More Than a Dozen New Lifts Proposed at Utah's Highest Ski Resort

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 8:28 AM ET

Brian Head Resort in Utah hopes to undergo an extensive expansion that would add numerous chairlifts and broaden its ski run offerings to include more varied terrain.

The project, detailed in a story map, would push Brian Head’s Special Use Permit (SUP) boundary from 887 acres to 2,538 acres. SUPs provide an area on National Forest System lands where ski resorts can legally operate.

Fourteen lifts on or connected to National Forest System (NFS) lands are included in the proposed action, split across several terrain pods. Three are surface lifts.

The Sid’s Peak to East Ridge Pod encompasses five lifts and would provide access to some of Brian Head’s most challenging terrain. To allow ski resort operations and improve forest health, Brian Head would remove trees in the pod impacted by a 2017 wildfire.

The Giant Steps to Brian Head Peak Pod borders existing chairlifts like Roulette and Giant Steps. Similar to Sid’s Peak, it expands Brian Head’s challenging terrain offerings with five lifts. Some of these runs are currently accessible from Brian Head by hiking.

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Beyond the existing Navajo and Wildflower lifts stands the Navajo Ridge to Dry Lakes Pod, which focuses on mostly intermediate terrain. Four lifts, including one surface tow, would service the trails in this pod.

Nineteen miles of new snow-making lines, up to ten miles of new administrative roads, four new restaurants, and 382 acres of new ski trails, among other improvements, are part of the broader proposal.

The Forest Service’s environmental review process for Brian Head’s expansion begins this week with a 45-day public comment period. Several open houses hosted by the Forest Service are also scheduled. A final decision from the federal agency is expected in June 2028.

Brian Head also intends to construct seven new aerial lifts on private land in the Aspen Meadows development area as part of a 30-year plan, per a previous announcement. In total, that means 18 new aerial lifts could be in the ski resort's future, depending on the result of the environmental review process.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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