Powderbird Heli Skiing Utah
Do you want “Snowbird” or “Powderbird”? You can have both, but would you prefer to ski “snow” or “powder”?! The Snowbird ski resort has amazing snow but it’s still really only snow unless it’s completely untracked. Heading up in a helicopter (the real “bird”) with Powderbird Heli Skiing Utah offers gorgeous virgin powder that lasts all day, not just one hour after the lifts open.
Utah heli skiing with Powderbird (formerly Wasatch Powderbird Guides) is an awe inspiring adventure. The Wasatch Range is legendary for the predictable quality and quantity of snow, so the chances of getting the perfect blower powder day are pretty good.
Where is Powderbird Located?
Powderbird Heli Skiing Utah has two bases, one of which is in Park City at Canyons, an upscale all-round ski resort that is particularly popular with families.
Snowbird heli skiing is the other base (the original), which is perched just above the village at the
Snowbird Ski Resort, with the
Alta Ski Resort only a stone’s throw away. Powderbird provides morning pickups for those staying at Snowbird or Alta.
It’s only a 30-40 minute drive from the Salt Lake City Airport to Snowbird or Canyons Resort, and there are lots of transport companies offering shuttles between the airport, Canyons/Park City and Snowbird.
In addition to the Canyons heli skiing and the Snowbird heli skiing, Powderbird also offers customized Greenland heli ski trips.
Utah Heli Skiing Packages
You can fly like a bird with a premium one day adventure, or head out for multiple days of heli skiing. You can book a seat as an individual or as a group of friends. A premium heli ski adventure incorporates 6-7 glorious runs, and you can pay for additional runs. Other inclusions: guiding; a gourmet breakfast and lunch; beverages; and use of an avalanche beacon. Powder skis are available to rent.
For a more exclusive experience, private charter heli skiing is also available which provides priority heli access so you can enjoy more flights and more vertical. Private heliskiing also gives the guides complete flexibility to tailor the experience to you and your group. The private heli skiing is costed per heli flight hour.
Lodging
You can choose your own lodging at Snowbird or Alta.
A popular choice for discerning heli ski guests is the
Snowpine Lodge at Alta Ski Resort. Snowpine Lodge is a charming upscale boutique hotel that provides fabulous food, and very personalized service.
Powderbird Heli Skiing Terrain
Powderbird has permit use of approximately 100,000 acres (40,000ha) for helicopter skiing in the Wasatch, Cache and Uinta National Forests. This is almost 4 times the size of all the
Utah ski resorts combined! Some of the terrain is close to the Snowbird heliport between Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons, whilst some of it is up to 20 miles away to the north or south.
Powderbird Heli skiing has plenty of challenging terrain and hair raising chutes, but you don’t need to be an extreme skier to go. Terrain also includes alpine bowls, widely spaced tree skiing and mellow runs, and they can form different groups according to ability (and weight). They can cater for low-end advanced skiers and boarders and upwards, but if you’re not sure about your ability you can check when you make an inquiry.
Guests are grouped into four per guide, and typically they ski two groups together so that there is a lead and tail guide.
Seven flights runs are provided each day, which equates to 6-7 runs, with a total of approximately 11,000 to 16,000 feet of vertical. That’s plenty of quality Utah powder in one day!!
More Reasons to Go Heli Skiing with Powderbird
Any
USA heli skiing experience is fabulous, but the location of Powderbird in the Wasatch is what makes this operation a stand-out. The area is world renowned for great quality dry snow, with over 500 inches (12.7 metres) falling annually. Whilst you’ll get a good dose of steep and deep at Snowbird and Alta, two of the best ski resorts in the world for powder hounds, Powderbird makes a great adjunct to your Utah ski vacation with the ultimate in skiing fresh POW POW.