Powder Mountain Utah (US)

Cat Skiing

Lightning Ridge Cat Skiing

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Trail Map:

Virtual Tours:

Virtual Tour of the peak of Hidden Lake Express Lift at Powder Mountain
Hidden Lake Express peak

Virtual Tour of a run at Powder Mountain
A Mountain Run

Virtual Tour of Timberline Lodge at Powder Mountain
Timberline Lodge

Virtual Tour of Sundown Lodge at Powder Mountain
Sundown Lodge

Virtual Tour of Sky Lodge at Powder Mountain
Sky Lodge

Virtual Tour of Lightning Ridge at Powder Mountain
Snowcat: Lightning Ridge

Virtual Tour of Enchanted Forest at Powder Mountain
Snowcat: Enchanted Forest

Video Tour of
Powder Mountain:

Video Tour Powder Mountain

Cat Skiing at Powder Mountain:

There are a multitude of cat-skiing options at Powder Mountain depending on which area you wish to ski and there are eight areas accessible by the snow cats.

Single Ride Pass Areas:
RegionAccessDescription
Cobabe CanyonRain Tree SnowcatA few of the trails through here are accessible from the Hidden Express Lift. A few more are accessible via a moderate hike from the top of the Sunrise Poma lift. The rest require the Snowcat.
Pickup: Top of Sundown lift, then head right along the trail to the gate.
Lightning RidgeLightning Ridge snowcatTrails return to the resort. Access to 700 acres.
Snowcat Powder Expeditions:
RegionAccessDescription
Mary'sSnowcatRequires an all day guided snowcat pass
Gertsen CanyonSnowcatRequires an all day guided snowcat pass
Lefty'sSnowcatRequires an all day guided snowcat pass
La Plata RanchSnowcatRequires an all day guided snowcat pass
DavenportSnowcatRequires an all day guided snowcat pass
BhutanSnowcatRequires an all day guided snowcat pass

The single ride cat skiing tickets do not require reservations and are limited to Cobabe Canyon and Lightning Ridge regions. These two cat rides pick up at locations marked on the trail map. The "Snowcat Powder Expedition" excursions are available for various destinations and durations (1/2 day to 3 days) and cost significantly more. All packages include two guides. For pricing and more information see the Powder Mountain website.

One very important note about ski equipment. Since the backcountry does not get groomed, you may travel on a unique path that has never been traveled all winter, never packed down, with seemingly no hard ground beneath you, just soft deep powder. Traditional skis may sink or even dive in deep powder. Seriously consider fat skis with rocker, even if there has not been a fresh dump. An increase in surface area will help with floatation and rocker will help keep the tip from diving deep below you.

Lightning Ridge Snowcat:

The single ride snowcat pass can be obtained for the terrain off of Lightning Ridge. Take the Sundown lift to the top, turn right and take the green trail "Slow Poke" to the gate. This is where you wait for the snowcat. Typically the cat runs continuously so the wait is usually 20 minutes or less. It is first come first serve.

The snowcat will drop you off at a point from where you can ski "Weber Bowl", "Coup d'etat", "Cache Bowl" and all the runs on that face of the ridge. If one goes in the opposite direction towards "Big Kash" (a sign marks the trail), one can ski the runs off of the ridge, the run "Big Kash" or proceed along the ridge and hike James Peak to 9422 feet, the highest peak at Powder Mountain.

Lightning Ridge snowcat gate at the top of Sundown lift

Lightning Ridge snowcat gate.

Lightning Ridge snowcat loading

Lightning Ridge snowcat loading.


Panoramic virtual tour of the top of Lightning Ridge from Weber Bowl to Cache Bowl

Lightning Ridge trail map

Lightning Ridge trail map

Guided Snowcat Expeditions:

These backcountry expeditions open up 3000 acres of terrain. The guides and operator will do their best to access fresh powder but of course, are at the mercy of mother nature. The following photos were from a tour of regions Mary's and Lefty's.

Powder Mountain snowcat

The Snowcat guided "Powder Expeditions" depart from the top of Hidden Lake Express lift.

Demonstration of avi gear

The staff will hand out the avalanche beacons and demonstrate the proper attachment

Inside the snowcat

The snowcat seats eleven pumped up riders plus two guides

Inside the snowcat

Some are more pumped than others


Panoramic virtual tour through the "Enchanted Forest" in the Lefty's region

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