Located in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah's Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort is known for its steep vertical drop and challenging terrain, with two north-facing bowls and one south-facing bowl accessible by several lifts and a huge aerial tram. Lifts connect skiers with the neighboring Alta Ski Area.
To help skiers find the most suitable runs, Snowbird provides guided tours of the mountain. Almost half the runs are for experts, but some of the beginner and intermediate trails are nice, winding through glades of pine and spruce. There are more than 100 runs in all. The area gets an average of about 500 in/1,270 cm of dry Utah powder annually—it really packs a punch.
Snowboarding is allowed on the slopes and at a super-pipe. Several lodges provide accommodations, and there's a conference center with meeting facilities. Heli-skiing is also offered; try it for a stomach-leaping thrill. http://www.powderbird.com.
The Aerial Tram at Snowbird resort is not for the faint of heart or those afraid of heights, but it's great fun for everyone else. The tram soars nearly 4,000 ft/1,240 m in just 10 minutes, taking passengers up to 11,000-ft/3,410-m Hidden Peak for amazing views of the Wasatch Mountains. The tram ride, which can ferry as many as 125 people at a time, is impressive no matter the season. Once at the top, you can picnic, hike, ski or ride the tram back down.
For more information about Snowbird, visit http://www.snowbird.com.
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