Beaver Mountain Ski Area (on the Northern Wasatch Front - near the Idaho Border)
Skiing at Beaver Mountain Ski Area is like going home to see the folks. Located at the top of beautiful Logan Canyon in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, this small resort has been operated by the Seeholzer family since 1939. The emphasis is on friendliness, personal attention, and, as Ted Seeholzer puts it, "helping skiers find the right runs for them." Beaver Mountain gets plenty of snow and has a good mix of terrain, well-maintained slopes, and a northeast exposure that makes morning runs a warm, sunny experience. Snowboarders are welcome. Both bump skiers and snowboarders like the steep Lue's Run (named for Ted's mother, Luella), while hot-doggers are directed to Harry's Hollow (named for Ted's father), which has plenty of bumps -- and is located right under a lift so everyone can see you showing off.
Beaver Mountain Ski Area, 1351 E. 700 North (P.O. Box 3455), Logan, UT 84321 (tel. 435/753-0921, or 753-4822 for ski reports; fax 435/753-0975; www.skithebeav.com), receives an average of 400 inches of snow annually and has a top elevation of 8,800 feet and a vertical drop of 1,600 feet. Three double chairlifts, a surface lift, and a triple chairlift service 664 total skiable acres. The terrain is 35% beginner, 40% intermediate, and 25% advanced, and there are 30 runs. The season runs from early December through March, with the lifts operating daily from 9am to 4pm. The mountain is closed on Christmas Day.
Getting There -- Take I-15 to exit 362, then go east on U.S. 89 about 50 miles through Logan and Logan Canyon, and take the turnoff to the ski area.
Lift Tickets -- All-day adult lift tickets cost $40; cost for children 11 and under and seniors 65 and older is $30. Half-day tickets are $30 adults and $25 for kids and seniors.
Lessons & Programs -- The ski school offers group and private lessons. Private lessons start at $55 per hour; group lessons are also available. The lodge is the place to find ski rentals, lockers, and a small shop that sells clothing and accessories. No child-care facilities are available.
Where to Stay & Dine -- Most lodging and restaurants can be found 27 miles west in Logan. A cafeteria at the day lodge sells hamburgers, sandwiches, and soft drinks.
Nearby places to stay include Beaver Creek Lodge, P.O. 139, Millville, UT 84326 (tel. 800/946-4485 or 435/946-3400; fax 435/946-3620; www.beavercreeklodge.com), a half-mile east of the ski area along U.S. 89. Open year-round, this 11-room log lodge offers all the modern conveniences, in a spectacular mountain setting surrounded by the national forest. Spacious guest rooms contain log furnishings, handmade bed quilts, TVs and DVD player, and whirlpool tubs with showers. A large common room offers a stone fireplace and big-screen TV with DVD players, and the decks offer panoramic views. Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and snowmobiling are all available on the property and in the surrounding national forest. Room rates are $119 to $139 in winter and $109 to $129 in summer, with Friday- and Saturday-night rates the highest; meals are available during ski season at an additional charge. No smoking is permitted.
A small RV park (tel. 435/563-5677) with 16 sites for RVs and tents is open at Beaver Mountain Ski Area in summer, with showers and lots of trees. RV sites with hookups cost about $20; tent sites are also available. A large tent and a yurt are available from April through November (call for details).
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
