 An abundance of Utah's famous powder and Snowbird's admirably varied terrain combine to offer excellent skiing and snowboarding for all ability levels. The recent expansion in Mineral Basin added some welcome new intermediate and advanced-intermediate terrain to Snowbird and created a lift-served connection to neighboring Alta. Both resorts can now be skied using a "dual-resort ticket," providing access to a combined 5700 acres of skiable terrain. Bear in mind that the ticket doesn"t mean you can board from the ‘bird into Alta, where snowboards are still forbidden. The heart of Snowbird may well be the Tram, which rises 2875 feet from the base to the summit of Hidden Peak. This lift alone provides access to about half the terrain and is the focal point of attention early on a powder day. Well-known shots like Great Scott and Peruvian Cirque will be found from the top; the High Baldy Traverse leads to many fine powder lines into Peruvian Gulch. If you don"t like sharing a lift with 124 other people there are plenty of other choices. The Gadzoom detachable Quad serves 1830 feet of vertical and some fine beginner and intermediate terrain. Gad 2 offers intermediate trails but leans more to the black diamond and double-black side of things. True green-circle cruising terrain is in short supply on the main mountain, but there are a series of fine runs from the Baldy Express in Mineral Basin. There are three levels of terrain parks and, a ½ pipe and a Superpipe. There"s also a mining-themed fun park for little kids. Dining choices begin with a couple of snack bars and a pizza parlor, and work up through two mountainside cafeterias to eight full-service restaurants. The latter offer everything form Mediterranean to New American cuisine. You will also find a couple of espresso bars and five lounges. Other conveniences include a wine and liquor store and a grocery store with a deli. Snowbird's slopeside pedestrian village provides close to 1000 hotel rooms and condos ranging in price from moderate to luxury. The Cliff Lodge offers ski-in ski-out convenience with a range of amenities that include the Cliff Spa, restaurants, lounges, and a business center. Nearby you"ll find a skating rink and the family tubing hill. Also conveniently located to services and the slopes are the Lodge at Snowbird, The Inn, and the Iron Blosam Lodge. Nearby or on-site you"ll find ice skating, tubing, cross-country, and guided snowshoe tours. Snowmobile tours are also available. In addition to frequent events and entertainment at the resorts lodges and restaurants, Salt Lake City is just down the road.
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Ski Report
Utah
