Fairview Canyon, Utah — A surprising comeback has been happening over the past year.
Snowland was one of the forgotten ski areas in Utah, last operating to the public in 1980. In recent years, Wasatch Academy operated a few surface lifts for racers. However, while the public didn’t have lift access, they continued to use the area for sledding and riding. Without public lift access, drivers would drop people at the top and then drive to the bottom to pick them up. This led to some sticky vehicle rescue situations, so local officials decided it was time to make it public once again.
On January 17th, Snowland opened up for the 2025-26 season. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was part of the festivities. The ski area is run by Snowland Foundation, Inc., a non-profit.
The Ski Area
Currently, Snowland is home to four trails and two rope tows. These rope tows are firm, so leather (not synthetic) gloves are recommended. This is mellower terrain, so don’t go there expecting to be skiing at Snowbird. At the base area is a small lodge with limited food and beverages. To accommodate more guests, the parking lot at the base area has been expanded.
Future phases could include a parking lot at the top of the hill, two yurts (available for overnight rentals), a restaurant, an outdoor concert space, and a third surface lift (a T-Bar) with carriers for mountain bikes. For that surface lift, the ski area has secured a $1.46 million grant via the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation. The goal is to have everything in place at Snowland by the 2027-28 season.
Snowland will be open to the public on Saturdays and President’s Day. Lift tickets are free; all you need to do is make a reservation in advance. Lift access is limited this winter, with only 70 tickets “sold” each day. Prices are expected to increase in future seasons, but they’ll remain affordable.
Image Credits: Robert Stevens, Snowland
