The most obvious lift at Snowbasin’s base area is the Needles Express gondola. There’s usually a line; skip it and walk behind it to the often-empty, and extremely fast, John Paul Express quad. From there, the tiny Mt. Allen Tram offers access to Allen’s Peak and No Name, whose steep trees, open bowls, and rippled ridgelines ensure that no two runs are the same. A requirement for all skiers: Take at least one run on the Olympic Downhill, one of the fastest groomers in the country. On powder days, take the long cat track traverses across the mountain to access Strawberry and DeMoisy peaks via the Strawberry Express gondola.

WHAT'S NEW: This winter Snowbasin will begin offering guided half-day tours into terrain within and outside the ski area permit boundary.

INSIDE LINE: The nearby town of Huntsville holds a must-visit for après-ski: the Shooting Star Saloon, the oldest bar in Utah. Order a Star Burger and take two years off your life expectancy—it’s worth it.