utah, has the superior steeps. Powder Mountain, with its sprawling layout (7,000 acres) and abundant snow (500 inches a year), is an intermediate powder skier's dream but is more simple and less expensive," read the article.
- Revelstoke, British Columbia
- Ogden, Utah
- Reno, Nev.
- Nelson, BC
- Sandpoint, Idaho
- Driggs, Idaho
- Mammoth, California
- Red Lodge, Montana
- Waitsfield, Vermont
- Durango, Colorado
National Geographic asked Dan Alfieri, local ski patroller, for his recommendations. Alfieri moved from Vermont to Ogden in 1999 and shared his favorite ski run at Snowbasin.
"Strawberry. It's from the top of Strawberry Ridge into Sister's Bowl and then into WFO, which stands for way far out," he said. "It's like your own private Idaho out there; it goes from steep to low angle. It's just a great long run."
Cities in neighboring states made the list as well, including Driggs and Sandpoint, Idaho and Reno, Nev.
Contributing: Andrew Adams
