• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Because the Family that Skis Together, Enjoys Life Together.
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Featured Author
    • Brand Ambassador
  • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Contact Me

The Brave Ski Mom

Building a new generation of skiers and snowboarders.

  • Skiing
    • Skiing With Kids
    • Ski Racing
    • Learn to Ski
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Telemark Skiing
    • Snowboarding
  • Ski Resort Reviews
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • France
    • Finland
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
  • Ski Gear Checklist and Recommendations
    • Equipment and Gear
    • Product Reviews
    • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Hiking
    • Camping
  • Biking
    • Downhill Biking
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
  • Good Stuff
    • Parenting
    • Health
      • Getting in Shape
    • Reflections

A Great Resort Made Better: Solitude Mountain Resort

October 26, 2015 by braveskimom

honeycomb canyon solitude
Honeycomb Canyon, Solitude Mountain Resort.

How do you make a great family ski resort better?

If you’re Deer Valley Resorts, the new owners of Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah, you do these things:

  1. New Lifts
  2. New Restaurants
  3. New Attitude

brave ski mom logoIn April, Deer Valley Resorts finalized the purchase of Solitude and began announcing upgrades and changes for the coming season.

These include a new detachable high-speed quad (replacing the old Summit lift), a new run from the top of the Apex Express to the bottom terminal of the realigned Summit Express (for quicker laps in Honeycomb Canyon) and an overhaul of the resort’s dining (including an update of the Moonbeam Restaurant and on-mountain Himalayan food — think curry and naan — at the “Himalayan Hut” in the Roundhouse).

old summit lift solitude
Say goodbye to this old lift. The 2 person Summit lift is now a realigned high-speed quad.

Already a Great Mountain

Solitude Mountain Resort was already a great place – especially for families.

Since opening in 1957 with two chair lifts, Solitude has grown to 77 named runs within 1,200 acres spread across three bowls, on a mountain served by 8 lifts. Forty percent of the runs are rated intermediate, making Solitude a fantastic destination for local day skiers and out-of-town visitors alike. 

solitude mountain map

Solitude has two base areas: Moonbeam and the Village.

moonbeam lodge solitudeMoonbeam is ground zero for families with loads of parking, a comfortable day lodge, a cafeteria, an outdoor brown bag patio, one of two rental shops and the Moonbeam Ski and Snowboard Academy for kids and adults.

In a quest to make lessons less like school, the Snowsports Academy focuses on fun, learning-based games and small group sizes. Childrens’ lessons are walk-in only. They don’t take reservations.

The Moonbeam base is also where visitors will find almost all of the resort’s beginner terrain.

Utah is known for steep terrain and challenging skiing, and Solitude is no different with 50% of it’s trails rated advanced or expert and about half of its skiable acreage found in the double-black heaven of Honeycomb Canyon.

solitude honeycomb canyon

Still, from the top of the Moonbeam chair, the terrain is gentle and forgiving, a perfect place to learn and explore. And when you’re ready to move on, the primarily intermediate Eagle Express will keep you busy, and on blue runs, all day.

moonbeam base terrain

solitude mountain resort utah

While the Moonbeam base is the focus for day trippers, the Village at Solitude is really what sets this resort apart.

I think the Village is unique among Utah resorts, especially those near Salt Lake City in the Cottonwood Canyons.

solitude village utah
The Village at Solitude Mountain Resort.

While the skiing is notably fantastic at each of the Cottonwood Canyons resorts (Alta and Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Solitude and Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon), only Solitude has a true base village with lodging, restaurants, rentals and a bit of retail shopping.

club solitude pool

There’s also an ice rink, Club Solitude with a large heated pool, hot tub, exercise and game rooms, the Solitude Mountain Spa and access to 20 k of cross-country trails maintained by the Solitude Nordic Center.

solitude nordic ski snowshoe map
A map of Solitude’s nordic and snowshoe trails.

We stayed in the Village for the second time in early March. Both visits, the first when the boys were much younger and then this one, have been massively successful.

Driving back to Colorado after our recent visit, I asked my son and husband to describe their favorite parts of the weekend.

While my 15 year-old was all about the skiing, calling out the exhilarating steeps, the well-spaced trees and the good snow, he also had high praise for the roomy condo, which although in the building furthest from the Apex Lift, was only about a 2 minute walk from snow.

asher at solitude

My husband was even more enthusiastic about the “tiny, intimate” village (his words) where everything is so convenient. With five restaurants, ranging from a pizzeria and creamery (try the brownie sundae) to elegant St. Bernard’s in the Inn at Solitude, you won’t go hungry.

braveskifamily solitude

We’ve stayed in two Solitude condos, the first in the Powderhorn building and this time in Eagle Springs, and both have had fully stocked kitchens, where it’s a pleasure to cook. A small general store in the Village provides basics, or it’s a quick 30-minute drive down the canyon to a multitude of shops in Cottonwood Heights and Sandy.

But really, it’s better to plan ahead and bring what you need. Because, once you get to Solitude, you won’t want to leave. It’s just too easy, too relaxing and too much fun.

Whether you’re skiing wire-to-wire, enjoying drinks outdoors in the Village at the Library Bar and Honeycomb Grill, or skating and snacking on s’mores as the sun goes down, we think you’ll agree with us, that Solitude is one of Utah’s best family resorts.

s'mores fire pit solitude mountain resort utah

When You Go…

We love skiing in Utah and enjoy all of the resorts we’ve visited. Still, the Village at Solitude is special, especially if you’re there to ski and ride, bond with the family and enjoying one another’s company in a low-key, absolutely no-stress setting.

While your choices are limited at Solitude, there are no bad choices.

From dining to lodging to Club Solitude, we’ve found it all enjoyable.

riding solitude

And, you actually have tons of options when it comes to skiing and riding. Connected to Brighton by the skiable Sol-Bright trail, a two mountain ticket costs just a bit more than a one resort ticket and doubles your options with 2225 skiable acres, 130 runs and access to Brighton’s extensive terrain park scene. Brighton also has night skiing, Monday through Saturday from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.

solitude mountain resort
Looking from Solitude to Brighton.

Possibly the best way, however, to capitalize on your Solitude vacation is to pair it with a few days at Deer Valley in Park City. Enjoy two of Utah’s finest ski resorts, relax and regroup at Solitude and then dive into the countless diversions of Utah’s only ski town.

solitude utah snowboard
If you’re a snowboarder, you’ll want to stick to Solitude Mountain Resort. Boards are not allowed at Deer Valley.

Enjoy!

More Solitude and Deer Valley:

  • Fun Family Times at Utah’s Deer Valley Resort, March 5, 2014.
  • Finding Solitude (and a Whole Lot More) in Utah, December 16, 2011.
  • Family Skiing: Making Memories at Resorts in the Southeast and Deer Valley, Utah, August 25, 2014.

skiing trees at solitude utah

© 2015 – 2019, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.

Spread the Love (thanks!)

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Ski Resort Reviews, United States, Utah

Primary Sidebar

2023-2024 Partners

FERA
World Snow Day
FERA

Welcome

I'm Kristen, a western Colorado mom, wife and trail boss in a busy outdoor family. Our family has a passion for skiing and my goal is to provide information to help other families enjoy their skiing adventures. Whether you have tiny toddlers just learning to slide or grown children with whom you're planning a reunion, you're in the right place. Cheers!

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address to subscribe. You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

FacebookInstagram Pinterest Twitter

Today’s Most Popular Posts

  • No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
    No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
  • Québec City: My Kind of Ski Town
    Québec City: My Kind of Ski Town
  • Quotable Ski Quotes?
    Quotable Ski Quotes?
  • You Gotta Get It: The Ski House Cookbook
    You Gotta Get It: The Ski House Cookbook
  • Ski Fashion: Curves or Turns?
    Ski Fashion: Curves or Turns?
  • Why Our Family Loves to Ski Beaver Creek, Colorado
    Why Our Family Loves to Ski Beaver Creek, Colorado

Categories

Footer

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Featured In

snowlink world snow day snowkidz
liftopia mtn town learn to ski and snowboard mom trends
Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Affiliate Disclosure · Product Review & Giveaway Policy · Guest Post Policy · Privacy Policy · Login
 

Loading Comments...