#17 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
Snowbird Ski Resort not only benefits from an average of 500 inches of snowfall annually, the area also has a season that can stretch from mid-November well into May.
With a renowned mountain ski school with top-rated instructors, Snowbird also has an emphasis on being a family-friendly destination, just 30 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport. Snowbird is an Ikon Pass destination and Mountain Collective member resort.
Snowbird has 2,500 skiable containing 169 runs. The trails and one terrain park are accessed by 10 lifts and a 125-person aerial tram that takes skiers to Hidden Peak, at the 11,000-foot top elevation and the 2.5-mile Chip’s Run, enjoying spectacular scenery along the way down. The vertical drop here is 3,240 feet.
Night skiing is offered at Snowbird. Other winter activities include cat skiing, snowshoeing, and heli-skiing as well as mountain tours of the area. The Ski School & Snowboard School at Snowbird has private and group lessons, as well as avalanche training and backcountry ski programs. An adaptive skiing program is also offered, and equipment rentals are available at the Snowbird base areas.
On-mountain dining is available at Snowbird, as well as slope-side lodging with ski-in/ski-out access.
December and March tend to be the best times to visit Snowbird Ski Resort for optimal powder, though weekends and holidays are busier than mid-week, with prices reflecting accommodation demand at that time.
Adult tickets for Snowbird Ski Resort range from $125 to $135, depending on the time of season; youth passes are $60 to $65. Combination tickets with Snowbird and Alta are offered, as are half-day and mid-week tickets. Tickets purchased online can save guests up to 55 percent.
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About 27 percent of Snowbird’s runs are ranked beginner; 38 percent at intermediate and 35 percent advanced.
Snowbird is a full-service resort, offering everything from plush suites and outdoor heated pools to restaurants and retail shopping. An iconic ski lodge, The Cliff Lodge faces both the slopes and the canyons, offering ski-in/ski-out proximity. It has a spa, an on-site ski rental and repair shop, and a state-licensed daycare, as well as rooftop hot tubs. Within the west wing of The Cliff Lodge, The Cliff Club has 54 luxury units designed with Mission-style furnishing, accommodating up to 10 guests. Nearby, the Iron Blosam Lodge is a condo development that has a hot tub, a fitness center, an on-site restaurant and lounge, and rooms and units that sleep two to eight guests.
But rooms in the Snowbird Ski Resort properties don’t often come cheap. Keep in mind that more affordable hotel options can also be found in Salt Lake City, about 30 minutes away.
Perched on top of the 11,000-foot Hidden Peak, The Summit offers diners a choice of eating at two different levels, enjoying French cuisine with craft beers and stunning views of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Located in the Snowbird Center, close to all of Snowbird’s hotels, The Steak Pit offers locally sourced beef and trout with enormous salads, as well as a selection of seafood and vegetarian options and an extensive wine list. For fine dining, The Aerie is on the 10th floor of The Cliff Lodge, offering modern American cuisine from elk meatloaf with whipped potatoes to wild mushroom ravioli.
Snowbird has a few spots to drop in for a drink – try the Tram Club in the Snowbird Center for daily and weekly specials at this sports bar with 14 TVs. At the pool level of The Lodge at Snowbird, the Lodge Bistro Lounge offers everything from draft beers to wine to specialty cocktails, while the Champagne Lounge at The Aerie has small plates and appetizers along with unique cocktails like the Templeton Sazerac and the ginger mojito.
The closest airport to Snowbird Ski Resort is Salt Lake City International Airport, which has daily flights from major U.S. cities coming in regularly, often before noon, so skiers can be on the slopes on the same day. There are a number of car rentals and shuttles available from the airport to Snowbird. By car, Snowbird is 45-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport.
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Alta
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Brighton
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Solitude
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Park City Mountain Resort
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Deer Valley Resort
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Vertical Drop (ft) | 2,538 | 1,875 | 2,494 | 3,226 | 3,000 |
Skiable Area (ac) | 538 | 500 | 500 | 355 | 300 |
Number of Trails | 119 | 66 | 82 | 348 | 103 |
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