Brian Head Resort Expansion: Snowmobilers Fear Loss of Access

Brian Head Resort has asked the U.S. Forest Service to expand onto more than 1,650 acres of public land. The proposal would allow the ski area to install up to 14 new lifts and 359 acres of ski terrain. This expansion threatens to disrupt established snowmobile routes in the Dixie National Forest.

The conflict centers on two specific expansion options that include the Dry Lakes area on the resort's western border. These plans would reroute access trails around the base of four planned chairlifts. The Forest Service's draft environmental impact statement, released in July, outlines four options. Options 2 and 3 eliminate a trail connecting Dry Lakes to the north view of Cedar Breaks. They also alter the path used to reach High Mountain.

Kelly Oldroyd has owned Thunder Mountain Motorsports for 23 years. His company is the only snowmobile guiding service in Brian Head. He estimates that roughly 150 snowmobiles use these trails every winter day. About 100 of them are guided by his business. Oldroyd argues that the proposed changes close more than just five miles of trails. He noted that the new easements cross private property where the resort may plow snow, rendering the paths unusable.

Snowboarder and part-time guide Jamieson Robertson described the area as a vital link to some of the West's best views. He said losing direct access would force riders to backtrack through town. This route adds 45 minutes to an hour per trip and requires crossing nine roads. Robertson called driving a snowmobile across State Route 143 dangerous because riders cannot turn on pavement.

Local leaders have largely supported the resort, the town's largest employer. Town manager Bret Howser submitted a letter in August supporting the full proposal. Mayor Clayton Calloway wrote that he could speak for the majority of citizens in favor of the project. The town council did not officially comment until the final day of the public period. On Oct. 27, the council supported the project but requested that existing snowmobile access be preserved or matched.

Oldroyd proposed bridges over the new Sugarloaf and Brown Canyon lifts to maintain passage. He presented these ideas to Mountain Capital Partners officials in 2024, but they were not included in the final proposal. Tom Pettigrew, the resort's general manager, said the company is committed to exploring ways to maintain access. He stated they are looking at possible alternative routes around the proposed terrain.

The Forest Service can select elements from any of the four options when crafting the final statement. Jennifer Plecki, a spokesperson for the Dixie National Forest, said new options can be created in response to comments. The agency is expected to issue the final environmental impact statement in July 2027. An objection period of 20 to 45 days will follow that release.

Oldroyd now holds weekly meetings with resort officials. He believes the resort is the most likely partner to help solve the access problem. He noted that hunters, campers, and ranchers also use the area, and changes could affect the watershed serving Parowan. The process is currently in the draft phase, allowing for further adjustments before the final decision.