Utah skiers and snowboarders have two days to get ready for this winter’s ski season, because the first runs open Thursday.
Brighton Resort, at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, announced that it would open “top to bottom” on its Majestic and Explorer lifts starting at 9 a.m. Thursday.
That opening date beats out Brian Head Resort in southwestern Utah by one day, according to Ski Utah.
“A few early season storms and recent cold temperatures helped Brighton and Brian Head hit the mark for their opening dates,” Nathan Rafferty, president/CEO of Ski Utah, said in a statement.
Brighton reports it will have a base of between 10 and 20 inches of snow on five runs: Explorer, Hawkeye Access, Scout, Shoulder to Lower Majestic, and Mary Back.
Ticket windows at Brighton will open Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Limited terrain tickets are $48 for ages 11 and older; kids 10 and younger ski free with a paying adult. The resort will sell a limited number of tickets, to keep the runs from being overcrowded.
Opening dates for other Utah resorts announced so far:
Nov. 21: Park City Mountain, Snowbasin
Nov. 23 : Alta
Nov. 30: Snowbird
Dec. 1: Solitude
Dec. 7: Nordic Valley, Sundance
Dec. 8: Deer Valley
Dec. 21: Eagle Point
To be determined: Beaver Mountain, Powder Mountain
Opening dates are subject to change.
