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The team at Snowbasin is working diligently to provide a safe and fun ski season. In order for us to safely operate, we’d like to announce enhancements and adjustments for the 2020-2021 winter season to ensure the health and wellbeing of our guests, our employees and our mountain communities.
Snowbasin will not be implementing a reservation requirement for Snowbasin season pass holders. Instead, our aim is to mitigate large gatherings in bottleneck areas, including lodges, the base area and lifts.
To ensure a positive and safe ski experience we will carefully monitor volume during peak periods. During some holidays and weekends, we may need to implement overall volume restrictions. We don’t expect this to happen often, but we want to be prepared to restrict numbers if necessary. This will first include reducing the ability to purchase lift tickets, followed by capping access to the resort for guests. If that occurs, pass holders and guests will be alerted at snowbasin.com, and through our social channels as quickly as possible.
Our team has worked extremely hard to provide even more ways to distance on our expansive 3,000-acre mountain. We're pleased to announce the following enhancements for the 2020-21 season:
We're bringing back the rope tow, Snowbasin's original lift. A new handle tow will be added at the junction of the Littlecat Trail and Orson’s Terrain Park to provide easier access to Wildcat Express. We encourage guests to utilize this new, quick option to skip the base area and access great terrain with the high-speed Wildcat Express. View Map >>
We've added a new trail to easily access the Canyon Rim parking area without entering a shuttle. Enter the trail near the top of Littlecat Chairlift to ski 3,000' to the parking lot. A new crosswalk will be added to allow guests to enter the parking lot. View Map >>
Learn to ski or snowboard at our new expanded location, north of the Learning Center. The terrain offers an 11% grade accessible by the Wildflower Carpet and Grizzly Carpet. With the success of our award-winning first timer program, Learn and Earn, we are thrilled to increase learning opportunities. Explore Lessons >>
A new yurt village will be added to the base of Middle Bowl by mid-December, allowing guests to rest and warm-up. Additionally, we’ve added a yurt to the base area to provide faster season pass and ticket pickup without entering Earl’s Lodge. Furthermore, the Old Day Lodge will be open for seating and restrooms.
New dining outlets provide fast options that don’t require entering a lodge. Guests can purchase food or drinks at the window, with outdoor seating available. They are located near Earl’s Lodge, the Old Day Lodge and the base of Strawberry Gondola.
Improvements were made at Needles Lodge this summer with the addition of ‘The Overlook,’ a new full-service bar with panoramic views from 8,700 feet and renovations to the lodge servery to improve speed and flow.
Snowbasin features many ways to travel across the mountain and we encourage guests to spread out and use different lifts to avoid crowding. Lift lines configurations will be constructed to maximize space between parties and physical distancing measures will be in place. Social distancing will be required in the lift lines. Guests should anticipate the potential for longer wait times, especially during holiday periods and weekends. Here is what to expect for each lift type:
To maintain physical distancing, Needles and Strawberry Gondola users will be asked upon arrival how many people are in their group. Groups will be assigned a lane, depending on size when entering the line area.
Non-familiar groups and single riders will be asked if they are comfortable riding with another individual or group, not to exceed six people per cabin. If both groups are comfortable, they will be grouped together to increase line speed. If not comfortable, they will load their own gondola according to their group size. Single riders that do not join other indivuals or groups will be loaded at pre-determined intervals.
In lines for chairlifts, skiers and snowboarders will naturally maintain six-feet of distance from the tip of their ski/snowboard to the tail of the ski/snowboard in front of them. Chairlifts will be loaded to design capacity for familiar groups and families.
Non-familiar groups and single riders may ride together to increase line speed, only if both groups are comfortable. Single riders that do not join other individuals or groups will be loaded at pre-determined intervals.
The Allen Peak Tram will be loaded with familiar groups to a capacity of up to 15 individuals. For non-familiar groups and single riders, it will be loaded to a capacity not to exceed six guests per tram car, a reduction in capacity of over 50%.
In addition to resort enhancements, we're implementing additional safety measures for the season. Subject to change based on current conditions and guidance from our local leaders and health officials, we plan to do the following:
It is highly encouraged for lift tickets to be purchased in advance online. Lift ticket capacity will be reduced during peak periods to avoid congestion, so make sure you buy prior to arriving at the resort to ensure you will ski. Buddy Vouchers may be redeemed in advance by visiting the Meadow Yurt. Buy Now >>
All lessons and rental equipment must be purchased or reserved in advance, with availability to purchase starting in October. Class sizes for group lessons will be reduced and students are encouraged to move to private lessons.
We have a high level of cleanliness in our lodges already, but lodges and restrooms will feature enhanced cleaning protocols. Bag storage and lost-and-found will no longer be located in Earl’s Lodge and will be moved to an outdoor location. Additional restrooms will be added to key locations on mountain to reduce traffic from the lodges.
All dining areas will feature enhanced cleaning protocols and have reduced seating capacity to allow for social distancing and table space. We have expanded our grab-and-go menu options for quicker service and there will be a strict 45-minute table limit as well as assigned table seating. We will also be enforcing the health department’s guidelines for consumption of personal food items inside our lodges.
For table-service dining, The Cinnabar and new Overlook Bar will be requiring reservations.
The Wildcat Parking Lot will be open daily to reduce crowding on Earl’s Plaza, with a newly added pick-up and drop-off location. Please remember that there are no skier services or rentals offered from the Wildcat lot and guests that park here must be able to ski directly to lifts or the base area. Guest shuttles will continue to operate with face coverings required and limited capacity on enclosed shuttles.
Face coverings will be required in all public spaces for guests and employees. These include but are not limited to; all indoor spaces, outdoor patio spaces, shuttles, warming huts and other temporary facilities, lift queues, gondolas and chairlifts, and when social distancing of 6 feet or more cannot be consistently maintained.
Of course, guests will not be required to wear a face covering while eating or while on trails skiing a safe distance from others.
The best way to get the most of Snowbasin is with our season pass, now featuring Pass Protection. Receive unlimited access with the Premier Pass, plus five days at Sun Valley Resort. Or, save with our Value Pass that has limited blackout dates.
Snowbasin has joined the industry leading Epic Pass. Receive up to seven days with no blackout dates on the Epic Pass, two restricted days with the Epic Local Pass and all available days on an Epic 4-7 Day Pass.
Snowbasin and Sun Valley have partnered to create the Sun & Snow Pass. Receive three unrestricted days at each renowned resort, plus 50% off additional lift tickets.
Tickets are on sale now! This season, it's recommended to purchase tickets online before you arrive to lock-in your fun times on the slopes. Walk-up ticket sales are not guaranteed and will be based on resort capacity.
"With these new upgrades and enhancements and the support of our guests to follow these protocols, we believe our plan should allow for a safe and successful ski season. I can readily say that nobody enjoys wearing a face covering and changes to things we are used to is challenging, but we have to do this to get open and stay open. We truly appreciate the support and respect of our new policies, in these unprecedented times, as we strive to create another great year of skiing and riding. I look forward to seeing our loyal pass holders both old and new joining us for a brilliant 80th year on our slopes when we open on November 27th."
- Davy Ratchford, VP & General Manager
3925 E. Snowbasin Road | Huntsville, UT 84317
888-437-5488 | Snow Report: 801-620-1100
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