Overview

Many a housewife has been known to complain about the lack of amenities in Little Cottonwood Canyon but they're comparing that vacation to one in Aspen or Park City. You can't. You want amenities? Stay in Salt Lake City. You want outrageous brag-to-your-friends-and-family skiing? Stay at Snowbird Ski Resort. Here, you ski hard and pass out.

Over the years, the resort and especially the Cliff Lodge have added après activities to address those times when you just need a break from the on-hill action. Now, although there's still no reason to be up LCC in the winter if you don't ski, you can chill at the spa, throw back margaritas in the cantina, and take a snowmobile ride for variety.

Snowshoeing
Rent snowshoes from the Activity Center or take a daily guided tour at 1:30 p.m. Private tours can also be arranged.

Avalanche Beacon Park
Practice your avalanche rescue skills in the Rescue Training Center east of the Cliff Lodge, near Wasatch Powderbird Guides' helipad. Buried transmitters simulate avalanche victims. You push a button on the control board to select the number of 'victims' you want to rescue. Grab the probe and start poking. Lights flash when you find something. The Park is free and open daily but you need your own beacon.

Night Skiing
Snowbird opens just the beginners' Chickadee Lift for night skiing 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Wed./Fri./Sat. only. Snowbird lodging guests can hit it free by bringing their resort guest card to the Snowbird Center Ticket Office.

Tram Rides
Ride the Snowbird Tram to 11,000 feet in less than 10 minutes. Look up canyon to Alta or down into the Salt Lake Valley from the top of Hidden Peak. The view is spectacular from every angle. Step out, wander around but make sure you dress warmly. 

Snowmobiling
Catch a beel ride near the Mineral Basin Express lift and explore over 50,000 acres of terrain. The resort touts the highest elevation snowmobile starting point in Utah.

Backcountry Touring
Experience the Wasatch Backcountry with Snowbird’s expert guides. Choose from an introduction to backcountry skiing, snowboarding and backcountry snowshoe touring, a lift-assisted backcountry tour or a mountaineering tour with couloir skiing. Availability is determined by Snowbird's ski patrol and the weather.

Dining
Filets and salads in the Steak Pit; breakfasts at the Forklift; margaritas and fajitas at La Canata. Snowbird has your menu covered. For that romantic dinner for two head up to The Aerie Restaurant on the 10th floor of the Cliff Lodge.

Spa-ing
The Cliff Spa's rooftop oasis got a recent facelift in 2010 and reopens with new paint, tile, carpet, treatment room flooring, art, lighting, furniture and entry way design elements. They also dedicated one of their 21 treatment rooms to Thai massage. Guests and locals can use the rooftop pool and hot tub, fitness center and yoga studio on the 10th floor with their daily membership fee if you don't happen to be a 9th floor spa suite guest, Cliff Club owner, or receiving a spa treatment.

Nightlife
There's Jazz at the Aerie every Saturday and Wednesday, January - April 2, 8-11 p.m.; pool, foosball, video games, dancing, live music and sports watching on 13 TVs in the underground Tram Bar; and ski movies two-three nights a week in the Cliff Lodge Ballroom.