The Proposition
One of the snowiest places in the US, Snowbird beckons with powdery trails and less pretense than other major resorts. If you’re visiting, why not stay at the center of it all, where the slopes and après-ski are at your fingertips?
If you’re headed out west to ski this winter, you’re probably going to Aspen or Vail, but let us make a case for Utah. Just 30 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, Snowbird, with nearly 500 inches of powdery, lake-effect snow each year, feels like a refreshing escape without the see-and-be-seen vibe of other resorts. Boasting 169 runs – roughly one-third beginner, one-third intermediate, and one-third truly challenging, including double-black-diamond chutes at Mineral Basin – there’s also night skiing, snowshoeing, 5,000 acres of groomed snowmobiling trails, and guided ranger ski tours that explore the area’s ecology and wildlife.
If you’re here to ski, you’re staying at ski-in/ski-out The Cliff Lodge and Spa. Despite the minimalistic concrete exterior (typical of resorts in the area), the Lodge doesn’t want for modern amenities. Inside, rooms have been recently updated with contemporary furnishings, blackout curtains, and marble vanities. And, throughout the property, wall-to-wall windows showcase views of the mountains and the rugged canyon below.
Once you’re skied out, ride the winter tram to 11,000 feet for lunch at the glass-encased Summit restaurant, or shop Snowbird’s pedestrian village. The best après-ski in town? It’s at The Cliff Lodge, where relaxation means a soak in the heated rooftop pool amid end-of-the-day flurries. Afterward, make time for dinner at The Aerie, the Lodge’s sleek gastropub with mountain views and more than 1,000 wines by the bottle, then sip Margaritas made with more than two dozen types of tequila at El Chanate.
Must Do
Spend the day exploring one of the nearby areas. Ski the exceptional powder at Alta (often included on the same ski pass as Snowbird), snowboard with locals at Solitude, or take in some of Salt Lake City’s cultural offerings.
Average High & Low Temperatures
Dec: 30°F & 14°F
Jan: 31°F &15°F
Feb: 31°F & 15°F
Mar: 36°F & 19°F
Average Snowfall
Dec: 90.7 inches
Jan: 90.4 inches
Feb: 87.2 inches
Mar: 98.4 inches
Prices start at $139; www.snowbird.com/lodging/theclifflodge