Powder Mountain is a ski resort in the western United States located east of Eden, Utah, stretching between Weber and Cache counties in the Wasatch Range. Covering 8,464 acres (13.2 sq mi; 34.3 km2), Powder Mountain is the largest ski resort in the U.S. by skiable acreage.[1][2] The resort has 154 trails, nine lifts, and two terrain parks;[3] it is 55 miles (90 km) northeast of the Salt Lake City International Airport.
Powder Mountain | |
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Powder Mountain Location in the United States Powder Mountain Location in Utah | |
Location | Cache, Weber counties, Utah, United States |
Nearest major city | Ogden, Utah 19 miles (31 km) southwest |
Coordinates | 41°22′48″N 111°46′49″W / 41.38000°N 111.78028°W |
Vertical | 2,205 ft (672 m) lift-served 2,522 ft (769 m) via snowcat |
Top elevation | 8,900 ft (2,713 m) lift-served 9,422 ft (2,872 m) via snowcat |
Base elevation | 6,900 ft (2,103 m) |
Skiable area | 8,464 acres (34.3 km2) 2,800 acres (11.3 km2) lift-served |
Trails | 154; 25% beginner 40% intermediate 35% advanced |
Longest run | 3 miles (5 km) |
Lift system | 6 chairs, 3 surface lifts |
Lift capacity | 6,350 skiers per hour |
Terrain parks | 2 |
Snowfall | 350 in (29 ft; 8.9 m) per year |
Snowmaking | none |
Night skiing | 1 chair, 1 surface lift |
Website | https://www.powdermountain.com |
Powder Mountain had been the winter range for Frederick James Cobabe's sheep. Between 1902 and 1948, Cobabe accumulated land around Eden[4] and improved its previous poor land management. The area has been called "one of the best-managed watersheds in the Wasatch Mountains".[4][self-published source]
Cobabe's son Alvin bought his father's livestock company (with its 8,000 acres) in 1948,[citation needed] and later acquired adjacent properties. When he opened Powder Mountain on February 19, 1972, he owned 14,000 acres.[4]
During the resort's first season, the Sundown lift was the only one in operation. The area was illuminated for night skiing, a ski school was established, and food was prepared on an outdoor barbecue. The main and Sundown lodges and the Timberline lift were added during the 1972–73 season.[4]
Alvin Cobabe sold Powder Mountain in 2006 to Western American Holdings.[5] The resort remained under the same management team, led by Aleta Cobabe[4] (Alvin's daughter) during the 2006–07 season. It was purchased by Summit, an event-hosting group, in 2013.[6]
Powder Mountain has six chairlifts (one triple, four fixed quad, and one detachable quad) and three surface tows.[9] Beyond its lift-accessed terrain, it can also be accessed by snowcat, cat skiing and guided tours.[10] Snowcat service is available for Lightning Ridge, near James Peak.[11]
Powder Mountain was majority owned by Greg Mauro, and co-owned by Elliott Bisnow, Brett Leve, Jeremy Schwartz, and Jeff Rosenthal since their 2013 purchase.[12][13] In 2023, Reed Hastings made a $100 million investment becoming the majority owner of the resort.[14][15]