Snowbird
Snowbird: 2,500 acres, 988m vertical, 12.7m annual snow. Little Cottonwood Canyon's iconic aerial tram & tunnel.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
27 Nov 2026
Closes
9 May 2027
Days open
163
Annual snow
462in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Snowbird operates across 2,500 acres in Little Cottonwood Canyon with a vertical drop of 988 metres from the 3,353-metre Hidden Peak summit to the 2,365-metre base. The resort receives an average of 12.7 metres of annual snowfall and features 171 named runs, making it one of Utah's most snow-reliable destinations. The iconic Aerial Tram climbs 884 metres in seven minutes, providing direct summit access, whilst the unique 183-metre Peruvian Tunnel connects the front side to Mineral Basin through the mountain's interior.
Terrain splits decisively towards advanced riders, with 43 per cent advanced and 24 per cent expert runs, whilst intermediate trails account for 25 per cent and beginner terrain just 8 per cent. The mountain divides into three distinct zones: Peruvian Gulch with the resort's longest runs, Gad Valley offering tree skiing and upper bowls, and Mineral Basin's 500-acre backside bowl accessed via tunnel or tram. Signature advanced runs include Great Scott, Silver Fox, and the Cirque Traverse, whilst intermediates favour Mark Malu and Mineral Basin's forgiving blue terrain.
The compact base village centres on the Snowbird Center and four slopeside lodges including the Cliff Lodge, with concentrated facilities that include The Summit restaurant atop Hidden Peak at 3,353 metres. The resort attracts skilled locals and destination skiers pursuing steep terrain and deep powder, creating a no-nonsense atmosphere focused on serious skiing rather than village life. Weekends draw crowds from metropolitan Salt Lake City, whilst midweek operations remain quieter and powder stashes last longer.
Snowbird appears on both the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective, with the Alta-Bird joint pass providing access to 5,114 combined acres across both Little Cottonwood Canyon resorts. The 2025-26 season ran from 28 November to 26 May, reflecting Utah's longest operating schedule. The mountain suits confident intermediates through experts who prioritise snow quality and challenging terrain over extensive beginner infrastructure, with the caveat that Baby Thunder lift often closes midweek, limiting novice options.
3,241ft
Vertical
171
Runs
2,500 acres
Skiable
462in
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
171 runs across 2,500 acres skiable
Snowbird occupies the south side of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah's Wasatch Range, with about 2,500 acres (1,012 hectares) of terrain and 171 runs. The base sits at 7,760 ft (2,365 m) and Hidden Peak tops out at 11,000 ft (3,353 m), giving 3,240 ft (988 m) of vertical. Terrain splits 8% beginner, 25% intermediate, 43% advanced and 24% expert, so advanced and expert terrain dominates. The two resorts in the canyon share the Alta-Bird pass, which makes it easy to add Alta to a trip.. The Aerial Tram climbs to the summit, with chairlifts handling the rest of the mountain.
Three zones define the mountain. Peruvian Gulch is north-facing, which preserves snow quality, and holds advanced runs such as Silver Fox and Great Scott off the tram. Gad Valley suits all levels, with beginner terrain near the Baby Thunder lift and steeper lines in Gad Chutes and Tiger Tail. Mineral Basin on the back side is south-facing and sunny, with intermediate-friendly runs like Lupine Loop, reached through the 600 ft Peruvian Tunnel conveyor. The Cirque Traverse is a signature advanced line, and intermediates favour Mark Malu. Beginner choice is limited. Snowbird suits confident intermediates through experts chasing steeps and deep snow, and the Alta-Bird ticket adds neighbouring Alta via Sugarloaf Pass into Mineral Basin.
Terrain split
171
runs
171 runs across 4 grades
Beginner14 runs · 8%
Intermediate43 runs · 25%
Advanced74 runs · 43%
Expert41 runs · 24%
Time it right
When to visit Snowbird
The 2025-26 season operated from 28 November 2025 through 26 May 2026, transitioning to weekends-only operations in the final weeks before closing. Snowbird typically opens by early December and extends Utah's longest ski season into late May, occasionally reaching Memorial Day weekend in high-snow years. The resort opened just before Thanksgiving in 2025 but closed earlier than the previous season due to below-average snowfall totals.
Snowbird averages 12.7 metres of annual snowfall, receiving over 500 inches most seasons due to lake-effect enhancement from the Great Salt Lake. The base elevation of 2,365 metres and summit reaching 3,353 metres provide consistent cold temperatures that preserve Utah's famously dry powder. The 2025-26 season recorded approximately 305 inches by closing, well below the typical 500-inch average, demonstrating the resort's vulnerability to warm winters despite its elevation advantage.
January through March delivers peak powder conditions with the highest frequency of storms, whilst December focuses on base-building and terrain opening. April offers exceptional spring skiing on Snowbird's north-facing slopes, where cold preservation extends powder quality beyond most Utah resorts. The resort typically achieves 84 per cent terrain open by Christmas, though steep pitches require substantial base depths of 1.5 metres or more to safely operate.
Snowbird does not offer night skiing but operates from 8 AM until 2 PM during late-season weekends. The resort hosts the Wasatch Wildflower Festival in summer, Cirque series trail running races, and Speedgoat by UTMB mountain running events. Free daily mountain tours depart from the Plaza Deck at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM, whilst the resort's six webcams monitor conditions from Hidden Peak, Mineral Basin, Gad Valley, the tram bull pen, Peruvian Gulch, and the official snowstake.
Season 2026 - 2027
27 Nov 2026
Opens
9 May 2027
Closes
163
Days open
462 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Snowbird
Daily snow reports at Snowbird go back to 2010, 17 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
39 in
Snowiest day
17 Feb 2021
13 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
462 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Snowbird, and where to stay
Snowbird sits in Little Cottonwood Canyon within the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains, 10 kilometres up Highway 210 from the canyon mouth. The unincorporated community lies within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, with the base village at 2,365 metres elevation surrounded by steep canyon walls. Alta Ski Area sits 1.6 kilometres up-canyon to the east, accessible via the Baldy Express chairlift from Mineral Basin, whilst the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon lies 19 kilometres north.
Salt Lake City sits 39 kilometres northwest, with downtown approximately 45 minutes by road in good conditions. The suburb of Sandy lies 19 kilometres from the resort at the canyon entrance, whilst Cottonwood Heights sits 21 kilometres away. Little Cottonwood Canyon's mining history dates to 1869 when silver was discovered at the Emma Mine, which produced $3.8 million in ore before closure in 1941, and the resort opened in December 1971 under founders Ted Johnson and Dick Bass.
Access follows Interstate 80 east from Salt Lake City, then Interstate 215 south to the 6200 South exit, which becomes Wasatch Boulevard before transitioning to Highway 210 up Little Cottonwood Canyon. The 10-kilometre canyon road frequently closes for avalanche control, sometimes for hours during active storm cycles. Parking reservations are recommended on weekends, with free lots filling by 7:45 AM on peak days, and the narrow canyon's avalanche terrain makes it one of North America's most hazardous ski access roads.
Salt Lake City International Airport sits 47 kilometres away via a 45-minute drive in clear conditions, offering over 600 daily flights with direct service to major US cities. The Utah Transit Authority operates the route 994 ski bus from multiple Salt Lake City locations to the Snowbird tram, costing $5 per ride with 30-minute frequency. Private shuttle services including Canyon Transportation provide door-to-door resort transfers, whilst many visitors stay at one of four slopeside lodges to avoid daily canyon driving.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Snowbird, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Mt Rose Aims to Open First in Tahoe on November 6
Mt Rose is going for the first-in-Tahoe title, with the Lakeview Express due to spin at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 6. One main lift, three runs and plenty of snowmaking, sitting on the highest base elevation in the region at 8,260 ft. Here is what is open, what is not (sorry, tubing fans), and how the early North American openings are stacking up.
4 Nov 2026
Europe Snow Forecast: Serre Chevalier Leads With 82 cm Over the Next 10 Days
Europe has had a quiet start to November, but our 10-day forecast has Serre Chevalier on 82 cm and Les 2 Alpes on 71 cm. Two pushes are lined up: a western Alps top-up from Friday, then a bigger, wider system on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 that reaches Italy and Switzerland. Full leaderboard inside.
4 Nov 2026
Mammoth Mountain Opens Early on November 5 With Up to 33 Inches of Snow in the Forecast
Mammoth just moved opening day forward to Thursday, November 5, eight days ahead of schedule. A snowy weekend and cold snowmaking nights did the work, and our forecast shows up to 33 inches more landing on November 13 and 14. Here is what opens, what the weather looks like and where Mammoth sits among the early Ikon Pass openers.
3 Nov 2026
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Snowbird Ski Trails
Downloadable Snowbird trail map
Terrain split
171
runs
Beginner8%
Intermediate25%
Advanced43%
Expert24%
2,500 acres skiable1,012 hectares
Resort Stats
Elevation
Base7,759ft
Summit11,001ft
Annual snowfall
462in
Season
2026 - 2027
27 Nov 2026 - 9 May 2027
Trail coverage
171 runs
2,500 acres (1,012 ha)
Snowbird ski trails
Snowbird offers 171 runs across a mix of difficulties. The terrain split and trail map here show how the mountain breaks down so you can plan a day that suits your group.
- • Match runs to your ability - the terrain split shows how much of Snowbird is beginner, intermediate and advanced.
- • Check grooming and open-run status against the live conditions before committing to the upper mountain.
- • Early season and after fresh snow, favour the lifts serving your preferred grade to make the most of the day.
More Snowbird intelligence: trail map, lift system, resort overview.