How to get there
Where is Snowbird? Snowbird is located amongst the rugged peaks of the Wasatch Mountain Range in Little Cottonwood Canyon. It is an incredibly accessible ski resort, being only 47 kilometres (29 miles - 45 minute drive) from Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah.
Other Ski Resorts Nearby
Snowbird is one mile down the Little Cottonwood Canyon from the resort of
Alta. Considering that most
Utah ski resorts are in close proximity to each other, Snowbird is close to lots of other ski resorts such as those in Big Cottonwood Canyon (
Solitude and
Brighton Ski Resort), and those around Park City (
Park City Mountain Resort,
The Canyons,
Deer Valley).
Snowbird Travel
There are plenty of flights into
Salt Lake City from major US cities, and lots of companies offer shuttle transport to the resort. If
Snowbird is your only destination for your ski holiday, then hiring a car is not necessary to get there or to get around. If you’re doing a road trip or staying in
Salt Lake City then hiring a car may be handy, but not essential.
By car: The most direct route from downtown and the airport is east on I-80, south on I-215, take 6200 South exit (which turns into Wasatch Blvd) then follow the signs to Snowbird. The road up the tight canyon is very avalanche prone. It is commonly closed for avalanche control or clearance, sometimes just for an hour or two, but occasionally for many hours. Those staying at Snowbird dream of days when the road is closed all day and they can go “country clubbing”.
Parking is sorted for those staying overnight at Snowbird, but day-trippers need to join the hundreds of others crammed into the day car park. A tip for easy access is to park on the bypass road (go past The Cliff) and then ski down to Blackjack and the village. Alternatively $12 is very well spent by making the most of the valet parking.
On a powder day, be prepared for a long trip home with the potential for a major case of a “red snake” down the hill.
By bus: If staying in one of the
Salt Lake City hotels you can take the Utah Transit Authority light rail (UTA TRAX) from downtown and transfer to a UTA ski bus. They have frequent pick-ups from multiple stops around the city including 10 different hotels, and it is incredibly cheap - $6 round-trip. The only downside depending upon where you’re staying is that on Sundays, TRAX doesn't run from downtown until after 10 am, so on a powder day you can call a cab to take you to a ski bus stop. There are also park-and-ride stops at the entrance to the canyon where you catch the UTA buses.
Another alternative to get to Snowbird is to use a private transportation service such as
Canyon Hop. A return trip costs $45 per person with an 8am pick-up.
Getting Around
The village of Snowbird is small enough to walk around, but there is also a free shuttle to get around.
To get to the nearby Alta, either ski over, or UTA offer a free bus service albeit somewhat infrequent. Some of the Alta and Snowbird accommodations also offer shuttles.