Solitude Mountain Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Solitude Mountain Resort |
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Solitude's lower terrain in 2006
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 Solitude Mountain Resort
Location in Utah
Solitude Mountain Resort
Location in the United States
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| Location | Brighton, Utah, United States |
| Nearest city | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Coordinates | 40°36′54.5″N 111°35′20.1″W / 40.615139°N 111.588917°W |
| Vertical | 2,494 ft (760 m) |
| Top elevation | 10,488 ft (3,197 m) |
| Base elevation | 7,988 ft (2,435 m) |
| Skiable area | 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) |
| Runs | 80 |
| Longest run | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) Honeycomb Trail |
| Lift system | 8 - 1 high speed six pack - 3 high speed quads - 2 fixed grip quads - 1 triple -1 double |
| Snowfall | 500 inches (1,300 cm) |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
| Night skiing | No |
| Website | Ski Solitude.com |
Solitude Mountain Resort is a fun ski resort located in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. It's about 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah. Solitude is a bit smaller than some other resorts nearby, with 66 trails and about 1200 acres of skiable land.
This resort is known for being very family-friendly. About half of its slopes are for beginners or intermediate skiers, which is a higher percentage than other resorts in the Salt Lake City area. This makes it a great place for families and those who are still learning to ski or snowboard. Solitude was also one of the first major resorts in the U.S. to use a special RFID lift ticket system. This system helps people get on the ski lifts faster and more easily. Solitude is right next to Brighton Ski Resort, and you can even buy a special "Solbright Pass" to ski at both resorts!
Contents
Exploring Solitude Mountain's Trails
Most of the ski trails at Solitude start from a long ridge called Eagle Ridge. This ridge runs alongside a scenic road called The Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway.
How to Get Up the Mountain
Two main lifts take you to the top of Eagle Ridge:
- The Powder Horn II quad chairlift.
- The Eagle Express six-pack chairlift.
Other lifts help you explore different parts of the mountain:
- The Apex Express quad lift takes you to intermediate (medium difficulty) areas.
- The Moonbeam Express quad lift serves the beginner (easy) slopes.
Discovering Honeycomb Canyon
Behind Eagle Ridge, you'll find Honeycomb Canyon. This is a long valley with many open, bowl-shaped skiing areas.
- The Summit Express lift takes you to the mountain's highest point and into Honeycomb Canyon.
- If you go to the bottom of Honeycomb Canyon, the Honeycomb Return quad lift can bring you back up.
- The Summit Express lift also connects you to the nearby Brighton Ski Resort.
Beginner Skiing Areas
For those just starting out, there are two special lifts:
- The Link double chairlift.
- The Sunrise triple chairlift.
These lifts lead to dedicated areas perfect for learning.
The Story of Solitude Mountain
Solitude Mountain Resort has an interesting history, starting with a man named Robert M. Barrett.
How Solitude Began
Robert M. Barrett, who was a wealthy businessman from Moab, Utah, decided to build his own ski resort. He started building Solitude in 1956 after buying land in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The resort officially opened its doors to skiers and snowboarders just one year later, in 1957.
Changes in Ownership
Over the years, Solitude changed owners a few times. In 1977, a business group led by Gary DeSeelhorst bought the resort. Gary DeSeelhorst became the only owner in 1986. He then started a big project to improve the resort.
- In 1989, he built Utah's first express quad chairlift, the Eagle Express. This was a big deal because it was much faster than older lifts.
- In 1995, the Creekside lodge was built, offering better places for guests to stay.
Recent Ownership and Upgrades
- On October 3, 2014, Deer Valley Resort announced they would buy Solitude. They took over running the resort on May 1, 2015.
- In the summer of 2015, Deer Valley made a big improvement. They replaced the old Summit double chairlift with a new, faster high-speed quad lift called Summit Express. This new lift makes it quicker to get to Honeycomb Canyon.
- In August 2017, Deer Valley's parent company was bought by Alterra Mountain Company.
- On June 20, 2018, it was announced that Solitude would also be sold to Alterra Mountain Company.
Solitude was chosen to host important international events, like the snowboardcross and ski cross events for the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2019. In 2019, Solitude also became the first resort in Utah to charge for parking.
Solitude Nordic Center: Cross-Country Fun
Solitude Resort also has a special area for other winter sports called the Solitude Nordic Center. This center is located between the Solitude and Brighton ski areas.
Activities at the Nordic Center
The Nordic Center offers many fun activities:
- Snowshoeing: Walking on snow with special shoes.
- Skate skiing: A faster style of cross-country skiing.
- Classic cross-country skiing: A more traditional style of cross-country skiing.
Trails and Learning
The center has 13 cross-country skiing trails that cover almost 20 kilometers (about 12 miles). These trails are split evenly between "easiest" and "moderately difficult" levels. There's even a long loop that is 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) long. For snowshoeing, there are six trails covering 10 kilometers (about 6 miles). If you want to learn, the center also offers lessons and training workshops.
Quick Facts About Solitude Mountain
Here are some interesting numbers about Solitude Mountain Resort:
- Base elevation: 7,988 feet (2,435 m) (how high up the bottom of the resort is)
- Summit elevation: 10,035 feet (3,059 m) (how high up the very top of the mountain is)
- Vertical rise: 2,047 feet (624 m) (the difference in height from the bottom to the top)
- Total skiable area: 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) (how much land you can ski on)
- Lifts: 8 chairlifts, including:
- 1 high-speed six-pack lift (very fast, carries 6 people)
- 3 high-speed quad lifts (fast, carries 4 people)
- 2 fixed-grip quad lifts (carries 4 people)
- 1 triple lift (carries 3 people)
- 1 double lift (carries 2 people)
- Runs (types of slopes):
- Beginner: 10% (marked with a Green Circle)
- Intermediate: 40% (marked with a Blue Square – more difficult)
- Advanced/Expert: 50% (marked with a Black Diamond – most difficult)
Solitude was even named a Top 20 Family Ski Resort for two years in a row, in 2007 and 2008!
Chairlifts at Solitude
Here is a list of the main chairlifts you'll find at Solitude:
- Moonbeam Express
- Apex Express
- Eagle Express
- Summit Express
- Powderhorn II Chair
- Honeycomb Return Chair
- Link Chair
- Sunrise Chair
