Winter Van Life: Cherry Peak Resort
Time of Our Visit: Mid-April 2023
Cherry Peak Resort is set in beautiful Cherry Canyon in the Bear River Mountains of northern Utah just east of Richmond. It’s within a couple hours of ski areas that we’ve repeatedly visited over the last few years, including Beaver Mountain, Powder Mountain, and Nordic Valley. However, we managed to miss skiing Cherry Peak every time we were nearby. We were back in the neighborhood in April 2023, not for skiing, but to deal with a defective snowboard binding issue in Logan where they were purchased. We had our sights set on finishing our ski season in Colorado and Logan was on the way. I assumed Cherry Peak was probably already closed but I checked online anyway. We were just in time for their closing weekend!
What We Love About Cherry Peak
Cherry Peak is one of the last affordable ski areas with adult full-day tickets (for ages 13+) going for $48. Since Cherry Peak is an Indy Pass Allied Resort, we only paid half.
The ski area is very easy to get to. I feel like most of the Utah resorts we’ve visited have required long drives through canyons, sometimes with very steep grades. Driving to Cherry Peak is flatland driving until the last couple of miles.
Cherry Peak has powder day potential. End-of-season snow wasn’t enough to open their Summit Lift with almost 1,300 feet of vertical and the steepest terrain deserving of their black diamond rating. If we ever make it back for freshies, we’re going for turns left and right of The Beaz.
Plan Your RV/Van Life Road Trip to Cherry Peak
skicpr.com
3200 E 11000 N, Richmond, UT 84333
(435) 200-5050
info@skicherrypeak.us
Pass affiliations: Freedom Pass 2023/24, Indy Pass (Allied Resort) 2023/24
- Monday – Wednesday: 5 pm to 9 pm
- Thursday – Saturday: 9 am to 4 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
- Sunday: 9 am to 4 pm
See Cherry Peak’s Events & Calendar page for events and bonus day hours.
Mountain Stats
- Skiable area: 400+ acres
- Vertical drop: 1,265 feet
- Average snowfall: 320 inches
Driving to Cherry Peak
Cherry Peak isn’t far from I-84 if you’re coming from southern Idaho. It’s also close to I-15 if you’re coming from eastern Idaho or the Salt Lake City area. There’s no crazy mountain driving required. However, I would mention that in the last couple of miles to the ski area, the road wasn’t plowed as wide as the road allows when we drove through it. Just be cautious of oncoming traffic.
Parking at Cherry Peak
Cherry Peak has a limited parking area with 3 tiers. When you arrive, your options will be highly visible. If you’re driving something larger than a van or truck camper, I’d call the ski area to make sure they can accommodate you.
Tips on How to Ski/Ride Cherry Peak
See Cherry Peak’s Trail Map to follow along.
Cherry Peak is very easy to navigate.
Beginners will want to head to the Vista Lift.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can graduate to short groomed blues in the same area. Unless you’re into cat tracks, I’d stay away from Long Mozy until you have to get down to the base area.
Intermediate and advanced riders will probably like the Summit and Gateway Lifts most.
If the Summit Lift is closed and you’re looking for some advanced runs, take Long Mozy and drop into whatever looks good on skier’s left.
If you like to explore ski area boundaries, watch where you’re going if you venture into off-piste terrain at the Vista Lift. We were somewhere beyond the Edge run and there were no ropes or signs keeping us high enough to get back to the lift. Fortunately, we didn’t descend low enough to require a hike out.
Where to Sleep in Your Van/RV
Cherry Peak allows overnight camping with no amenities for vans and truck campers only. An official policy is not stated on their website. When I called to inquire in April 2023, they wanted to make sure our rig was small. Otherwise, we were told it was okay to park anywhere, there was no need to check in with anyone, and they don’t charge anything. Call the resort before you go to make sure nothing has changed – (435) 200-5050.
We parked in the lowest parking area to be level and for the best maneuverability.
AT&T cell service was practically not existent, so we set up our Starlink.
Traveland RV Park – 21.1 miles / 30 minutes in Logan – We stayed here for the first time in January 2023. When we drove past it the year before, I discounted it as an option. It lacked curb appeal tucked behind a Quality Inn. However, I’m glad we stayed. The showers (two stalls) were very clean and the camp host was very helpful.
It was super easy to get a site at the last minute. We pulled into the park, found an open site, and booked it online within minutes. We paid $69 for a pull-through full hookup site. A little pricey but it’s the closest RV park to Cherry Peak and Beaver Mountain.
A code is required to access the bathhouse but I did not receive any information when booking my reservation online. Their office was closed for what seemed to be the winter. A note was posted on the door with phone numbers including the manager’s cell which I contacted. The manager texted me the code in a very timely manner.
Hyrum State Park – 28.8 miles / 45 minutes in Hyrum – We were really hoping this could be an option, but when we checked it out, the sites were unplowed. The snow was a little too deep and solid to want to shovel our way in. I’m wondering if the amount of snow wasn’t typical as the Hyrum State Park site says that the campground is open during the winter on a first-come, first-served basis. We’ll try again next time we pass through the area.
Aspen Grove RV Park – 41.2 miles / 1 hour in Tremonton – We’ve stayed at this RV park on three different occasions. If you travel east across I-84 from Twin Falls, ID, it’s one of the first places to stay when you enter Utah. We love their clean and well-maintained facilities. They also provide cleaning spray in common areas to sanitize anything you’ve touched or if someone left a mess before you.
We last paid $48 per night for a paved back-in site with full hookups in March 2022. Pull-through sites are also available.
In the clubhouse, they have two bathrooms.
There are two private tiled showers accessible from the exterior of the clubhouse. There are no toilets in the shower rooms.
Three quarter-operated top-loading washers and three dryers are available. The cost is $2.00 per wash and $1.75 per dry cycle. Two large folding tables are available and a deep sink.
The clubhouse also has a full kitchen (stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, etc.), lounge area (L-shaped couch and big screen TV), workout equipment, board games, and books.
Dumpsters are available.
AT&T and Verizon worked great for us here. We could text, email, stream entertainment, and participate in online video calls without a problem. The RV park also offers WiFi.
You can receive mail and packages during your stay. Ask the RV park for particulars.
If you stay, browse their camp store when you check in. They sell some cute items and edible goodies, including baked goods for your dog.
The closest grocery stores to the Aspen Grove RV Park are Ridley’s Family Market and Kent’s Market. Both are less than a mile away.
Tremonton’s grocery store options are not my favorite. There are many expired items in both stores and shelves are not fully stocked. Produce looks like crap. Fresh herbs were moldy, and I don’t know what was going on with the carrots. I don’t think the recipes I choose to make in the van are very complicated, but I had trouble finding ingredients. Neither store was great if you’re into organic options, but Ridley’s was probably best. Also, Kent’s doesn’t have a water refill station, whereas Ridley’s does. We also shop at a few Ridley’s around the West, so we gravitated there most since we have a rewards card.
Brigham City / Perry South KOA Journey – 46 miles / 1 hour in Brigham City – If you plan to ski/ride Powder Mountain, Nordic Valley, or Snowbasin, this might be a better option for you.
We last paid $32.89 per night in April 2023 for a grass back-in electric-only site that is perfect for tents, small trailers, and vans. Like most KOAs, they have a variety of sites including pull-throughs, back-ins, full hookups, partial hookups, sites with patios, and cabins too. All sites are either grass or gravel. Nothing is paved.
Even though we always book a site without a sewer hookup, we still have access to the RV park’s on-site dump at no charge. Since our new van uses a 2.5 gallon container for gray water, the RV park was fine with us dumping it down the sink in their laundry room. If you do this, just make sure you’re not dumping any particles that can clog their drain.
The women’s bathhouse has three toilets, three sinks, and three showers. Each shower space is behind a latched door with room for changing, including hooks and a bench. The bathhouse is unavailable between 11 am and 1 pm for cleaning. I assume the men’s side is similar.
A laundry room is available 24/7 with four washers and six dryers. Washers are $2.50 for 30 minutes and dryers are $1.50 for 45 minutes.
Dumpsters are available.
AT&T and Verizon were sufficient for texting, emailing, streaming entertainment, and participating in online video calls. However, I would note that Verizon would drop on me at times. With AT&T, browsing the internet was either slow or unresponsive. These issues were infrequent but happened enough that it’s worth mentioning.
If you stay here, Brigham City has a wonderful Smith’s grocery store less than 5 miles away. They have a water refill station located near the pharmacy.
Willard Peak Campground – 47.3 miles / 1 hour in Willard – Just like Brigham City / Perry South KOA Journey, this might be a better option than Traveland RV Park if you plan to ski/ride Powder Mountain, Nordic Valley, or Snowbasin.
I happened to see this RV park driving from the Brigham City / Perry South KOA Journey to Powder Mountain in 2022. It hadn’t shown up in any of my searches for year-round RV parks and campgrounds, so I made a mental note of it. When we returned to the Ogden area in January 2023, I looked them up and they are now one of my new favorite places for their clean facilities and over-the-top friendly hosts.
We last paid $45.69 for a pull-through full hookup gravel site. We don’t normally book reservations to stay any place very far in advance, so I was glad it was very easy to show up at Willard Peak Campground, check out the sites available, and quickly complete a reservation online.
We arrived after hours and Mark was so kind to answer all of my questions about their facilities. The next morning, I got to chat with his wife, Evielynne, about their full-time RV adventures and check out their cute little gift shop.
The showers were so beautiful and clean and yet, Evielynne mentioned they would be doing a deep clean on them the very next day.
They also have 4 coin-op front loading washers and 4 dryers which were also sparkling clean.
We had excellent AT&T service at Willard Peak Campground for texting, emailing, and streaming entertainment. The RV park also offers free WiFi but we didn’t use it.
Where to Eat Near Cherry Peak
In-N-Out Burger – 16.7 miles / 30 minutes in Logan – I normally wouldn’t recommend a fast food chain, but we both grew up on In-N-Out and they are hard to come by. I appreciated my Double Double and chocolate shake after our half-day at Cherry Peak. Plus, In-N-Out continues to be one of the most affordable places to eat out.
Otherwise, check out Logan’s Main Street for local food and window browsing.
Where to Find Conveniences Near Cherry Peak
Logan is a college town and should have most everything you need. It’s only 30 minutes from Cherry Peak.
If you’re looking for a snowboard shop, see Directive Boardshop. Kyle purchased backcountry bindings there after an older pair bit the dust. When his new pair turned out to be defective, they were very helpful with a replacement and contacting the manufacturer. Directive also has old school trucker hats for sale. One I looked at even had a kid’s name, address, and phone number written in permanent marker on the underside of the bill. Looking at their inventory resurfaced old happy memories.
Other Ski Areas Near Cherry Peak
- Beaver Mountain (Indy Pass 2023/24) – 46 miles / 1.25 hours near Garden City
- Pebble Creek Ski Area (Ski Cooper 2023/24) – 77.5 miles / 1.5 hours in Inkom, Idaho
- Nordic Valley (Power Pass 2023/24) – 65.9 miles / 1.5 hours in Eden
- Powder Mountain (Indy Pass 2023/24) – 74.5 miles / 1.75 hours in Eden
- Snowbasin (Ikon Pass 2023/24, Mountain Collective 2023/24) – 88.7 miles / 1.75 hours in Huntsville
- Pine Creek Ski Resort (Ski Cooper 2023/24) – 99.7 miles / 2 hours in Cokeville, Wyoming
