Ogden, Utah's après ski scene ranges from the traditional to the unexpected.
Posted: 11/15/2022
Let’s start this guide to après ski on the mountain, since that’s where you’ll be immediately après you finish skiing or snowboarding.
SLOPESIDE: The Cinnabar
The Cinnabar, inside Snowbasin Resort’s Earl’s Lodge, is the kind of après ski experience you’d expect to find on the glossy pages of your favorite ski magazine. The coziness of the Cinnabar somehow works within the massive log structure of the lodge, with its rock fireplace and huge Murano glass chandeliers from Venice.
Snowbasin chefs are renowned for their creations in all of the lodges, but the offerings at the Cinnabar are a notch above. Combine that with signature cocktails, craft beers and live music and you’ll see why some people hit Snowbasin around last chair…even if they haven’t been at the resort all day.
SLOPESIDE: The Powder Keg
The Powder Keg, inside the Timberline Lodge at Powder Mountain, is more like the après of old. It’s primarily gut-bomb burgers and pitchers of beer. It’s the kind of place you’re going to make new friends, because every seat is taken (it’s typically standing-room only by about 4:00 p.m.) and tables are shared. Finish your meal quickly, because toward the end of the evening, when the live music really gets cranking, the table tops become dance platforms.
OGDEN VALLEY
Compass Rose Lodge
Every Saturday throughout the season (December 31 - March 11), Compass Rose Lodge hosts their “Heart of Huntsville” après ski shindigs from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. You don’t have to be a guest at this boutique hotel to join the party. You don’t even have to have spent any time on the slopes.
The hotel grounds are circled by Sprinter vans and food trucks, and dotted with cozy fire pits with many of the area’s best local musicians performing under the stars. Grab a hot beverage at First Lift Coffee and retreat into one of the teepees to warm up if it’s too crowded around the fires and head over to Shooting Star Saloon for the après après party.
This quaint beer bar in Eden Square is the après spot for many of the Powder Mountain resort and lodging workers after they clock out for the day. The number of beers in their selection outnumbers the seats in the bar and if you’re into eavesdropping, you’ll likely learn of a secret stash of powder known only to locals.
DOWNTOWN
The proximity of downtown Ogden to nearby resorts opens up dozens of unique après ski experiences that can’t be found at other destinations. It also puts you within walking distance of several hotels, so you can get a little crazier with your après approach.
Ogden’s historic downtown is widely recognized for a couple of things: its abundance of public art and its dining and nightlife scene. If you’re just looking for a bit of après nosh, check out our dining options.
If discussing the day’s runs over specialty cocktails is your thing, be sure to check out Sidebar at Ogden’s Own Distillery. In fact, words like “specialty,” “signature,” and “artisan” don’t quite do these cocktails justice. They are simply mind-blowing both in their taste and presentation.
If you’re sticking to 25th Street, both Alleged and Hearth on 25th offer great cocktails and great overhead views of the street. If you’re looking for something more discreet, take it underground to Unspoken for a taste of Ogden’s speakeasy days. If you prefer top-notch cuisine with your cocktails, along with great ground-level people watching, head to Table 25.
Prefer your après ski beverages with a side of live music? Your most solid bet is Lighthouse Lounge. Their stage is programmed earlier in the week with open mics and karaoke, and top bands from around the region typically stop in Thursday through Sunday.
Funk ’n Dive (located on Washington Blvd. across from the Municipal Building) has a similar vibe with the addition of pool tables, and the stage at Yes Hell on Grant Ave. can range anywhere from bluegrass to punk.
Local Tip: The best place to check out the live music line-up is by checking “The Ogdenite” website or following them on Facebook. Listings are updated weekly for pretty much every venue in town.
The real benefit of planning at least one of your après ski evenings around downtown Ogden is the ability to include non-traditional experiences that simply aren’t available in most mountain towns. How about a night of stand-up comedy? Hit up Wiseguys. A bit of live theater? Check the schedules at the Ziegfeld Theater or Terrace Plaza Playhouse. You might catch a film festival at Peery’s Egyptian Theater or the latest blockbuster at one of our megaplex theaters.
If your day on the slopes didn’t give you enough of an adrenaline rush, head to the Salomon Center for some indoor climbing, surfing, or skydiving.
If you just need to chill, plug in to an art stroll, a bit of local shopping, or a warm beverage at one of Ogden’s myriad of coffee shops.
The beauty of our après ski scene is that you can après your way. It’s your ski vacation, after all.
Here in Ogden you can experience 3 ski and summer resorts, combined boasting over 11,600 skiable acres and miles of single track for those who love to mountain bike and hike! We offer a wide range of breathtaking recreation options with everything in easy reach. Whether you settle in at one of our many friendly hotels, out-of-the-way campgrounds or modern meeting and event venues, you will find that Ogden is an ideal travel destination offering one-of-a-kind outdoor recreation and metropolitan delights throughout the year. Wander and get lost in Ogden!
