From Deseret News archives:
High adventure: Ski resorts offer a variety of summer thrills
Nine of Utah's 13 ski areas offer a full schedule of summer activities, ranging from hiking to biking to a high-speed coaster ride down mountain slopes.
Following is a list of the active resorts and the summer activities they offer:
Brian Head
Phone: 435-677-2035
Web: www.brianhead.com
The resort was one of the first to offer lift-served mountain biking. Riders have access to more than 200 miles of single and double track trails and a variety of options, including trails on the ski slopes or extended rides, mostly all downhill, where a shuttle picks up and returns riders. The resort also offers scenic chair rides.
The resort also offers Utah's highest (11,000 feet) and longest (10,000 feet) Frisbee golf course in Utah.
All-day lift pass $20
Single life ride $8.
The Canyons
Phone: 435-615-3440
Web: www.thecanyons.com
Among the activities available at The Canyons are gondola rides, hiking, biking and new this year is disc golf. The Gondola rides are available Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hikers and bikers can take the gondola up and then choose the route of their descent, mostly all downhill. Or they can explore the mountain and take the ride down later.
New this year is a nine-hole disc golf course designed into the mountain setting. The course starts where the gondola ends. There is no charge to play, but a ticket up the gondola is required.
Gondola adult $12
Gondola children $6
Gondola seniors $8
Deer Valley
Phone: 435-649-1000
Web: www.deervalley.com
Among the many things Deer Valley is noted for, none stands out like its summer mountain bike program. The resort was one of the first in the country to offer lift-served access to the high ground, and lifted the program up from there. One magazine listed the resort as one of the top 10 biker destinations in the country.
Bikers and scenic riders have access to two lifts — Silver Lake Express at the base and the Sterling Express located midmountain. From there riders have access to 55 miles of mountain riding on both single and double track.
The resort has also set aside a number of hiking-only trails. There is a short quarter-mile hike, with very little elevation change, that offers views of Jordanelle Reservoir and the Uinta Mountains. There is a longer five-mile hike, Sultan Out & Back, that offers easy descents and moderate ascents, that starts at the Silver Lake Lodge.
The resort also offers a number of summer adventure camps for kids.
All-day lift bike $24
Single ride bike $16
Scenic ride adult $13
Scenic ride kids $10
Park City Mountain Resort
Phone: 435-649-8111
