Snowbasin is the Olympic mountain north of Salt Lake City, above Ogden on the back side of the Wasatch. From Provo it is a long day trip, about an hour and 45 minutes, but it answers the complaint Utah County skiers most often have about the Cottonwood canyons: there are no parking reservations. It is also one of the oldest continuously operating ski resorts in the country, and in 2034 it will host the Olympic downhill for the second time.
The drive
OpenStreetMap routing puts Snowbasin's base about 86 miles and an hour and 45 minutes from downtown Provo without traffic: north on I-15, past Salt Lake City and Davis County, and up into the mountains east of Ogden. It is a long morning, so the day works best with an early start.
The train and the bus
Snowbasin can be reached from Utah Valley by train and bus. UTA runs round-trip ski buses to Snowbasin in winter from several park-and-ride lots, including the Layton FrontRunner station, so it is possible to ride FrontRunner north from Provo to Layton and take the ski bus up from there. Snowbasin season passholders get a free UTA bus pass for 2026-27. Check UTA's winter schedule before relying on it, because the ski buses run on their own timetable.
Parking
Snowbasin says it has the most free parking of any resort in Utah, with no reservations required, in five lots: Earl's, Maples, Canyon Rim, Wildcat and Green Pond. Weber County also allows street parking along Snowbasin Road outside the no-parking zone near the Wildcat lot. For 2026-27 the resort has added roadway improvements and expanded priority access for carpools.
The Olympic mountain
Snowbasin hosted the downhill, super-G and combined races at the 2002 Winter Olympics. The men's course, the Grizzly, was designed by Bernhard Russi; the women's raced the Wildflower. Both are still on the trail map, and strong skiers can follow the Grizzly from the men's start. Snowbasin is set to host downhill skiing again at the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The mountain itself covers about 3,000 skiable acres, with nearly 3,000 feet of vertical and an average of more than 300 inches of snow, and the Needles Gondola carries skiers from the base.
The passes
Snowbasin sells two season passes, and its 2026-27 prices rose on October 7. Before the increase:
- Premier Pass: unlimited with no blackout dates: $1,319 for adults 27 to 64, $959 for ages 19 to 26, $759 for teens and $509 for children 5 to 12. It includes five days at Sun Valley.
- Value Pass: with blackout dates: $1,029 for adults, $769 for ages 19 to 26, $569 for teens and $359 for children 5 to 12. A midweek pass for all ages was $579.
- Children 4 and under ski free.
The Premier Platinum option adds an Ikon Base Pass for $400 or a full Ikon Pass for $900 to a Premier Pass. On its own, the full Ikon Pass includes seven days at Snowbasin with no blackout dates; the Ikon Base Pass does not include Snowbasin. For how Snowbasin fits a Utah County family's pass decision, see Ski Passes for Utah Valley Families.
Opening day
The Ikon Pass lists a tentative opening day of November 27, 2026.
Practical notes
- Leave early. It is the longest of the Wasatch Front drives from Provo.
- Skip the reservation worry. Parking is free and needs no reservation.
- Consider the train. FrontRunner to Layton connects with the ski bus.
- Ski the Grizzly. The 2002 men's downhill course is still there for strong skiers.
Related Guides
- Skiing Near Provo
- Ski Passes for Utah Valley Families
- Sundance and the Ski Resorts Without a Car
- Northern Utah's Small Ski Hills From Utah Valley
- Eagle Point and Brian Head From Provo
- Park City Mountain From Utah Valley
- Snowbird From Utah Valley
- Every Way to Ski From Utah Valley Without Parking
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Snowbasin from Provo?
Do I need a parking reservation at Snowbasin?
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Did Snowbasin host the Olympics?
Does the Ikon Pass work at Snowbasin?
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When does Snowbasin open for 2026-27?
Is Snowbasin one of the oldest ski resorts in the country?
