SALT LAKE CITY — Utah ski resorts, including two in the Top of Utah, are featured prominently in an annual ranking of North American resorts.
The 2012 SKI Magazine reader resort survey placed Utah resorts at No. 1 nationally in 11 of the 20 categories it covers. Locally, Powder Mountain received the top rating for value.
In the snow quality category, Powder Mountain placed third and Snowbasin ninth.
Eight of Utah’s 14 ski areas are included in the top 30 overall list: Deer Valley at No. 2; Park City Mountain Resort at No. 4; The Canyons at No. 10; Snowbird at No. 17; Brighton at No. 21; Solitude at No. 22; Alta at No. 25; and Snowbasin at No. 30.
In addition to Powder Mountain for value, Utah resorts topping the lists for various categories include Alta for snow quality, Brighton for weather, and Park City for off-hill activities and access.
Deer Valley, a perennial chart-topper in the survey, was ranked first for grooming, on-mountain food, dining, lodging, family programs and service.
Nathan Rafferty, president of the promotional group Ski Utah, said the survey results continue a trend of Utah resorts climbing higher in the rankings each year.
“Year after year, these rankings positively reinforce that our efforts are improving the Utah ski experience for local and destination visitors alike,” Rafferty said.
As has been the case in recent years, Utah resorts had the strongest showings in the categories of access, snow, weather and value — categories that Ski Utah considers the state’s greatest assets, Rafferty said.
In the access category, which considers the proximity of ski areas to major transportation hubs, Salt Lake City-area resorts claimed seven of the top eight spots. All are within an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City International Airport.
Utah took seven of the top 10 spots in the snow category, including two of the three Ogden-area resorts.
In addition to its famous powder, Utah has a reputation for blue sky days, which was reflected in the survey as the top six spots in the weather category all went to resorts in the state.
Four of the top 10 in the value category are located in Utah, with Powder Mountain leading the way.
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