Eagle Point

Tucked away in a remote area of Utah, Eagle Point is an obscure yet enjoyable ski area. This ski resort has a strange and troubled history, having historically operated as two separate resorts before closing for about a decade and reopening in the mid-2000s. Although this ski area is small, inaccessible, and somewhat confusing to navigate, the resort has continued to improve into a somewhat noteworthy budget ski destination, and it may be worth a visit for those passing through this part of the state.

Terrain Layout and Crowd Flow

With just a 580-acre skiable footprint, Eagle Point is quite a bit smaller than most of the destination ski resorts close to Salt Lake City. The resort is serviced by a total of four chairlifts, as well as one t-bar surface lift primarily used to access the westernmost side of the mountain (including a very small back side).

While Eagle Point offers terrain for a range of ability levels, the resort’s setup is a bit disjointed. Interestingly, the layout of the resort allows a skier or rider to access the western side of the resort via a tunnel that crosses under Highway 153. But returning to the eastern side requires guests to dismount their equipment and take a shuttle back to the top of the mountain. Fortunately, the eastern side is mostly beginner terrain whereas the western side is mostly advanced, so a typical visitor is unlikely to need to switch between halves very often.

Snow Quality and Resiliency

Thanks to its high base elevation and south-central Utah location, Eagle Point receives the same high-quality snow as other resorts in the state. However, the resort doesn’t see quite the same quantity of accumulation as the mountains closer to Salt Lake City, typically receiving anywhere between 150 to 300 inches of snowfall per year.

Eagle Point’s slopes face a variety of aspects, which often results in a mix of conditions throughout the resort. The mellower eastern side of the resort primarily faces south, which can cause sun-baked conditions and freeze-thaw cycles. On the other hand, the steeper western side primarily faces north, which typically results in better natural snow preservation. However, only Eagle Point’s eastern side has snowmaking, meaning the vast majority of slopes on this side receive a dependable, man-made base layer that the western side trails do not. Due to this resiliency discrepancy, Eagle Point’s eastern slopes reliably open before their western ones, and some of the advanced-level trails off the Lookout Quad chair can take several weeks to fill in. Eagle Point tends to be 100% open by mid-January.

TRAIL MAP

Beginner Terrain

At first glance, it may not appear that Eagle Point has much to offer in terms of beginner terrain (and part of the blame can be attributed to the trail map, which paints a handful of beginner runs in blue for whatever reason). However, there are a handful of solid, decently-long green runs for a beginner to ski or snowboard for the first time on the eastern side of the resort.

The vast majority of Eagle Point’s green runs are accessible from the Skyline Double lift, with one green trail off the neighboring Monarch Triple as well. The majority of these runs are great for novice skiers and riders—but it’s worth noting that the longest of them, Glacier Glade, is so mellow that it might be challenging for a beginner snowboarder to even gain enough speed to practice. The aforementioned run also provides ski-in/ski-out access for the newly constructed Aspen Crest residential neighborhood at Eagle Point.

Intermediate Terrain

Eagle Point calls home to numerous blue runs that will keep intermediate skiers and riders entertained. Most of these modestly-slopes groomed cruisers are shorter in length with the majority of intermediate trails serviced by the Monarch Triple lift on the eastern side of the resort. That being said, there are a couple of runs of this difficulty level scattered throughout the entire mountain.

The intermediate Tunnel Vision and Falling Water runs provide the trail links from the western side of the resort to the eastern side, although taking a shuttle between the two areas is also a possibility. This Tunnel Vision run is a favorite among Eagle Point skiers and riders thanks to its significant length and interesting features, the aforementioned tunnel included.

Advanced Terrain

Advanced terrain is the primary appeal for the western half of Eagle Point—and perhaps the aspect in which the resort shines most overall. While the lack of snowmaking can lead to subpar snow conditions at times, there is plenty of fun to be had on Eagle Point's most difficult ski runs. These advanced runs are some of the longest and most enjoyable at Eagle Point, with fun rolling terrain and a significant quantity of mogul fields. It is worth noting that in order to access many of the black-diamond runs on this side of the resort, a short ride on the backside t-bar is required.

But while Eagle Point’s hardest runs may be long and demanding, the resort is not exactly for true thrill-seekers. Eagle Point lacks a double-black-diamond trail rating for a reason, and experts hoping to ski or ride no-fall-zone pitches, large cliffs, or mandatory straightlines won’t find them here.

Hike-Out Runs

A handful of lower-mountain blacks at the far western edge of the resort require a short hike out. But unless other resort areas are abnormally tracked out, these trails don’t offer much to justify the extra effort.

Navigation

Navigating Eagle Point is a little strange compared to some of the other resorts we’ve reviewed, as there are two distinct halves of this mountain, each with its own type of terrain. While one can traverse from the eastern half to the west via the aforementioned Tunnel Vision run, the lack of lift access and required shuttle ride to travel in the other direction can be frustrating and time consuming. The staff at Eagle Point have seemed to imply that there’s a way to get from the western side back to the east without taking a shuttle, but it is not officially advertised by the resort and somewhat of a local’s secret.

Lifts

When it comes to the lifts themselves, Eagle Point only offers slow, fixed-grip chairlifts across the entire mountain. Only one chairlift, the advanced-oriented Lookout Quad, is a four-seater; the rest are doubles and triples.

On-Mountain Facilities

Eagle Point has two base lodges, one on each side of the resort. Unlike at most resorts, these base lodges are at the top of their respective areas, meaning guests will need to ride up a lift to reach them. Outside the bases, on-mountain facilities are nearly non-existent, although there is a small warming hut at the top of the Lookout lift.

Both lodges have their own dining options. The Skyline Lodge is home to typical cafeteria-style dining, while the Canyonside Lodge hosts a fancier sit-down restaurant as well as a general store to buy grab-and-go items.

Terrain Park

Eagle Point has a very small terrain park serviced by the Monarch Triple lift. It contains a handful of beginner-level features including boxes, rails, and some small jumps. There really isn’t much more to mention about the terrain park at this resort and it certainly isn’t a primary appeal for Eagle Point.

Mountain Aesthetic

Eagle Point may not be as large or striking as its better-known Rockies competitors. But there’s something to be said about its isolated, unique location, and the resort offers a feeling of getting away from it all that’s really hard to come by at North American destinations these days. True out-of-towners are exceedingly rare at Eagle Point, resulting in one of the most local feels of any resort we’ve ever visited.

Getting There

Eagle Point is quite remote, and the resort is several hours away from the nearest major city. Most guests hoping to visit Eagle Point will want to fly into Salt Lake City, which is approximately three-and-a-half hours away, or Las Vegas, which is approximately four hours away. The nearest practical regional airport is in St. George, which is approximately two hours away.

The drive from each of these cities is quite straightforward, primarily involving a drive along Interstate 15 until only the last half hour. Due to the resort’s remote location, access road traffic is typically a non-issue. There is no public transportation or regular airport shuttle service to Eagle Point, so driving is the only practical way to get there.

Parking

All parking at Eagle Point is free of charge. Lots are available at both the western and eastern base areas. Spots are first-come, first-serve, but they rarely fill up, even during peak times.

Lodging

Despite its remote location, Eagle Point offers many different lodging opportunities across the resort. This includes the newly constructed Aspen Crest residential neighborhood, which has a multitude of ski-in/ski-out options available. The resort’s shuttle bus network serves the bulk of these condos in addition to connecting the two resort bases.

For those who don’t want to stay directly on site, the town of Beaver is half-an-hour away from the resort. Accommodations in Beaver are primarily bargain-basement, with the town hosting some of the cheapest hotels available within driving distance of a ski resort.

Après-Ski

Likely in large part due to its remote location and local ski hill feeling, Eagle Point doesn’t seem to have much après-ski appeal. The Canyonside Lodge does have a bar, but very little happens on site after the slopes close, and true partying is essentially nonexistent.

Verdict

While it’s no match for the destinations, Eagle Point is a pretty sweet little ski resort with a ton of appeal, especially for an advanced-level skier or rider. The ski area’s partially disconnected layout can be a little confusing or cumbersome to navigate, but the lack of crowds, interesting terrain, and local, friendly feel make it an appealing budget ski area for anyone happening to visit this remote part of Utah.

Pricing

Speaking of budget, Eagle Point offers fairly reasonable lift tickets for what you get. The resort’s ticket rates top out at just over $100 if you buy at the window on peak holidays, but off-peak weekdays can go for less than half of that. Eagle Point is also a two-day partner on the Indy Pass, with no blackout restrictions, even on the base pass.

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