Solitude Steals Neighbor’s Thunder, Opens Free Hike Terrain Park Weeks Before Opening Day

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Brighton Resort is known for opening its “Bone Zone” hike-to terrain park in the early season, but Solitude Mountain Resort, its neighbor in Big Cottonwood Canyon, has stolen its thunder.

“Hike Park on Link is OPEN!,” wrote Solitude on Sunday, November 8, 2026. “The park is open 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is hike-only, not recommended for beginners, and will be closed during snowmaking operations.”

The resort shared two photos of the hike park, which appears to include a rail and a long tube. It’s located on the green circle Easy Street trail, just above the bottom terminal of the Link chairlift.

Solitude is on the Ikon Pass, but access to the hike park is free and a lift ticket is not required.

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Solitude aims to be among the first ski resorts to open in Utah this season. The resort has set November 20, 2026, as its targeted opening day, and snow appears to be on the horizon.

OpenSnow is forecasting up to 18 inches at Solitude through November 18, and another 21 inches could fall over the following five days.

Brian Head Resort, located in southern Utah, aimed to kick off its season on Friday, November 6, but was forced to delay due to uncooperative snowmaking temperatures. The resort is still racing to be the first to open in the Beehive State, but has not announced a new target opening date at this time.

Brighton, Solitude’s friendly neighbor, has not announced an opening date yet, and the Bone Zone hike-to terrain park hasn’t opened.

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This story was originally published by POWDER on Nov 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add POWDER as a Preferred Source by clicking here.