Where is Snowbird?
Snowbird Utah is located amongst the rugged peaks of the Wasatch Mountain Range in Little Cottonwood Canyon. It is 28 miles southeast of downtown
Salt Lake City. Some of the outer suburbs of SLC have economical lodging options and are even closer to Snowbird.
Midvale is approximately 15 miles away whilst
Cottonwood Heights (at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon) is 12 miles from Snowbird Resort.
Snowbird Ski Resort is located next door to the
Alta Ski Area, which is 1-2 miles further up the canyon road.
Snowbird Travel
Snowbird UT is an incredibly accessible ski resort, being only 29 miles (47km - 45 minute drive) from the Salt Lake City International Airport. There are plenty of flights into Salt Lake City from major US cities, and lots of companies offer airport shuttle transport to Snowbird. If Snowbird is your only destination for your ski vacation, then
renting a car is not necessary to get there. If you’re doing a road trip or staying in Salt Lake City then renting a car may be handy, but not essential.
Driving to Snowbird
The most direct route from downtown and the airport to Snowbird 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 6 mile 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 parking lot. Keep an eye out for the R.I.D.E. program which rewards car poolers with better parking, discounted tickets, and slope early access privileges.
A tip for easy access is to park on the bypass road (go past The Cliff Lodge) and then ski down to Blackjack and the village. Alternatively the money for valet parking is well spent!
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.
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Bus to Snowbird Utah
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. 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.
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Getting Around Snowbird
The village of Snowbird is small enough to walk its entirety, but there is also a free shuttle to get around. Getting between the Snowbird Center and the Cliff Lodge can be a bit of a challenge across the ski run so don’t wear your stiletto heels!
To get to nearby Alta, either ski over, or UTA offers a free bus service although it’s a bit irregular. Some of the Alta and Snowbird accommodations also offer shuttles.
Ski Resorts Near Snowbird
Snowbird is one mile down the Little Cottonwood Canyon from the resort of
Alta.
Snowbird also has various other resorts nearby.
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Park City Resorts