Brighton Family Resort | The Most Friendly and Affordable Resort for Families

We live in the great state of Utah. Otherwise known as the state with the best snow on earth. I don't know how official that motto is but they print it I on the license plates so it has to hold some truth. And this year we have received more then 700+ inches of this best of the best snow, breaking records across the state. If there was ever a time to get your kids out on the slopes, this is the year! It may feel like spring down in the valleys but the resorts are estimating they will stay open through spring break thanks to over 150 inches of base snow. There is still time to take advantage of this season! 

A lot of parents I talk to about skiing with kids are hesitant because it can be so expensive! But it doesn't have to be. In fact our favorite resort to take our kiddos to also happens to have the best deal out there. 

Brighton Ski Resort, located up Big Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake City gives kids ten and under free lift tickets.  Brighton was also THE FIRST SKI RESORT IN UTAH and one of the first in the US. While many resorts offer free passes to kids none offer them do to kids as old as ten. And you can get two free kids passes for every paying adult at Brighton.  But wait, the deal gets better.  Up at Brighton they offer a pass for adults called the Learners lift pass for only $40!

So for $40 you can get lift tickets for you and two children. The pass allows you to ski two of their lifts.  It is more then enough terrain for families who don't have a lot of experience skiing or families with young kids. Brighton’s two learner lifts are the Explorer and the Majestic, both quad (four person) chair lifts. The Explorer has all green (beginner) runs. It is great for small kids because it is short enough that their little legs don't get tired but it can still be a challenge for any level of beginner. 

The other lift, the Majestic, has runs for the more experienced beginner all the way to the advanced skier. You can find a run of any degree of difficulty.  Or if you go as a family and some members are more experienced then others, you can all ride this lift up together, take different runs down and met back at the lift to ride together again.

When our kids were little we would spend all day on the Explorer lift. Now that our girls are 6, and 8 they like to "warm up" on the Explorer run a time or two and then head over to Majestic for the rest of the day. 

One of the best tips I can offer you about skiing with kids is let them take breaks and let them quit when they are done. I understand that if you are paying hundreds of dollars in lift tickets it is difficult when they want to be done and you want to get your moneys worth.   At $40 for the whole day we usually only ski a couple of hours and still feel like we are getting a great deal. Getting up there around 9:00AM, taking a lunch break around 11:00AM and leaving around 2:00PM. 

Yep, don't forget to take a lunch break. My kids have their favorite at the Alpine Rose, Brighton’s ski in and out grill. Anyone else's 8 year old like Reuben’s with sauerkraut?!  It's reasonably priced food especially for a ski resort and if you go a little towards the early side of lunch there is always plenty of seating. I always splurge and let my kids get a giant cookie or muffin the size of their face and a hot chocolate, because ,after all, I am not paying anything for their lift ticket. My 6 year old took a pretty rough tumble just the other day and after I gathered her and her equipment up, thinking she would be crying and hesitant to continue she said, “I think it's time for that giant face cookie about now" and happily skied down the rest of the run to the lodge. 

I want to make your trip to Brighton as convenient as I can. You may be a mom or dad alone with two small children. I know those little ones can't carry their equipment, that they have a hard time walking in those boots.  At some resorts I feel exhausted before I even start because of the walking and carrying and getting started. That might be the best little perk of Brighton. The parking lot is small. When we go on a weekday I am usually parking fifty steps from a lift or a lodge. Even your littles can walk that in big boots. 


They offer rentals at Brighton and it may be easy to get it all in one place. We have a habit of renting our kids gear at Wasatch Ski Connection.  They are located right outside the canyon and always set my kids up right.  They are reasonably priced between $12-$20 for equipment packages depending on what you need. If you go to their website http://www.skiconnection.net there is a 20% off coupon too. I like having all our equipment in hand when I get to the resort. It just makes it easier for me with kids when I am taking them alone. 

Have I convinced you this is the year to take those little ones out on the slopes? It's been my favorite thing this season to head to Brighton with my two oldest daughters. They love it too. And they have been enough times this season they are getting quite good and know how to carry and put on all their own equipment. Yep. even the 6 year old. It is possible parents, I promise. And for only $40 it's so worth a try.

Thanks to Amy for writing up this article! Check out her Instagram for more adventures @amymariecarp.

Guest
Helpful Tips

Check out the website here for directions, carpool tips and discounts!

Add new comment

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.