Snowbird Resort Facts and History

The Inn at Snowbird

The Inn at Snowbird

Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort is Snowbird, Utah's prime source of economy and tourism draw. Because the resort is so important, it is helpful to know some information about it while visiting Snowbird, Utah. Therefore, you'll find some facts and information about the resort that will both enlighten and prepare you for your trip to Snowbird, Utah.

General Mountain Information

• Average Annual Snowfall: 500 inches
• Vertical Drop: 3,420 feet
• Base Elevation: 7,760 feet
• Top Elevation: 11,000 feet
• Skiable Acres: 2,500
• Terrain: 27% Beginner, 38% Intermediate, and 35% advanced
• Number of Runs: 89
  • Longest Run: Chip's Run, 2.5 miles
• Longest Descent: Gad Valley, 3.5 miles
• Uphill capacity: 16,800 skiers and snowboarders per hour
• Lifts: 1 tram, 3 quads, 7 doubles

Resort Information and Highlights

• Location: Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Little Cottonwood Canyon, 1 mile down canyon from Alta
• Distance to Salt Lake City International Airport: 29 miles
• Season: Snowbird Resort is open year-round. Ski season generally begins in mid-November and can last as long as mid-May.
• Mountain School: Snowbird offers lessons and classes for adults and children of all ages about different outdoor recreation, including ski and snowboard camps.
• Resort Lodging: Snowbird has four slope side lodges including the Cliff Lodge, Lodge at Snowbird, and The Inn at Snowbird.
• Restaurants and Bars: The resort has 15 different restaurants and four bars serving a variety of food and beverages.
• Resort Spa: The Cliff Spa, located in the Cliff Lodge, offers massages, facials, and other services from 40 trained staff members.
• Meeting Space: Meeting space is available in the Snowbird Mountain Village, with 29,000 square feet of indoor space and an additional 15,000 square feet of outdoor space.

Distance from Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort to Other Cities

• Salt Lake City, UT: 26 miles
• Park City, UT: 35.5 miles
• Boise, ID: 365 miles
• Las Vegas, NV: 419 miles
• Helena, MT: 509 miles
• Denver, CO: 542 miles
• Phoenix, AZ: 701 miles
• Seattle, WA: 866 miles
• Saint Louis, MO: 1,333 miles
• Chicago, IL: 1,409 miles

Snowbird History

The Snowbird-Alta area began as a mining town. Silver was discovered in Little Cottonwood Canyon in 1869, and eventually $3.8 million dollars in silver ore was mined out of the Emma Mine. 8,000 people lived and worked in the canyon at its peak and the town had 138 homes, boarding houses, hotels, stores, and a railroad. Sadly, the town did not reach above this peak because it was later destroyed by avalanches.

The idea for Snowbird Resort did not come until 1969 by Ted Johnson. He had an opportunity to buy the Snowbird mining claim and thought that it would be the perfect location for a ski resort. Snowbird Resort opened in December of 1971 by Johnson and partner Richard D. Bass, who presently owns the Resort entirely. The resort began with three lifts, the tram, the Lodge at Snowbird, and the Snowbird Center. The resort opened the Cliff Lodge and Spa, a renowned lodging and spa, in 1986.