Powder Mountain, UT Announces Major Private And Public Terrain Expansions

Powder Mountain, Utah, has announced plans to add two major terrain expansions in the coming ski seasons.

The first expansion is into Wolf Canyon, facilitated by new chairlift infrastrucure depositing skiers atop Lighting Ridge. The new infrastructure will add 1,047 acres to Powder Mountain's terrain portfolio between hike-to and standard lift access.

This expansion is public access—it is not part of Powder Mountain's previously announced private terrain program coming next winter.

The Wolf Canyon improvement is set for construction in the summer of 2025, with surveying and planning taking place this summer. Powder Mountain hasn't shared exactly what this new infrastructure will look like yet.

The second expansion is part of the homeowners-only terrain program, meaning it won't be public access. Powder Mountain has contracted to purchase the Davenport area behind Raintree, which will be serviced by cats next winter and likely additional lift infrastructure in the future.

These expansions will be joined by the construction of four previously announced new lifts: one private access and three public access (two of the new public access lifts are replacements for previously existing lifts).

Earlier this winter, Powder Mountain said it would embark on a great ski resort experiment, bifurcating its terrain into public and private access offerings. The private access—which will be implemented next winter—is only available to on-mountain homeowners.

In a letter shared by Powder Mountain today, the resort's CEO—Reed Hastings—provided further context behind the unconventional plan to blend private and public access.

"The previous business model was failing," Hastings wrote. "While we've historically been uncrowded and inexpensive, we've been losing money, not upgrading lifts or lodges, and building up debt."

Hastings noted in the letter that business as usual likely would've led to the acquisition of Powder Mountain by a mega pass conglomerate.

Amidst these changes, Powder Mountain has drawn ire from local skiers on social media.

In February, the resort shared an Instagram post detailing changes to its season program, which included increased prices and the end of season pass purchase caps (Powder Mountain used to limit the number of season passes sold each winter).

Skiers expressed concerns about overcrowding and the price increases below the Instagram post, although Powder Mountain appears undeterred.

"We understand a lot is changing, and very fast. We thank all of the season pass holders who renewed, and the new ones who have joined us for this ride," Hasting wrote in the conclusion of his latest letter.

Related: Washington Ski Resort Offers "Bonus" Day Of Skiing

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