From early summer through the brilliance of fall, a number of Utah's ski resorts offer scenic chairlift rides for bikers, hikers and sightseers. If mountain biking is your thing, don't miss our lift-served mountain biking guide. 
For hiking and soaking up mountain vistas, a scenic chairlift ride is a great way to experience Utah's ski areas in the summer months. It can also be quite amusing to witness the terrain you blissfully ski over all winter; it always looks more intimidating without snow! Breezing up the mountain is a lovely way to cool down and connect with nature. Keep your eyes open for wildlife and enjoy the continually shifting views. Keep scrolling for a list of Utah resorts that offer scenic chairlift rides alongside information about their summer activities and operating hours.
Brian Head Scenic Lift Rides
Located above 9,600 feet in elevation, Brian Head Ski Resort boasts the highest base elevation of any ski area in Utah. The temperatures at this height are refreshing and the nights are cool. We at Ski Utah highly recommend a spin on Brian Head’s Giant Steps lift for the expansive views of sprawling red rock, desert plateaus and the distant Tushar Mountain Range. You won’t find views like this at any other ski area! The Giant Steps High-Speed quad chairlift whisks guests up to the basin beneath Brian Head Peak and guests have the option to hike or bike from the top.
Brian Head Resort Summer Activities
Additional summer activities at Brian Head include lots of cross country biking and the downhill mountain bike park, an 18-hole disc golf course, mini zip line, archery, climbing wall, bungee trampolines and adventure tubing. All-day or individual Activity Passes are available for purchase. Access to the downhill mountain bike part is sold separately. Just down the road from Brian Head, you’ll also find the enigmatic and captivating landscape of Cedar Breaks National Monument.
Brian Head Summer Operations
Operations at Brian Head run weekends from early June through mid to late September. Brian Head operates on demand-based pricing so purchasing tickets well in advance secures the best price.
Friday: 9:30am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 9:30am – 6:00pm
Sunday: 9:30am – 5:00pm
Deer Valley Scenic Lift Rides
The snow melts from Deer Valley's slopes to reveal emerald green hills and buffed trails as the quaking aspens burst forth in verdant stands. The resort hums back to life in June to provide a plethora of activities and relaxation in a serene atmosphere.
Scenic lift rides can be enjoyed on the Silver Lake Express with a single ride or a full-day pass purchase to access all three operational lifts: Silver Lake Express, Sterling Express and Homestake Express. With many hiking trail options, your scenic lift pass can be used to hike around the resort to appreciate the landscape. The two-mile Silver Lake Trail (accessible from the Sterling Express chairlift) circumnavigates the top reaches of Bald Mountain offering stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
Deer Valley Summer Activities
In the summer months, Deer Valley also offers fine dining, adventure camps for kids, incredibly built-out lift-served mountain biking, twilight concerts, horseback riding, paddle boarding and more.
Operations
Deer Valley spins lifts from mid-June through September daily, from 10am through 5 pm. Extended hours for mountain biking are also offered on Twilight Tuesdays.
Park City Mountain Scenic Lift Rides
Park City Mountain offers a number of scenic chairlift rides to reach a multitude of hiking trails and beautiful vistas overlooking the historic mining town. From the main Park City Mountain Village, the PayDay Express and Crescent Express whisk guests upward in no time. The Town Lift departs from the heart of Main Street and the Red Pine Gondola can be accessed from the Canyons Village.
Park City Mountain Summer Activities
The options for diversion at Park City Mountain are practically endless. Take your pick! Stroll the weekly Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays, groove to concerts at the Canyons Village or get thrills on the Mountain Coaster, Alpine Slide, ZipRider, zip line, or climbing wall. There’s an adventure park for kids, panning for gems mini-golf, and an 18-hole golf course at Canyons. With its close proximity to the town of Park City, guests can take advantage of excellent dining opportunities, bars, shopping and nightlife.
Park City Mountain Operations
Passes to ride lifts are offered daily in the summer months or frequent users can purchase a summer season pass. Bike haul passes are also an option for those who want to cycle Park City’s extensive trail network. Note that bike haul is not offered from the PayDay or Town lifts.
Park City typically opens the PayDay lift first in May. In mid-June, the remainder of the resort's summer operations fire up and run through early September with reduced hours from mid-Sept into early October. Ticket sales for scenic rides will halt 15 minutes before closing. Check Park City’s website for operating hours for each lift, as closing times may differ between lifts - click here.
Snowbasin Resort Scenic Lift Rides
From its high alpine bowls to the gentle slopes of its base area, Snowbasin Resort provides over 26 miles of trails and a connection to additional trails located on the adjacent Forest Service lands. Snowbasin bumps bikers and hikers to its highest heights via the Needles Gondola on summer weekends. Whisk away to 8,600 feet to explore mountaintop trails and scenic vistas of Ogden and Ogden Valley.
Snowbasin Resort Summer Activities
The summer events calendar at Snowbasin is a fun one with their traditional Blues, Brews and BBQs festivals every Sunday, June through July. Additional activities besides hiking and mountain biking include mini golf and mountaintop dining.
Snowbasin Resort Summer Operations
Snowbasin launches its summer season in mid-June and runs Saturday and Sunday through early October.
Saturday: 9:30am - 4pm
Sunday: 9:30am - 5pm
Snowbird Resort Scenic Lift Rides
Though Snowbird will not be offering their scenic tram rides or mountain biking in summer 2022, guests can still enjoy rides on the nearby Peruvian Express Chairlift. Snowbird is hard at work replacing their 50-year old aerial tram cabins with high-tech cabins from Switzerland this summer. Thrill-seekers and mountain bikers will have to wait before they can enjoy the delight of riding atop the unique rooftop balconies on the new tram cars.
In the meantime, hikers and sightseers can board Peruvian Express and gain 2,400 vertical feet before hiking a final 600 vertical feet up to the summit of Hidden Peak. If that’s too much, riders can walk underground through the singular Peruvian Tunnel to access Mineral Basin. The wildflowers over in sunny, south-facing Mineral Basin put on quite a show every summer!
Snowbird Resort Summer Activities
Snowbird contains an alpine slide, a mountain coaster, a ZipWhipper climbing wall, a ropes course, a bungee jump, tubing, climbing walls, fishing and more. Guided hikes are also available for those who wish to learn more about the surrounding nature. All-day activity passes provide access to all of Snowbird’s options or individual tickets can be purchased.
Snowbird Resort Summer Operations
Hours and operations vary, check Snowbird’s webpage for details - click here
Solitude Mountain Scenic Lift Rides
Solitude Mountain Resort expands its summer offerings by now extending operating days from Thursday through Sunday. Miles of high alpine trails beckon hikers and bikers and the Sunrise Lift can be used to gain a higher foothold on the mountain.
Solitude Mountain Summer Activities
In addition to hiking and mountain biking, Solitude has one of the most challenging 18-hole disc golf courses around! Solitude is adding a smaller nine hole disc golf course, a climbing wall, and a bungee trampoline for summer 2022. Solitude offers breakfast, dining and events like the Thursday night movie series, Saturday morning yoga and live music on Sundays.
Solitude Mountain Summer Operations
The trails at Solitude are open daily and the resort runs summer operations from mid-June through September. The Sunrise Lift can be found turning from 10am to 6:30pm, Thursday through Sunday and on holiday Mondays.
Sundance Resort Scenic Lift Rides
Thanks to its remote location in the North Fork of Provo Canyon, Sundance Mountain Resort feels like its little own world far removed from it all. The cooler temps and the shadow of Mount Timpanogos keep the magic alive year-round at Sundance. Book a stay in one of their luxurious lodging options for a memorable getaway. Scenic lift rides are up for grabs on the new Outlaw Express chairlift to Mandan Summit. Board another chairlift, Red’s Lift, and soar up to the Bearclaw Cabin for hearty food and up-close views of Mount Timpanogos.
Sundance Resort Summer Activities
Thanks to its heritage, Sundance may indeed have the most diverse array of activities around. Fine dining, classes in the art studio, spa treatments, fly fishing, horseback riding, live music, summer theater and mountain biking to name a few. Daring mountain folk won’t want to miss the Sundance ZipTour; 2,100 feet of vertical drop and sections where it’s possible to achieve a cruising speed of 65 mph!
Sundance Resort Summer Operations
Sundance typically begins their scenic lift riders in late May and runs them through October with a few special weekends of spooky fun. The upper mountain and Red’s Lift shut down at 3:30pm. Sundance also offers Full Moon Lift Rides for a truly memorable or romantic night.
Monday – Thursday: 11am – 5pm
Friday – Sunday: 10am – 5pm
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