Sundance

By Adam Nettina

By its own admission, Sundance “may not be Utah’s largest resort but it’s definitely one of the most memorable.” Arriving at the mountain proves this isn’t just marketing talking: nestled at the base of one of Utah’s most stunning mountains, the awe-imposing Mount Timpanogos, Sundance inspires an ethos of both beauty and adventure from the moment visitors step on to the slopes. Skiers and boarders who get wanderlust—who find themselves parking in secluded areas on the mountain and just being—will find Sundance second to none. But this begs the question: How’s the skiing? The answer is pretty good, if you can get past the small size and relatively high price for lift tickets.

At about 520 in-bounds skiable acres (though there are places to hike and ski the backcountry on Mount Timpanogos), Sundance is technically the third-smallest Utah ski resort behind the newly-founded Cherry Point and Eden’s Nordic Valley. More consequential to visitors, it’s the most expensive Utah resort by skiable acre.

Let’s get this out of the way: Sundance isn’t as high as other Utah resorts and doesn’t get quite as much snow—the mountain peaks out at 8,250’ and averages fewer than 200 inches of snowfall each year. As a result, the resort sees fewer powder days and less consistent snow conditions than other nearby destinations.

That said, the mountain punches above its terrain size, with several advanced and expert-only areas that promise an alluring mixture of thrills and contemplation at the same time. And crowds? Forget about them unless you’re here on a Saturday or holiday, when a “crowded” day may see lift wait times increase from one minute to five.

Along with the true resort summit, two smaller peaks form the upper terminus of the mountain’s beginner and intermediate areas. The Wildwood area, newly opened on the mountain’s south side in 2022-23, remains quite empty throughout the day; this area features several green and blue runs that can serve either as a warm-up, or as a dedicated spot for less experienced skiers and boarders. That said, this entire zone comprises just 40 acres, making the pod too small to satisfy guests for multiple hours.

Sundance’s remaining beginner terrain exists in the Outlaw area, which boasts the resort’s only high-speed quad and a new learning zone. The Outlaw Express lift also serves the green Broadway and Outlaw Trail runs; these runs are mellow, but they lack similarly-pitched alternatives and are prone to serious congestion. But the setup in this area isn’t all bad; Sundance’s new learning area boasts three magic carpets and a dedicated pod separated from downhill traffic, and the setup has greatly improved the resort’s first-timer experience.

Intermediate and advanced skiers will want to work primarily off the Red’s and Flathead Lifts—both of which are slow, fixed-grip chairs. Expect a max 1-2 minute wait time during peak hours on any day but Saturdays and holidays, with no more than 2-3 minute wait times even during the busiest times.

Red’s, in particular, boasts awe-inspiring views of the Wasatch mountains and Provo Canyon. At the top, visitors will get one of the best views from a peak in all of Utah, looking from the backside on the mountain down through Utah Valley. The views are good enough that you might even forget the lift is slow—at 9 minutes, it’s the slowest ride on the mountain. Red’s also offers access to Sundance’s only in-bounds bowl zone: the modestly-sized but striking Bishop’s Bowl.

The skiing off Red’s is especially enjoyable if you like a pick of steep groomed runs and endurance powder areas. Despite being a high-alpine bowl, the right side of Bishop’s Bowl receives regular grooming throughout the season, allowing guests to build serious speed on the way down. The bowl itself isn’t quite as challenging as similar bowls at Alta or Snowbasin, but it’s no pushover either, especially on a powder day. On the left side, the intermediate Bear Claw run offers a more modestly-pitched way down. Red’s also serves several advanced chutes (Freddie’s, Homan’s Hollow, Snow Stake) promising steep moguls for those who like to introduce extra challenges on their runs, as well as a handful of seriously steep runs (Wonderboy and Vertigo) that are rated as double blacks.

It’s worth pointing out there is sometimes backcountry access off the Hill’s Headwall trail at the top of Red’s, but avalanche mitigation often shuts the area down. There are some unmarked areas (for instance, you can drop down from Redfinger to Pipeline in an almost untouched section off the Flathead Lift) but these should be considered by advanced skiers only. The resort does a good job of marking these sections, including using access gates in some areas.

By and large, the runs off Red’s and Flathead are often on the shorter and narrower side, meaning skiers and boarders will need to maintain consistent control and often pick tight lines and confined spaces for their turns. Though the terrain is advanced, expert features such as cliffs and rocks aren’t as prominent as they would be in the Cottonwoods, though forested and gladed areas tend to be particularly thick.

Navigation at Sundance can be occasionally frustrating, with the mountain’s topography and layout making it unintuitive to get back to one’s desired lift after certain runs. For instance, those taking Bishop’s Bowl or any of the advanced and expert chutes off the right side of Red’s Summit will filter back to the Flathead Lift instead of returning to Red’s. To get back to Red’s, and therefore the top of the mountain, guests will need to first ride up Flathead and then head down one of several advanced runs. While not strictly unenjoyable—Grizzly Ridge and Redfinger present steep, mogully challenges—it can be a little cumbersome and time consuming to do this multiple times.

Likewise, several of the advanced runs accessible off Outlaw Express, including Top Gun and Marmot Gulch, filter back to green areas and eventually to Outlaw Express. Dumping back into the beginner area and RFID station at the bottom of Outlaw gets a bit annoying for advanced skiers, which is why seasoned skiers may want to get their runs in this area early before working primarily on the upper sections of the mountain.

Finally, there are some areas of the mountain that slow dramatically and without warning. Those taking Jake’s Lift up and coming down Montoya to get to Outlaw Express will have to build up speed or pull themselves up. And, somewhat disappointingly, those looking for an exhilarating “long” ride from the top of Red’s to the bottom of Outlaw will have to meet several flat areas on Roundup that all but bring them to a crawl.

Sundance does a good job mixing up its terrain for its size, but there are two notable deficiencies. First, gladed skiing is limited. There are some nice areas at the top of Hill’s Headwall, but for the most part the forests are too thick or just nonexistent. One “gladed” area marked for expert skiing—Black Forest—is covered with stumps and extremely dense evergreens, making it inaccessible for all but the boldest tree skiers.

The other area Sundance falls short in is a dedicated terrain park. The resort features a small area with a few jumps and rails, but this, by and large, comes off as an afterthought. At the end of the day this isn’t a mountain catered towards snowboards—which may be a good or a bad thing depending on your perspective.

Overall, Sundance does a good job with its small but classy day lodges: The Lookout at the base of the mountain, and the Bear Claw at the top of the mountain. There’s food and drinks available all day at both, while staff members display a characteristic Provo friendliness. Upscale dining is available for dinner at The Tree Room, while the Owl Bar and Foundry Grill offer drinks and lunch, respectively.

It’s also worth noting that Sundance offers night skiing until 9pm on most Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays. The night skiing footprint covers most trails off the Outlaw and Jake’s chairs, and can be a great way to get some turns in if typical daytime ski hours don’t fit your schedule.

Getting There

Sundance is about an hour from Salt Lake City, tucked into Provo Canyon. While shuttles do run between various parts of the resort, the only commuter bus route into Sundance stops in Orem and Provo, about 15-20 minutes from the slopes.

Parking is free Monday through Thursday, but unless you carpool with four or more people, all parking costs money on weekends and holidays. Prices range between $5-$45 per day depending on the lot, and the lower-cost lots fill up fast, meaning you might end up stuck paying for a pricier spot if you don’t arrive early. Additionally, 4x4 vehicles are recommended, especially if parking in the mid-mountain Lot D.

Lodging

Sundance offers both suite rooms in an on-site lodge as well as 10 different luxury mountain homes. Additionally, there are numerous Airbnb condos and homes available on or near the mountain. There are also several major hotel chains in Provo and Orem, about 15-20 minutes away from the resort.

Food and drinks are available all day at the Lookout, while those who make it to the top of Red’s can relax in awe-inspiring views of Utah Valley while enjoying a drink at the Bear Claw cabin. It goes without saying that this is one of the best views from a mountain top lodge in the entire state.

Aprés-ski

Sundance isn’t the liveliest mountain in the Rockies, but there are some aprés-ski options. Both the Lookout and Bear Claw cabin serve alcoholic drinks on site, while the Owl Bar, a restored 1890s bar that was moved over from Wyoming, opens at 4pm each day and features live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Besides the bars, history certainly plays a role in Sundance’s after-skiing activities. Begun in 1969 on private land purchased by famed Hollywood actor and director Robert Redford, Sundance stays true to his vision of a place where art, nature, and community flourish. Art classes—including pottery and watercolors—are offered daily. Nordic skiing courses run 15km on site. There’s even a jewelry gallery—and that’s saying nothing for the renowned resort and spa.

Verdict

Sundance might not be a traditional ski destination because of its small size, but it definitely punches above its weight class with its natural beauty, lodging and dining, and secluded ethos. Make no mistake—the skiing here is good, making it a viable alternative to the Cottonwoods crowding. That said, its price per acre is more expensive than any other Utah resort, meaning that if you're just coming for the skiing, it doesn’t quite deliver the breadth of terrain and length of runs you’ll find at other resorts.

It’s important to remember that you're not just paying for the skiing at Sundance—you’re paying for the atmosphere and the views, as well. And while it’s hard to find the same striking, rustic feel anywhere else, most other competitors offer a better value for the overall mountain experience.