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Overview
 Less than 30 Minutes from Salt Lake City, Snowbird is part of Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest and Uinta National Forest. The forest name, Wasatch-Cache, was derived from the local Indians and trappers who utilized and depended on forest resources to survive. The Utah Indian word, Wasatch, means “high mountain pass”. The term Cache stems from the regions first fur trappers who dug caves in Cache Valley to store (or cache) their furs until traded.
Snowbird offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the country, with rolling groomed runs, wide-open bowls, and mellow boulevards. The resort caters more toward the comprehensive skier
 and snowboarder, although there are plenty of groomed beginner runs as well as an excellent ski school for children and adults. Unlike neighboring Alta, a resort that inspirits a more rustic and traditional ski experience, Snowbird’s modern amenities - both on and off the slopes - offer a more diverse ski vacation.
The resort is actually comprised of three excellent ski areas in one: Peruvian Gulch, the first area to be part of the Snowbird resort when it was established in 1971, Gad Valley, offering two square miles of various terrain; and, most recently, Mineral Basin, where lift service began with the new millennium, adding over 500 acres of slopes, along with rolling benches, chutes and gullies. In addition to challenging expert terrain, friendly beginner terrain, and everything in between for intermediates, Snowbird is recognized for
 its aerial tramway, which carries skiers and snowboarders up to Hidden Peak in eight minutes for a descent of as much as 3,240 uninterrupted vertical feet. The new high-speed quad, Mineral Basin Express, rises nearly 1,500 vertical feet in less than four minutes. And Gad Valley cascades continuously for more than 3,000 vertical feet.
The vertical rise of the mountain ascends to 3,240 feet, with a skiing acreage of more than 2,500 feet. Snowbird is also known for having long descents, including the 3.5-mile Gad Valley run and the 2.5-mile Chips Run. Snowbird sees an average snowfall of 500 inches per year, enough to keep it regularly open more than 200 days most ski seasons. Moreover, Snowbird Mountain is conveniently connected to Alta Mountain. From Alta, just ride the Sunnyside and Sugarloaf lifts and then cut through Sugarloaf pass into Mineral Basin. The Mineral Basin Express high-speed quad chairlift will take you to 11,000-foot Hidden Peak.
 Snowbird features four slope lodges – the Cliff Lodge, Lodge at Snowbird, The Inn, and Iron Blosam – that offer rooms by the night, week or longer as well as timeshare opportunities. A slopeside ice rink and spa at the Cliff Lodge provides a nice alternative skiing. The mountain village includes 44,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space with all contemporary A/V equipment, conference services and catering. Snowbird guests also have plenty of shopping opportunities, from owner Dick Bass’s handpicked items at Marco Polo to Snowbird logo hats and T-shirts at Wings.
Snowbird is not just a winter resort. Tennis, swimming, hiking and biking, soaking and relaxing all have their place in the sun during the summer and fall. Each year Snowbird features a Jazz & Blues festival and an Oktoberfest celebration. Guests also can enjoy the acclaimed Utah Symphony performances and the exotic belly-dancing festival.
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