Your Travel Guide to the Snowboard Mecca of North America: Salt Lake City, Utah

Find out why Salt Lake City is one of the centers of the snowboarding universe...

T Bird
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snowboarder.com
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August 25, 2017

(Above) Ted Borland recently went pro and we would be willing to bet that he wouldnt argue the fact that Salt Lake City played a large part in that happening. From the unlimited street spots to the opportunity to ride every day of the winter either on the mountain or in the streets, SLC has it all. Photo: T. Bird

Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah is without question the snowboard Mecca of North America. Is that a bold statement? Yes. However, is it relatively inarguable? Alsoyes. Think about it. Within a half hour drive from the Salt Lake City International airport lie 6 world-class resorts and if one were to expand that drive to one hour, make that 8 world-class resorts. And thats not even the tip of the iceberg, as SLC plays host to more street spots than nearly any city on earth along with backcountry terrain that rivals anywhere on the globe for those die-hard slednecks and splitboarders. Just look at the pro snowboarders that have come out of Salt Lake and those who have chosen to make it their home during their professional careers. From living legends like Jeremy Jones, JP Walker, Seth Huot, Mitch Nelson, Mikey LeBlanc, Bjorn Leines and MFM to superstars like Jake Welch, Pat Moore, Bode Merrill and Chris Grenier, Salt Lake City is a must-do on any snowboarders list, regardless of skill level or preference of terrain. Besides, if you play your cards right, you might just lock down a chick (or twoor three) and settle in for a while.
T. Bird

Jeremy Jones pioneered this city and helped take it to international acclaim, so its a balanced situation where Jeremy Jones owes SLC exactly what SLC owes Jeremy Jones. One-hoofer at Brighton, Utah. Photo: T. Bird

Getting There
Getting to Salt Lake City is one of the most appealing aspects of it. The Salt Lake City InternationalAirport is 5 miles west of downtown and it offers daily non-stop flights from a multitude of airlines (be sure to check various airlines baggage fees!) and once youve touched down in beautiful SLC, its a quick Uber ride to the city (around $9$15 depending on where youre staying). Theres also a TRAX train that runs to and from the airport at all hours of the day and night and costs much less than an Uber or a taxi, however, it takes a bit longer to get where you need to go. Once in the city, the mountains are a hop, skip and a jump away as three canyon roads are the main access routes to

Jake Welch has been living here all his life, so this is what he knows. The question is: How bad do you wanna know it too? Waist deep at his home resort of Brighton, Utah. Photo: T. Bird

Where to Ride
the mountains! If you head east on I-80 youll end up in Park City, Utah in about 25 minutes (with clear roads). Once there, youll be able to ride one of the best parks in the world as well as the newly-expanded terrain of The Canyons. The difference in terrain afforded by the two resorts merging make it one of the biggest mountains in North America, however, youre paying for it, as lift tickets are the most expensive in the state, so plan accordingly and do your research.

Just south of I-80 lies Big Cottonwood Canyon, which plays host to Solitude and Brighton. Solitude is a much more family-friendly resort, with a mini village and cookie cutter condos for rent. The terrain is fun yet mellow, so if youre looking to get aggro, keep truckin up the canyon road for a few more miles and youll find yourself at Brighton, Utah.

Sam Taxwood was raised here. In fact, both of his parents work at Snowbird, so Sam was quite literally raised by the mountains surrounding Salt Lake City, and because of that, he knows every single spot and his snowboarding is versatile and adaptable to any terrain. PHOTO: T. Bird

Brighton is every snowboarders dream and it boasts a mom-and-pop feel that is often underplayed in todays glitz and glam ski resort arena. The tickets are cheap and the beers are cold, but most importantly, Brighton has some of the best terrain in all of the Wasatch range. From open bowls off the Millie lift to breathtaking backcountry hikes up Pioneer Peak (just off the Crest lift) or inbounds steeps right below the Snake Creek and Great Western lifts, Brighton is a fan favorite of all Salt Lake City locals and without a doubt, the best bang for your buck if youre vacationing on a budget.

If you keep driving past Big Cottonwood Canyon, youll find yourself in Little Cottonwood Canyon and up that road lies some of the craziest terrain youve ever seen at Snowbird Mountain. Snowbird boasts some of the steepest and most hair-raising lines that can be found in the Wasatch (as well as some beginner and intermediate terrain, too) and with affordable ticket prices, Snowbird is a definite must-ride if visiting SLC. Not to mention that said terrain is all accessed by one massive tram that takes you to the top in just seven minutes flat. Think about it now. Say you touched down at SLC International at 10:30am and were standing atop a waist-deep ridgeline peppered with lines, chutes and drops by high noon. Sound appealing? Well, thats Utah. Welcome to heaven.

If Salt Lake City street snowboarding was a video game level, then JP Walker has undoubtedly unlocked more levels than anyone in history. As one of the founding fathers of new age street snowboarding, JPs seen it all and been everywhere, yet he still chooses to call SLC home. We wonder why, until we see all the photos and video clips like that that emerge from Salt Lake every winter. PHOTO: T. Bird

*Of note is that if youve got a rental car, send it up north toward Ogden and try out Snowbasin. Its insane terrain and the views are spectacular. Or, head to Powder Mountain after a storm where youll find endless untracked pow and you can hop in a private cat on the resort on the cheap!

Where to Stay
This is another check in the plus column for SLC. Although there are world-class resorts littered throughout the Wasatch front, you can stay in a city! This makes lodging more affordable with avenues like Air BnB and Vacasa, so if you plan on visiting and you wanna make the most of your money, get a nice little bungalow in Sugarhouse or snag a vacation rental in Cottonwood Heights or Millcreek (these are all areas of SLC proper) and youll save a ton of money, as opposed to staying at one of the resorts. But if youre looking for a fireplace lounge to sip Hot Toddys while you dry out your gear and youre willing to pay for it, look at the on-hill lodging options at Snowbird, Park City, Solitude or The Canyons.

Dang, this dude has still got it. Chris Beresford migrated west to Salt Lake City from Massachusetts when he was a burgeoning young rider for K2. Since then, hes hung up the pro boots and focused on growing his once-small sunglass brand into an international powerhouse in the shade game. PHOTO: T. Bird

Eating Well
Much to many peoples surprise, Salt Lake City has a bustling food scene, as theres a restaurant or bar to cater to nearly every palate in the city. Be it Indian, Ethiopian, Japanese, Nepalese, Mexican, German, or classic Americana, Salt Lake City has got you covered. If you dont know what to eat, try the classics. For Mexican, check out Hectors on 3300 South. Or Lonestar, located about a mile east once you exit the Big Cottonwood Canyon access road. Want pizza? Try Spedellis (also on 3300, right up the road from Hectors), owned and operated by SLC legends Mac and Sam Spedale. They spin an amazing pie and they can still spin their snowboards pretty damn well, too.

Want a downtown vibe? Check out Beer Bar on 200 South. Its part-owned by Ty Burrell (Phil Dunfee of TVs Modern Family) and his aim with Beer Bar was to bring good beer and delicious sausages to SLC. Needless to say, he succeeded. He also owns Bar X which is right next door, if you wanna sip a few signature cocktails after a long day of riding. In an area called 9th and 9th, youll find Pago, a spendy but really delicious restaurant that serves up the classics. If youre in the mood to drop some coin and really enjoy a nice experience, try Handle Salt Lake (commonly referred to as HSL). You wont be disappointed, and theres a pretty good possibility that former pro snowboarder and Elevation and Sessions team rider Drew Fuller is manning the kitchen. Dudes one of the best chefs in the city. Tell him we sent ya.

While many people go to Rail Gardens to warm up before a spot, Danimals goes there to get one of the most tech tricks ever done on the double set. Keep an eye out for Dan in Vans new film, Landline.. PHOTO: T. Bird

Shops
If you wanna get a feel for the local scene, drop by Milosport on 3300 after riding and say hi to the crew. Co-founded by SLC legend Benny Pellegrino, Milo is the sickest shop in the valley and they have a shitload of product to peruse, but the best part about Milo is the vibe. Its a goold ol shop, with skate decks slung on the walls, glass displays with DVDs and stickers galore, music pumping through the sound system and an incredible crew of kids running the floor, eager to answer any question you may have. Ive always said that the best way to get a feel for a mountain towns vibe is to check out the local shop, and there are none better than Milo. Youll leave knowing more about the SLC snowboard scene than when you arrived. Oh, and if Bennys not ripping Snowbird full-throttle, hell be there. Shake his hand and say hi. Youll be stoked you did.

Zac Marben is from Minnesota, but he knows that when theres snow in Salt Lake, its time to book a ticket and log some clips. There really is no better city on earth for doing just that. PHOTO: T. Bird

Street Spots
If youre looking to stack clips in the streets, there is no better place than SLC. After all, this is basically where jibbing became a massive part of snowboardings culture, thanks to JP and Jeremy. If theres snow on the ground (there usually is in December, January and February) there are literally hundreds upon hundreds of spots. We could tell you where they are but youre just gonna have to get the local scoop and find them for yourself. Theyre not hard to find, though, and in general, the cops in Salt Lake are used to seeing snowboarders creep around and wont give you a ticket, but be prepared to clean up and leave when asked.

* Make sure you check out Rail Gardens. Its right off 215 south in the foothills and its the most legendary rail spot in Salt Lake City. Its a no-bust zone and youre more than likely going to see one of your favorite pros or up-and-comers warming up to hit a spot later in the day.

By no means should Alex Shermans nickname Littlest be any indication of the features he chooses to ride. Alex is a longtime SLC local and he knows that Rail Gardens delivers if you look at it correctly. Here, he goes up and over, increasing the size of the feature and the style of the trick. Back 180 to switch tailpress. PHOTO: T. Bird

Aprés Vibes
Any of the aforementioned restaurants will provide an awesome après experience, but there are a few choice spots in SLC to grab an ice cold beer and some wings or an extra dirty martini and a burger. One is Molly Green's, right at the base of Brighton. This is the closest thing youll find to a real deal mountain town bar, and its literally located right next to the Crest lift. Cheap beers, good nachos and a great vibe all around.

Another great place to check out if The Porcupine Grill right at the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon. The place gets SLAMMED on weekends and powder days, so be prepared to wait a little bit but once you get in, theyve got a great selection of microbrews and awesome lunch specials like pizza, burgers, and wings.

Theres a new spot in town called The Waterwitch that offers small plates and really good beer selections. Its also manned by our dear friend Pat Harrington who has written for this publication many times and knows how to pour a proper pint. For nightlife, contrary to popular belief, SLC has a pretty good party scene. Twilight Lounge is close to downtown and its dark, dingy environment is the perfect place to hole up in a corner, listen to some tunes and drink a beer with some buds.

Chris Beresford getting a bird's-eye view of the snowboarding Mecca of North America. PHOTO: T. Bird

Theres also The RUIN. Opened up last year by former pro Jon Kooley and friends, its got a contemporary vibe and unbelievable cocktails, crafted to perfection. Located right in the heart of Sugarhouse, its a great walk-to spot if youre staying in that area and the atmosphere is super relaxed.

Explore Your Surroundings
The Wasatch range has everything and while the resorts are unbelievable, the splitboard and snowmobile-accessible terrain is world-class. We cant stress enough, however, that if youre venturing out into the backcountry, always be prepared and carry a beacon, shovel and a probeat the very least. Even if you have those three things, they mean nothing without the proper knowledge of snowpack stability and backcountry travel safety. If you happen to link up with someone who really knows where theyre going, however, be prepared to have the time of your life.

From the endless terrain offered up in the Uintas to the snowmobile-accessible stuff up at Guardsman Pass (up Big Cottonwood Canyon) to the splitboard-accessed terrain up on Mt. Superior and in Grizzly Gulch (up Little Cottonwood Canyon) , its a powderhounds playground out there. Not feeling quite as adventurous as that? Head up to Brighton, bring your shovel, probe and beacon, check in with Ski Patrol to find out the stability and go for a hike up Mt. Millicent (its STEEP) or off Majestic and up onto Pioneer Peak. Bring a buddy, though, and be safe. Most of the hike-accessed terrain at Brighton brings you right back to the resort too, so hop on the lift and repeat all day!

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