DETAILS Utah's Secret Slopes

GETTING THERE: Delta flies nonstop from all three D.C. area airports to Salt Lake City International Airport; fares start at $465 from BWI. One-stop service is available on numerous other airlines, starting at $378 on US Airways from Dulles via Denver.

GETTING AROUND: Rental cars are widely available, and there is public transportation to Brighton and Solitude via the Utah Transit Authority bus and train ( http://www.rideuta.com/ ). Cost: $4.50 one way.

SKIING: Solitude Mountain Resort (800-748-4754, http://www.skisolitude.com/ ) has a $50 all-day lift ticket. The cost is $44 at Brighton Resort (800-873-5512, http://www.skibrighton.com/ ), $58 at Snowbasin (888-437-5488, http://www.snowbasin.com/ ) and $45 at Powder Mountain Winter Resort (801-745-3772, http://www.powdermountain.net/ ). There are also a variety of multi-day ticket discounts. If you prefer to ski only a few runs a day, Solitude offers a 10-ride ticket for $52. The Ski Salt Lake Super Pass (877-752-4386, http://www.visitsaltlake.com/ski/superpass.shtml ) offers reduced-rate skiing at four resorts -- Solitude, Brighton, Alta and Snowbird.

WHERE TO STAY: The Inn at Solitude (12000 Big Cottonwood Canyon, 800-748-4754, http://www.skisolitude.com/inn ) has rooms and suites starting at $180 per night. Condo prices begin at $195 per night for a studio sleeping four.

The Silver Fork Lodge B&B (11332 E. Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton, 888-649-9551, http://www.silverforklodge.com/ ), one mile from Solitude, offers comfortable rooms beginning at $135 double, including breakfast.

Hotels near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon in the towns of Midvale and Sandy, including the Best Western Executive Inn, Crystal Inn, Super 8 and Homewood Suites, offer great bargain rates to skiers. Check the deals listed on the Web sites for Ski Utah and Visit Salt Lake (see below).

Just south of the center of Salt Lake City are Little America Hotel (500 S. Main St., 800-453-9450, http://www.littleamerica.com/slc ), a three-star hotel, and its four-star sister property, Grand America (555 S. Main St., 800-621-4505, http://www.grandamerica.com/ ). There is a $20 round-trip shuttle from the two hotels to Snowbasin for guests.

The Snowberry Inn B&B (1315 N. Highway 158, Eden, 888-334-3466, http://www.snowberryinn.com/ ), a log cabin-style hostelry, is one of several inns close to both Snowbasin and Powder Mountain. Rates start at $119 per night per room, breakfast included.

WHERE TO EAT: The Silver Fork Lodge is known for its restaurant, with such entrees as seared venison cutlets, chicken puttanesca and fresh fish specialties. Dinner entrees from $13.95 (pasta pomodoro) to $23.95 (canyon pepper steak). St. Bernard's restaurant in the Inn at Solitude features hearty French bistro cuisine, such as coq au vin, and a full wine list. Dinner entrees $23 to $28.

In Huntsville, near Snowbasin and Powder Mountain, the Shooting Star (7350 E. 200 S., 801-745-2002) is an old-time Western saloon and the apres-ski place for beer and burgers; a meal for two runs $20 to $25.

INFORMATION: For general information on skiing in Utah: Ski Utah , 800-754-8824, http://www.skiutah.com/ ; Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-541-4955, http://www.visitsaltlake.com/ski .

-- Grace Lichtenstein