Mountain Review: Snowbird, Utah

An in-depth video review of Snowbird, a ski area located in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah.
Overall Mountain Score: 81/100 - #1 (tied) of 4 in Utah
---
Snow: 10/10
Resiliency: 9/10
Size: 8/10
Terrain Diversity: 9/10
Challenge: 10/10
Lifts: 7/10
Crowd Flow: 6/10
Facilities: 7/10
Navigation: 6/10
Mountain Aesthetic: 9/10
See our full resort breakdown and written review for Snowbird here: www.peakrankings.com/content/...
Follow us on other channels!
Instagram: / peakrankings
Twitter: / peak_rankings
Facebook: / peakrankings

[@coffeephish]

Just the info I was looking for! Well done!

[@azukib2230]

Snowbird is my “home resort” and where I learned to ski…… didn’t realized how difficult it is compared to other resorts. Almost peed my pants getting down those “blue in snowbird, black elsewhere” trail on my third day. I thought I just really sucked at learning lol. I’d also add that even the chickadee run has some blue and black lines along the sides that you can explore. It’s actually quite fun for beginners if you like the surprise and adrenaline.

[@davidcline471]

My favorite mountain! Amazing.

[@elliotearles8302]

I think if I was uncomfortable on advanced runs, I would be pretty worried about getting off the blue trails here. Sometimes those traverses get too narrow or disappear. The first time I went here had absolutely zero vis so we tried to follow a cat track and had no idea where we were going.

[@Roguchii]

I've been using your videos as a travel guide to plan my upcoming trip to Utah. I'm in a group of four with myself being the most advanced skier. The others are varying degrees of intermediate. With your advice and reviews we've decided on going to Alta Snowbird and Brighton.

[@VampguyN85]

Snowbird is one of my favorite mountains. But what I remember about it and several others out west; is if you are an intermediate skier or beginner, some of the blue terrain can be steeper and more difficult than you can be used to. Bordering on advanced black terrain. I could ski the cirque traverse by age 10 or so fortunately. The tunnel to the bowl never existed when I was there 20 years ago

[@PeakRankings]

Agreed!

[@williamtell5365]

My "home" mountains are Crystal Mountain and Whistler. But Alta and Snowbird are maybe my two favorites in the US, I just love the terrain and the snow.

[@andyburris2555]

I just got back. I usually ski in CO. Along with Alta It’s an amazing mountain. Your videos really prepared us for a great time, thank you. One remark is the difference between their blue and single black terrain is minimal at times. Especially when comparing a blue and single black that exist in the same bowl. Cheers!

[@PeakRankings]

Love that these could be of help!

[@andyburris2555]

@@PeakRankings definitely! I always check these out before going to a new resort/area.

[@rmsmith2396]

This mountain can be intimidating. If you are not a very good skier, go to Alta or Big Cottonwood.

[@willhughes5530]

Alta has very little to no easy terrain, I would steer towards Park City and Deer Valley, Alta should not be taken lightly.

[@rmsmith2396]

@@willhughes5530 Easy seems to be a relative term. There is plenty of terrain for an intermediate skier at Alta.

[@tylerharaf5901]

@@willhughes5530 Park city is always a good bet for skiers of all levels. Could also go for a family oriented colorado resort like keystone or copper

[@TwinSkiingLiftsRides]

Snowbird’s my favorite of the four Cottonwood Canyons resorts, although the only annoying thing about it is being forced to take Mineral Basin out of the back bowls. The Summit restaurant is a great warming spot, and offers awesome views of both sides, which I really like.

[@mtadams2009]

I love Snowbird and think of Snowbird and Alta as a combo package. I am a strong skier, so I pretty much explore the entire mountain. When I go to Utah its generally just to ski since night life pretty much sucks. Colorado has it beat in the ski vibe area. This all said the Bird is a great place to ski or ride. One thing he did not mention is you can fly in and ski on the same day and also ski on your last day and be at the airport to catch your flight out. Something that I have never been able to do anywhere else.

[@alimccreery755]

I’ve had the opportunity to ski at Solitude when I visit my friends in Magna Utah. Nice

[@ryandietrich8604]

The glass on the summit lodge uses non-reflective glass! It is amazing!

[@kkeelty64]

Just got back from skiing a day where the windchill at the summit was at least 20* below zero F. Days prior it was nearly 40* at the base in the sun. Agree with most of your comments. One cool thing about the Basshole is that it essentially takes you through a LCC mining and skiing museum as you stand on the magic carpet on the way to Mineral Basin. If you haven't been there and are at least an OK intermediate skier, GO! Snowbird is a really great resort, but it is pretty limited for beginners or those making the transition from green to blue runs. Everyone else should be VERY pleased. If you are an expert there are runs there that will challenge you like few resorts are capable of.

[@robmatijevich8910]

My first trip out West was to Alta, Solitude, and Snowbird in Utah. Loved all three!!

[@cass5866]

This video made me start working out again because I'm a seasoned skier, but I'm out of shape and definitely need endurance for this place since we're going this season lol

[@jackshittle]

I got to go here twice in the early 90's to snowboard. The first time was on my own dime. Then that April we took a Lockheed P-3C Orion from Brunswick, Maine (I was in the Navy for 5 years & served as an aircrewman) to Hill AFB in UT. We got an Air Force van & rooms at the Marriot in Ogden. The entire crew wanted to ski Alta. I tried convincing them to ski at Snowbird but they didn't want to so when we were on Little Cottonwood Canyon Rd they pulled over in front of 'bird, I got out & they told me what time to meet them at for a ride back. It was super warm & sunny. I put Bullfrog sunblock on my face to hastily & when I was done riding I had a hand print on my face lol. MTV was there doing the top 20 video countown & I asked if I could introduce the next video (it was Karen Duffy who was doing it). We had a great time & flew back to Maine later the next day. I have a poster sized portrait of myself doing a method air off a ledge as a memento. Cheers!

[@moonbear2130]

I’m here for similar reasons, getting stationed at Hill so researching my skiing options, grew up skiing in New Hampshire

[@whereisWALDOat]

Been loving this video series nice work. Snowbird is definitely one of the best resorts for experts. I presume you sidestepped back up that chute off the cirque @8:34? It didn't look like there was any realistic way down that in those conditions lol

[@PeakRankings]

Thanks for watching! Yeah def sidestepped out of that one

[@aidanlarsen]

you just gotta straight line it! Tbh its not uncommon for it to look like that

[@aidanlarsen]

i have yet to conquer that line though

[@stevestegman8181]

I skied Snowbird for the first time after a few inches of powder on Monday. I am a “seasoned” intermediate and have been skiing off and on since the mid-1960’s. It’s big, brawny, and beautiful mountain but don’t be intimidated if you aren’t an expert. Just respect the signs or ski with someone who knows the mountain and knows your ability level. Last note; get your legs in the best shape they can be; the continuous verticals (off the traverses) of the mountain will beat you up if you don’t!

[@germanylicious]

The lodge had to be built massive bc of Avalanches. All lodges are massive for that reason. To not repeat the 1982 tragedy at Alpine meadows.

[@Kirbey]

What happened there?

[@germanylicious]

@@Kirbey a huge Avalanche took out the lodge with all ski patrol and clinic in it. Nobody was able to leave for a week. People got buried. One woman survived 7 days buried. Let me find the link.

[@germanylicious]

@@Kirbey kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6rIkIFuprKgaKc

[@germanylicious]

@@Kirbey 7 people died. I think it's by Tahoe?

[@replicatingsps4118]

@@germanylicious yeah I ski here. Right by Lake Tahoe and is a great mountain. It’s owned by ikon along with palisades (squaw) and they’re installing a gondola this summer to connect the two mountains, kinda like whister blackcomb

[@kevinl8440]

Snowbird is a horrible resort for beginners, an OK resort for intermediates (lot of better UT options), but probably the best US resort for experts (along with Jackson).... And "powder a few days after a storm". lol Try a few minutes.

[@ciminelm]

Totally agree. When they drop the rope for mineral basin, the entire place is trashed by the time you get back to the top.

[@humanbeing2420]

You have to go into the trees and look for it. It won't be in the middle of marked runs. That is what he means.

[@superownful]

I almost ended up in the river on this mountain. Love the resort but you need to know where to go

[@tcskibasin9858]

This season you should review sun valley

[@kosycat1]

I used all 7 days at snowbird on my ikon pass a few years ago. I rode the tram only once because the line was always much longer than the other lines, I opted for using the other lifts and just made giant circles around the whole resort with a few hikes up baldy thrown in. I find snowbirds very easy to get around even without the tram. I wasn't getting top to bottom runs every time but almost. I got double-black runs on every face there except from the mineral basin side of baldy. I was riding alone the whole time too for the most part.

[@warningsigns4526]

gold

[@cookiecracker6266]

What would be a great experience in UT or CO for a well verse medium snowboarder? Sounds like Snowbird is out of my ability.

[@PeakRankings]

Copper would be our pick! Or Snowmass if you have a bit more money to spend

[@psychadelicccc]

I went here my first season ever snowboarding because everywhere else had closed. I *barely* survived and someone else that day didn't. :( This mountain is no joke haha. But if I survived it, you can too... If you respect the mountain. Prepare to cry.

[@psychadelicccc]

Also..I bought my lift ticket and got on the tram only to see a sign "experts only due to spring conditions" once I was already on my way up. 😅 Buy the ticket take the ride?

[@camski13]

late comment but planning a trip with friends they want to go 1st week of feb I want to go 2nd week of March I’m worried not all the big mountain terrain will be covered what do you recommend also very underrated account will be showing all my friends & using for future references

[@PeakRankings]

Thank you Cameron! Snowbird is a very reliable mountain-chances that it won't be 100% open in mid-March are extremely slim.

[@camski13]

Absolutely every skier who plans to travel should know about this channel. With that being said with your knowledge would you say traditionally snowbird isn’t 100% open by early feb thanks again for your quick response looking forward to future videos

[@PeakRankings]

@@camski13 Snowbird is traditionally fully open by February-and even January! The one worry may be variable conditions in the Mineral Basin area, which faces south, if there hasn't been fresh snow recently.

[@camski13]

That’s awesome to hear I do a big group ski trip each year. last year was at big sky early feb coverage was a bit lackluster on the big mountain terrain although it was a down year everywhere. this put a little worry to rest !!

[@kylecarscaden3953]

ALTA/BIRD best mtns ever.

[@marvlo27]

What run is that at 1:29?

[@samuelwillis4560]

road to provo far out onto the traverse

[@jtwoolley]

why not 100?

[@SolaceEasy]

Even on intermediate runs you dropped your uphill hand consistently. You got to fix that. It's screwing up your hip motion and slowing down your turn, which makes the end of your turn too heavy.

[@jaredwhite489]

There’s been like 20 ppl die here since 1971.

[@sehanley692]

You are speaking too slowly. What happened??? BTW - I am a southerner. We speak slowly for “you guys” only. You ask for suggestions for future videos- Pick it up!

[@j.thomas7128]

Screw Snowbird now that they adopted the *pay even more* Fast Pass crap. It was USED TO BE my home mountain.

[@kosycat1]

they have a fast pass now? when did they start that. I'm not a local. im a dirty non local from the east lol. but that sucks

[@j.thomas7128]

@@kosycat1 they started this year. I grew up on the east coast skiing the tiniest of places. After a handful of Utah ski trips, I had to move.

[@jakespindler155]

@@j.thomas7128 that’s what i’m planning to do man, how was the move for you?

[@kosycat1]

@@j.thomas7128 hell yeah. I went to snowbird and brighton for the first time and a month later i flew out again because it was so good

[@j.thomas7128]

@@kosycat1 Snowbird has the steepest terrain and best chutes. Pipeline @bird is legendary. Alta, too. Solitude in Big Cottonwood is another gem. There's a short traverse that gets you into insane pillowtops and really slick 'die if you fall' technical drops. Snow Basin is not gnarly, but insanely fun with glades, trees, and great groomed high speed runs if you ever have a need to ski at 80+mph. But the ultimate chill mountain is Powder Mtn. It's HUGE! Over 8,400 acres. Bigger than Whistler. You really can ski an hour without even seeing another person and this is strictly inbounds. I've skied most of the big places... Jackson, Whistler, Vail, Steamboat, Big Sky, Kirkwood, blahhh and I choose Utah.

[@mattbergman3372]

You are the guy stopped in the middle of the tight shoot at the Bird. What is the purpose of this video anyway? To get more people up here to slide sideways down the shoots and scrape off the amazing snow?😔

[@sawyerbreiter9098]

If you're gonna hate at least learn how to spell

[@williamgresham901]

whoever filmed this doesn't need to be skiing lmfao

[@Colinjcoppola]

Overrated. So many other better mts in Utah and also Colorado