Snowland expansion to bring new lift, 12 ski runs to Fairview Canyon

FAIRVIEW—Snowland, Sanpete County’s very own ski resort, is moving forward with a 2,450-foot lift that will provide access to 107 acres of skiable terrain and a network of 12 named ski run this coming winter.

The improvements represent the next phase in the revival of Snowland, located about 8 miles up Fairview Canyon, which reopened to the public last January after 46 years without regular ski operations.

The expansion is intended to provide additional skiing opportunities without transforming the nonprofit area into a large destination resort.

Rather, the Snowland Foundation plans to maintain a smaller operation focused on families, students and recreational skiers seeking an alternative to Utah's larger ski areas.

"Snowland has always been about the people who use this mountain," Brent Lange, chairman of the Snowland Foundation, said. "We want to preserve that spirit while giving people new reasons to come here, spend time together and make their own memories."

The expansion became possible after the foundation secured a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service, which, according to FOX 13, extends for 40 years.

"This is a tremendous milestone for Snowland," said Brent Lange, chairman of the Snowland Foundation. “The signing of this permit gives us the opportunity to move forward and continue building on the incredible work that has already been done to bring Snowland back."

Lange expressed appreciation to the Manti-La Sal National Forest and Forest Service representatives for their assistance in expediting the permitting process.

The Snowland Foundation hopes to have the new lift, to be known as the Ridgeline Express, operating by December. The lift, manufactured by Doppelmayr, an international ski lift manufacturer, is a surface lift. Unlike a traditional chairlift, the system will transport skiers and snowboarders uphill while they remain on the snow.

The lift will complement Snowland's existing and expanded Main Street rope tow. The 12 named runs will include easier and intermediate terrain serving beginning and developing skiers and snowboarders.

Construction underway for winter opening

Installation of the ski lift will require 10 support towers along the mountain. Construction preparations have included work on parking areas, a generator pad and the ski run that will accommodate the new lift.

Snowland's website features a concept map showing the planned layout of the expanded ski area, including the two lifts, the 12 numbered runs, parking areas and the existing ski lodge.

State grants support improvements

The Snowland project has received significant financial support through Utah's outdoor recreation grant programs.

According to state records, the foundation received $1 million through the 2025 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant program. The project subsequently received another $1.46 million through the state's Outdoor Recreation Initiative for fiscal year 2026. Combined, the two awards represent $2.46 million in state funding commitments.

Additional support has come from private contributions, other grants and volunteer efforts.

The Snowland Foundation formed in 2025 to restore the ski area and make it available to the public again. The effort brought together Wasatch Academy, Snow College, the Manti-La Sal National Forest, local government representatives and numerous community volunteers.

Sanpete County Commissioner Jim Cheney and Fairview Mayor Brad Welch are among the local officials involved in the project.

The foundation also anticipates creating seasonal employment opportunities as operations expand. Snowland's website advertises up to 10 part-time seasonal mountain operations positions, with starting pay of $15 per hour.

The positions involve maintaining the ski area, preparing trails and facilities, operating lifts and assisting visitors. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and know how to ski or snowboard.

Nearly 60 years of local skiing history

Snowland's history dates to 1967, when the Jerry Nelson family established the ski area in Fairview Canyon.

For more than a decade, the mountain provided local families, students and outdoor enthusiasts with a place to learn to ski and enjoy winter recreation.

The resort closed to public skiing in 1980, but Wasatch Academy continued using and maintaining the facilities for more than four decades.

During that period, local skiing enthusiasts continued accessing the surrounding mountains. Some used private vehicles to shuttle skiers along S.R. 31, dropping them off farther up the canyon before picking them up after downhill runs.

The formation of the Snowland Foundation in 2025 marked the beginning of a coordinated effort to return the mountain to public use.

That effort culminated in a Jan. 17 reopening, when Snowland welcomed skiers and snowboarders back for a limited winter season using its restored rope tow and remodeled lodge.

Affordable skiing remains a priority

Despite the planned improvements, Snowland intends to maintain relatively low ticket prices.

For the 2026-27 season, children 12 and younger will ski free, while daily tickets for skiers and snowboarders 13 and older will cost $20.

According to the resort's website, lifts will operate from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on selected days throughout the winter, subject to snow and weather conditions. Tickets are expected to become available around Dec. 1.

Parking remains limited, and visitors are encouraged to carpool. Ski and snowboard rentals are not currently available at the resort, although the lodge provides a place for visitors to warm up and purchase food and drinks.

The foundation has longer-term plans for additional facilities. Its website identifies expanded parking, a new lodge, a dedicated tubing run and yurt rentals among future projects.

Tubing and sledding are not currently permitted at the resort, and the proposed amenities remain in the planning stages. The foundation is also considering summer recreation and educational programs.

For Lange and other members of the foundation, the objective is to preserve Snowland's longstanding connection to the community while creating additional opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Additional information about the resort, operating schedules, lift tickets and future improvements is available at snowlandutah.com.