Mega But Low Key Resort Close To Salt Lake City Has True Bargains For Seniors.
Credit: Jan Brunvard
Until this season Powder Mountain ski resort advertised, “More than 7,000 acres. The largest resort in the United States. A hidden gem.” Now that Vail Corp. combined Canyons and Park City Mountain Resort into 7,300 skiable acres, the claim of largest no longer stands. But Powder Mountain—PowMow to locals—is still the hidden gem of Utah’s fourteen ski resorts. For seniors, it’s a bargain. An adult day pass is $73, and a Senior pass (age 62-74) is $55. Seventy-five on up, everyone skis free. For the convenience of not going to the ticket window, a super senior season pass is available for $20.
Regardless of age and ticket price, PowMow offers 144 named runs, four chairlifts, two surface lifts, countless acres of back country powder, a “Mountain Adventures” program to access the powder, and three lodges that may charitably be described as “rustic.”
PowMow is 55 miles from the Salt Lake City Airport. The easy way to get there is to drive north on I-15, exit
Credit: Jan Brunvand
at Ogden’s 12th Street, and follow the signs up Ogden Canyon through the small town of Eden to the steep winding access road. A more scenic way follows I-84 East to the Huntsville/Mountain Green exit, then along Trapper’s Loop past Snowbasin ski resort, across the dam at Pineview Reservoir, on to Eden, etc. This route runs 61 miles from my driveway to the upper parking lot of PowMow. UTA bus service costs just $2.25 for seniors (exact change only), one way, and can be picked up at various places in Ogden or along the way. See the Powder Mountain website for schedules and details.
On the final Wednesday in 2015, I compiled my top four reasons for sometimes driving to PowMow rather than to Alta, the nearer senior skiing hotspot. (1. Extensive terrain, 2. Elegant lodges (just kidding), 3. Close up parking, 4. $20 pass for Super Seniors.) I stopped at four only because I was having too much fun skiing PowMow’s long, scenic, uncrowded runs.
Credit; Jan Brunvand
Can you tell us more about the places to stay on Powder Mountain? How rustic is rustic? Any places ski-in/ski-out?
The day lodges I referred to are truly rustic: no frills, but nice folks. I don’t stay up there overnight, of course, but I know there are some rental condos along the road leading up to the upper parking lot. Probably their website has info. The one I was in once was modern and comfortable. A few miles down the road there is a resort called Wolf Creek that has a big lodge with a shuttle stop for PowMow. There may be a motel in Eden; sorry, I haven’t noticed. The nearest town of any size is Huntsville which is picturesque and quiet. The Shooting Star Saloon there is one of the oldest bars in Utah. Very funky. There are lots of hotels and motels in Ogden.
You forgot to tell the folks you have skied your age the last few seasons. 83 days skiing in one year for and old guy is outstanding. Great Job Brother Jan…. Tor
Thanks, Tor. Actually I turn 83 on March 23rd this year, so my 83 day season a couple of years ago was premature. I’m up to day #26 this season. Skiers going to PowMow for the first time should know that the first lodge you come to on the access road is the lower smaller section called Sundown. Keep going one more loop of the road–hard right turn–to the Timberline Lodge parking area. After you explore the skiing and get to the top of Hidden Lake lift you will see the upper parking lot and can figure out from the map how to drive up there next time, if you wish. PowMow has a free tour of the mountain starting at 10 a.m. and 1 pm. at the Mountain Adventure Yurt next to Timberline Lodge.