1. 7:45 AM – Finding Fresh Tracks – Milly Chalet & Milly Bowl

Enter the main parking lot at Brighton and head right to park near the Milly Chalet. If it's not a weekend, you can opt for a later start, but if powder has been in the forecast and it's Saturday or Sunday, it's best to arrive early.

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After a delicious breakfast burrito and coffee at Milly Chalet, catch the Milly Express Lift. The ride up offers an excellent vantage point to pick lines and identify powder stashes to the looker's left. Be mindful of the location of cliff bands and rocks if you prefer to avoid sizable drops. At the top of Milly Express, traverse to the left and take your pick of any number of excellent and fun pitches. Lap Milly Bowl until the powder is zapped and consider bagging a fun and rolling groomer lap on Main Street or Easy Out.

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When you've fully explored Mt. Millicent, it's time to head east to Pioneer Peak. Stay to your skier's right on the Main Street groomer (cutting under the Milly Express to Majestic Access and make your way to the Crest Express near the main Brighton Center Area.

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2. 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM – Crest Express & Pioneer Ridge for Some Hiking and Some Groomers

First grab a few groomer laps off the Crest Express; if that tickles your fancy, Thunder Road and Tantamount are good choices. Then, get ready to earn your lunch.

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Upon offloading the Crest Express you’ll see an avalanche control gate with a pronounced bootpack. Making sure to adhere to all rules and regulations, head on up Pioneer Ridge for a short, in-bounds hike. There will be an option to dip off into nice sections of trees or you can keep hoofing it up the ridge to select from a number of chutes and lines. Any of these options will funnel you back to the Pacific Highway or Wren Hollow runs. From there, head back down to the Brighton Center to nosh on food at the Alpine Rose.

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3. 12:45 PM – Lunch at Alpine Rose (see more on lunch options)

For convenience, Alpine Rose is the most centrally located eatery at Brighton, though all 4 options are in close proximity to Brighton’s base area. Alpine Rose has a spacious patio, so we recommend this lunch spot on sunny days. There’s nothing fancy here, just standard and very reasonably priced cafeteria-style food.

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4. 1:45 PM – 3:30 PM – Classics on Great Western

After filling up at the Alpine Rose, it’s straightforward to ski on down past the Explorer Lift to catch a ride on the Great Western Express. As you climb, take a look at the various chutes and tree runs below and pick your lines based on current conditions. The Elk Park Ridge is a fun and playful run to bomb down with rollers and stellar views; make sure to keep your speed past Golden Needle, it becomes a bit flat here. Another lap or two and you can conquer Brighton classics such as Lone Star, Rein’s Run, or True Grit.

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5. 3:30 PM – 5 PM – Après Ski at Molly Green's

Though Brighton only has one legitimate après hub, Molly Green’s shouldn’t be skipped. Note that children are not permitted in the bar, so if you’ve brought the kids along, it may be time to call it a day. Tucked into a well-worn A-frame cabin, the atmosphere of Molly’s is cozy, authentic, and pure old-school skiing. Molly Green’s is famous for pizza, nachos, and a mean Bloody Mary. Though the vibe is mellow, sit back, relax and swap stories of the day’s greatest moments.

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5. 5 PM – 5PM – Night Skiing on Crest Express

If you’re up for it, Brighton provides some of the most extensive night skiing in the west. Over 200 acres are served by three lifts (Explorer, Majestic, and Crest Express). This should not be missed if a late afternoon or early evening storm rolls in. There’s nothing like skiing in the dark as giant, fat flakes softly drift down, illuminated by the big lights. It’s magical and locals call it “Free Refills”! Brighton offers a ton of promotions and packages around their night skiing, so be sure to check here for details. Night skiing hours run 4-9 PM and the best turns are off the Crest Express Chairlift.

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Hope you've had an excellent time exploring the nooks and crannies of Brighton's best terrain. Time for Après Ski at Molly Green's or in true Brighton fashion, just call it a night.

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