| Beaver Mountain | |
|---|---|
| Location | Cache National Forest Logan Canyon, Utah, USA |
| Nearest city | Logan, Utah 27 mi. - (43 km) Salt Lake City 110 mi. - (177 km) |
| Vertical | 5 ft - (2 m) |
| Top elevation | 8800 ft - (2682 m) |
| Base elevation | 7200 ft - (2195 m) |
| Skiable area | 664 acres (2.69 km2) |
| Runs | 47 35% easiest 40% more difficult 25% most difficult |
| Lift system | 4 chairlifts - 2 triples - 2 doubles 2 surface lifts |
| Terrain parks | 2 |
| Snowfall | 400 in. - (1016 cm) |
| Snowmaking | no |
| Night skiing | "Little Beaver Lift" |
| Web site | skithebeav.com |
Beaver Mountain is a ski area in northern Utah, opened in 1939 and located near the summit of Logan Canyon in the Bear River Mountains. While smaller and less developed than a number of Utah ski resorts, Beaver Mountain is very popular with residents of nearby Logan, Utah State University, the surrounding Cache Valley and the Bear Lake region, including the southeastern corner of Idaho.
The slopes of the mountain are predominantly east-facing, and it receives somewhat less snowfall than those resorts facing west. Since it does not currently employ snowmaking equipment, the ski area is entirely dependent upon the (usually) ample natural snowfall, and therefore often opens several weeks later than most other resorts in Utah. "The Beav" is located 27 miles (43 km) northeast of Logan, just a mile (1.6 km) off of US-89, the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway, a national scenic byway. The Idaho border (42nd parallel) is less than 3 miles (5 km) north.
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Facilities at Beaver include a day lodge with grill restaurant, a full-service ski rental operation and a ski shop. While alpine skiing and snowboarding are the most popular activities, there is a dedicated area for Nordic (cross-country) skiers near the base.
The Little Beaver Lift (a triple chair) serves primarily beginner terrain. Originally it was a double chair, but it was replaced by a triple on 2011, the new lift adds about 100 yards to the run, by incorporating an area previously served by a rope tow, the other runs originating from the top of the Little Beaver Lift include "Little Beaver," "Tiny Tim," and access to the "Goat Trail" cat track, from which access can be had to the "Beaver Face Lift" and "Harry's Dream Lift," further up the slope.
The Beaver's Face Lift (double) serves only intermediate and advanced runs. The first chairlift on the mountain, it was originally opened in late 1961.
Harry's Dream Lift (triple) was a double chair from January 1970 until March 2006. Already slated for replacement, a failed bearing closed the lift for the balance of the season. Over the summer and fall, the entire lift was replaced by a more modern triple chair for the 2006-07 season. Harry's Dream terminates near the summit of Beaver Mountain, with fabulous views of the surrounding countryside. All types of terrain served are served by this lift, which also provides the only way to access the base of Marge's Triple Lift (q.v.). The lift is named after Harold Seeholzer, the founder of the ski area who died of cancer in April 1968.[1]
Marge's Triple Lift provides access to a half-dozen intermediate and advanced runs, as well as the larger of two terrain parks on the mountain. Marge is the daughter-in-law of the founder, married to his second son, Ted. The couple has owned the area since 1997; Ted was previously the general manager and Marge handled ticket sales.