How to get there, lift tickets, ski runs, and other cool features.

Snowbird is one of Utah’s most well-known ski resorts, with lots of terrain and great views. Open to both skiers and snowboarders, Snowbird offers plenty of opportunities for winter adventure.

How to Get There

Approximately forty minutes from Salt Lake City, take Foothills Drive to the I-215 belt route. Follow the signs to Little Cottonwood Canyon. The route takes drivers through residential areas before turning into the canyon. As one gets closer to the resort, signs warn of potential avalanche areas, with great views of mountains with backcountry ski routes. Once at the resort, parking is available in free lots.

Lift Tickets

An all-day lift ticket is $69 for one adult. There are many kinds of ticket options, discounts, and passes. For more information, visit the resort’s pricing page.

Ski Runs

Beginner skiers/riders can find fun runs to hone their skills. For instance, the Big Emma run is a wide open area on the front side of the mountain. However, it receives a lot of feeder traffic from other runs, and the ski school area and terrain park are parallel to the run. Skiers need to watch out for merging traffic.

An intermediate run is “Bassackwards,” which begins at the top of the Gad 2 Lift and merges with the lower part of “Big Emma.” To get to the Gad 2, one must ride the Gadzoom lift to the top and ridge part of Bassackwards about halfway down to the Gad 2, which starts halfway up the mountain and continues to the top. Since this run also intersects with Big Emma, one must be cautious at the mere point, which is a part of the run terraced into the side of Big Emma, with skiers riding through.

Those with advanced skiing skills will find a lot of skiable terrain on both the front and backside of the mountain, which is accessed by a “ski tunnel,” a passage through the mountain where skiers and snowboarders ride a conveyer belt to access the back bowl.

To learn more about the ski runs and terrain, check out Snowbird’s trail maps online.

Other Cool Features

• Heli-skiing: offered through Wasatch Powderbird Guides, patrons are airlifted from the base area to the top of a remote peak, allowing access to backcountry skiing.

• Avalanche Rescue Training Center: designed for those who wish to hone their skills with an avalanche beacon.
• Adaptive Skiing: programs designed for those with special needs who want to get out and enjoy the natural world. Offered through wasatchadaptivesports.org.

• Plenty of opportunities for shopping and dining. There is also a program for those interested in purchasing real estate or a vacation home.