Alta vs. Snowbird: An Exhaustive Comparison
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- An in-depth comparison review of Alta and Snowbird, two ski resorts in Utah's Little Cottonwood Canyon just east of Salt Lake City.
0:00 Intro
0:51 Snow Quality and Reliability
2:17 Spring Skiing
2:46 Size and Terrain Layout
3:16 Beginner Experience
3:58 Intermediate Experience
4:37 Advanced and Expert Experience
5:37 Hike-to Terrain
6:17 Navigating Lift-Served Terrain
7:17 Crowd Flow
7:59 Snowboarders
8:26 Getting There
9:20 Parking
9:50 Lodging
10:21 Aprés-ski
9:53 Nearby Mountains
10:28 Pass Affiliations
11:53 Verdict
13:04 Pricing
See our full resort breakdown and written review for Alta here: www.peakrankings.com/content/...
See our full resort breakdown and written review for Snowbird here: www.peakrankings.com/content/...
See our full Utah rankings: www.peakrankings.com/utah-ran...
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I've had AltaBird season passes for decades. Your video is pretty much spot on. If I were to add anything I'd say that Alta is a much easier area to explore, especially if you are comfortable with single black diamond skiing. At Snowbird on the other hand, no matter what your skill level is, it is very easy to end up in places you'd probably rather avoid.
Yep, especially on variable conditions days which Snowbird gets its fair share- a run that earlier in the week had great snow can be quite different a few days later.
When I die, spread 1/4 of my ashes going up Gad II (a two seater lift @ Snowbird… ) and the other 1/4 in the Black Forest (a tree run accessed from Gad II, that on those iconic Cottonwood Canyon 4-5 feet of super light snow storms, will make you feel more alive than straight lining heroine. (And the other half of my ashes, on a trail that my Labrador Retriever & I frequent) but seriously… I worked at snowbird in the 2010-2011 season, and I never returned from a break because it such an amazing powder day.
@@DogWhoFilmsGad II hasn’t been a two seat chair I cant remember how long ago. I started going to Snowbird every year since 1984. We used to ride up the main Gad (16 min) and then the two seater Little Cloud chair to the top which was slow and cold. That was the start of every ski day. Now it’s high speed quads thankfully and I get to cover more terrain with my young adult kids. Love Snowbird and is by far my favorite mountain and one I hope to keep going back for many more years.
This channel is absolutely amazing. The reviews are top-notch and spot-on while also offering amazing footage
Spitting facts he’s definitely the best out there
Snowbird local here. I snowboard so I can’t speak to the Alta information, but everything about the bird is spot on. It’s got the steepest terrain in the Wasatch in many different areas around the mountain. Fantastic place for expert riders.
I would be interested to see your comparison of Brighton/Solitude which are also side by side in neighboring Big Cottonwood Canyon. They see about the same amount of snow annually but have a more local vibe to them.
Alta is required to close by the end of April because of the USFS lease. Snowbird owns most of the land it is on, so it can stay open as long as it wants.
SB has a tram to take you from dirt at the bottom to the top and back without a 1 mile walk in the mud.
THIS IS FALSE STOP MAKING UP BULLSHIT . FORESTRY DOES NOT TELL ALTA TO CLOSE BY APRIL 1 . ALTA HAS BEEN OPEN TILL MID APRIL MANY YEARS. SNOWBIRD CHOSES TO CLOSE IT EARLIER THAN SNOWBIRD FOR FINANCIAL REASONS. MORON . 😂
@@kodyadams5561 haha.............wwwwwwwwwoooow.
This channel is absolutely killing it. Thank you guys for all you do.
- The random guy who asked for the raw stats in the email haha
Great Channel, I'm surprised you don't have more subscribers. This is so helpful, I haven't skied in 12+ years and want to in 2023, this helps so much! Thank you!
Excellent content as always, thank you. As you say both resorts are fantastic and it is incredibly difficult to chose which one is better. Living in the UK and having skied widely in Europe, the US and Canada both these resorts are in my top 5 global ski resorts along with Whistler, Verbier and La Grave.
Killer video - just what I need to choose for an upcoming trip to SLC. Thanks!
I'm coming to Utah for the first time next month so this type of video is exactly what I need! Thanks for your research
How was your trip
@@brandonwilliam2618 hey! It was actually really great. Stayed on the eastern side of Sandy UT and had a 25 minute drive into the canyon each morning. We went to alta, snowbird and Brighton. Alta was by far our favorite but Brighton was a close second with the fun skiing in the trees. Snowbird had so much potential, the back bowl was amazing but overall way too crowded and icy. If I were to do it again, I'd plan the majority of my trip at alta, then explore solitude and probably spend one more day at Brighton but only if they got a fresh dose of powder.
Excellent info! Heading there in Feb, so this is very useful.
Thank you!
Alta snow skiing experience, really great thanks for sharing thrilling video, wonderful photography congratulations 🙏
Did two week long trips and spent time at both resorts. Love them both. Snowbird has a lodging option that includes two adult lift tickets and kids (below 12 I think) ski free…big savings for a family.
Local here. Snow is better at Alta due to location…snow a tad dryer and you get a bit more…and the snow isn’t scraped off the groomers quite as much…and you can be there on the busiest of days and find areas where you feel like you’re the only one on the mountain. She’s Mother Alta- snowbird tries but will always be the step-mother. Really enjoyed the video- GREAT job, thank you!
Best channel for ski reviews and it’s not close
Excited to ski these two and Brighton solitude in a couple months
This review is incredibly deep and touching almost every inch and every problem that comes into mind driving and planning your day at either Alta/snowbird.. I wish i saw this video back in 2019 when i first skied at Alta, i didn't know that snow bird is actually bigger, all i heard from the people on the chairlifts is that it's more boring, and snow quality is worse there...
yo, ur great, but i cant tell what ski resort ur looking at in the footage. maybe you could have a small text in the bottom for future videos?
Great review. Alta definitely is better for intermediate skiers. I've skied the bird three times... My first time there, the Cirque traverse so thoroughly terrified me, that it ruined my trip. Certainly, you've got to stay within your abilities at both places, but Snowbird can be terrifying for a first timer from the east coast.
Due to discrimination snowbird is the best for me as a snowboarder, but if all the skiers would rather go to Alta and Deer Valley and leave the rest of us to have the other mountains that’d be great. Brighton is basically a snowboarder’s resort anyway
New subscriber here. Great video. I've never been to either but I've been to Park City plenty of times.
I live on the Wasatch Back but do get over to Alta and Snowbird. This is a very good overview.
You also did a good review of Deer Valley.
I'd recommend a review of Grand Targhee, a hidden gem on the west side of the Tetons, I'd call it "advanced intermediate powder heaven". Zero night life, marginal lodging and incredible snow quality. This year, they're putting in the Collins Chair that will access what used to be a large area of Cat-skiing. This should make sleeping in the parking lot of Albertson's in Driggs well worth it! 😁
keep targhee a secret hahah. grew up there and we've been complaining ever since it got added to mountain collective. i am excited about the new lift though... im tired of hiking peaked from Mary's
I have had my greatest powder days at GT. Lots of snow and no people. It’s a special place for sure.
I consider myself an average intermediate skier and I love Alta. Every lift offers nice blue run for me to get down. Honestly, Snowbird scares me a bit. On icy days there are not a lot of easy ways to get down.
Can you do a video/website review where you discuss how you get these insane-looking shots (i.e. what camera you use, what settings, how you maximize battery life, how you edit)?
Great suggestion!
Alta has a lot more intermediate terrain, but if I were a tourist planning a trip I would try to stay at the Cliff lodge at Snowbird, and ski both places.
Exactly what I’ve got planned for Christmas week!
I love the Bird. Miss you Utah.
So I would like to take my family to snowbird but am worried because it seems like it’s an experts only mountain. We did fine last year at Brighton and solitude on blue and black runs but this video makes it seem like snowbird is on another level in terms of difficulty. Is this the case or will there be plenty of nice open runs for a family that snowboards once a year. Thanks.
I'm a skier 90% of the time. Kind of shocking in 2022 - I had no idea that boarders were prohibited at a major resort. Would love to know the reasoning behind the ban. Thanks for posting this. I've never skied Utah so it's nice to see the terrain!
It was the owners decision and when he died the wife kept the rule. You can climb the mountain and snowboard it since it’s Federal land, but the lifts are private
No snowboarding at Deer Valley or Mad River Glen either. In all three instances, the owners made a business decision to maintain a ski only environment. Like it or not, the policy does create an atmosphere that differentiates these places.
@David Simon I've heard that mad river glen has a good reason for it. It relies mainly on real snow (which it doesn't get a ton of) and with narrow steep slopes it'd be awful for business and the slopes if they allowed boarders. They'd plow all the snow and scrape it thin.
How the hell is Whistler rated first on your peak rankings? 10 years ago, id fully agree, but Whistler the last few years has been increasingly not worth remotely with the prices they charge for lift tickets, food, lodging, that make Aspen seem affordable, considering the bottom 30% of the mountain shouldn't even count as terrain since it never gets any snow anymore with how low the elevation is, and the artificial snow they bring down from the upper mountain is consistently terrible. Lift lines are also increasingly a huge issue, and no new expansions of terrain in 20 years has left the mountain to be a stale, overcrowded, overpriced mess. Was recently at Keystone last winter, and the ski experience there was infinitely better than whistler (unless you like tacky intrawest ski villages littering the base), and the snow was incomparably better than any snow ive ever skied on at whistler aside from one run on the Peak express first thing in the morning, that was already overskied and icy by 9:30am. Revelstoke is a far better alternative to whistler in BC, unless you dont ski/snowboard and are a tourist, which Whistler caters to. In terms of rankings, whistler would be appropriate in the top 20 in North America, not remotely the top 10 with at least 6 colorado resorts being objectively better, big sky, and half dozen california and Idaho ski resorts off the top of my head being far better experiences for actual skiers, not tourists
I don't think Whistler ever equaled Alta/Bird. Yes, it has some good terrain and on a given day can get good snow but, year long, year after year it's no match for Alta/Bird. I'd rate Vail over Whistler.
AltaBird you ski epic conditions from November to June (I have had deep waist powder days at the Bird in June). At WB it will rain to the top of the mountain in the middle of winter and out of their 5,000 vert the first 4,000 are just blue runs. So I'd agree with you. WB should not be first unless you are an intermediate skier going when it is snowing top to bottom and not raining.
@@kevinl8440 Great minds think alike. What other mountain do they give you plastic garbage at the base to keep you dry because it's raining. WB issue is it is so close to the coast which moderates the climate. Nothing tears up a mountain faster than rain, it either melts the snow or turns it into ice.
Hi John and Rick, thank you for your feedback.
Despite significantly worse snow quality and resiliency than Alta and Snowbird, we still believe Whistler Blackcomb is better overall for the following reasons:
- Whistler's footprint is more than 3x the size of each of Alta and Snowbird, and more than 75% larger than the two resorts combined.
- Despite variable lower mountain circumstances, the upper mountain hosts fairly reliable conditions.
- Whistler has plenty of terrain of different types for all ability levels-all the way from beginner to extreme-whereas Alta and Snowbird are more limited for certain groups.
- Whistler's lift-serviced terrain is entirely served by high-speed lifts, whereas some areas at Alta and Snowbird still have slower chairs.
We have heard feedback from you and many others-including locals-on the increased crowding at Whistler, and have recently decreased the resort's Crowd Flow score as a result. However, we are returning to the resort this February to re-assess and will update the rankings accordingly.
We strive to make our rankings as fair and accurate as possible, and hope this explanation makes sense. Let us know if you still disagree!
@@PeakRankings It might help if you had your WB mountain review up. I couldn't fine it! Regarding your rating system, the categories should be weighted, with direct ski experiences more heavily weighted than non-ski aspects.
ETA: If you don't count the 2 categories that made the biggest difference in the ranking, lifts & size, the ranking look really difference. Alta 67, WB 65, SB 64...Looks a lot different. Size is overrated if it's not skiable or just takes up space(WB). And there's a diminishing return on overbuilding lifts.
I'm just coming back from these two mountains. For advanced skiers, Snowbird is more challenging. Also, Alta has too much advanced terrain that requires long traverses. I don't like traverses. Finally, Snowbird's mineral basin, being on the opposite side of the mountain, has a very different climate. This means that it is more likely that a portion of Snowbird will have ideal weather conditions. I went in late April. Spring skiing was often much better on Mineral basin. But I do agree that Alta is better for beginners to intermediate+ skiers.
I’m Canadian and I fully endorse your remark. Whistler is becoming a downward Walt Disney village for tourists witch a good % don’t even skiing. Already end of February or beginning of march 25-30% at the bottom is a swimming pool. Meaning that you have to stop a long time before the bottom and retake a lift to get back upper the mountain. In Quebec City Mont St Anne same owners as Whistler and have done no investment since 20 years. The plan is to buy back the mountain and invest big time on the infrastructure, the mountain etc. They have not respond to a sale offer done in last august…..so poorly managed that they probably don’t even open their mail box 😂
I AM CANADIAN AS WELL AND WHISTLER WAS A GREAT RESORT WHEN THE TWO WERE SEPARATE BACK IN THE 80S. JAPANESE TOOK OVER BUILT THESE RIDICULOUS MONSTER OVER PRICED VILLAGES AND WHEN VAIL BOUGHT IT IN 2016 PRICES ARE THROUGH THE ROOF. A CHEESEBURGER FRIES AND 10 OZ BEER IS $42 .
LAKE LOISE AND SUNSHINE ARE THE TOP 2 BEST RESORTS IN ALL OF CANADA.
Snowbird could never compare to the mighty Canadian Rockies if you are planning a ski trip please book your trip to whistler.
They are both most worthy resorts. Snowbird has more uphill capacity, the runs tend to have more folks. Both CAN have long lines.
A fair and accurate comparison. I would only add that the vibe at Alta and Snowbird are significantly different. Even before snowboarding became popular, Alta had a special throwback, charming classic atmosphere with much of the tempo dictated by the independent lodges along the base. The pace is slower, where you take a little longer to soak in the incredible scenery. Snowbird, by comparison, feels somewhat more hard charging and commercial, perhaps owing to the 1970s brutalist architecture, but for whatever reason, it comes across as somewhat impersonal. The terrain at both is top notch and ideally suited for advanced skiers who like to explore. I strongly recommend visiting both on a multi-day trip up the canyon, however, aside from the novelty experience, there is no reason to pay extra to ski them together on the same day.
Great callout on the distinctive vibes, David! There's definitely a flavor of those feelings at both mountains that still carry through to this day.
Both places rule...but there's just something about Alta.
@@matthewfox8656 I agree. But it’s hard to identify exactly why. Snowbird is beautiful, but Alta is stunning. Snowbird’s brutalist concrete architecture lacks the charm of Alta’s historic lodges. Alta’s skier only policy reinforces the timeless quality and the sense of connection that stretches back to skiing’s origins. Watson and Alf’s, mid mountain, are pretty close to perfect. And I f there’s any
place that might be described as the Temple of Skiing, that would have to be Alta.
You should also do wolf creek ski area Colorado
On our backlog!
Hey man! Can we get a peak ranking on Taos Ski Valley?
Soon!
Is it possible to buy a single day Alta-Bird pass instead of one for the whole season? I’m going to snowbird in late December and I’m thinking of skiing Alta for a day or two.
It has been historically; however, no information has been provided for this year yet.
Jackson Hole has a ranking on the list but no video, is that coming soon?
Our current footage from JH is less than ideal, we will aim to get a video up after returning this year!
Hope there will be a Sun Valley review for this season.
We have a large backlog of reviews to put up, but hope to get that one up soon!
Remember it’s called sun valley, not snow valley
.
I love both resorts but prefer the “skiers only” profile of Alta. Great review!
Alta used to be way cheaper than Snowbird, but these days that’s no longer necessarily true. I tend to favor the bird for bigger vertical and long runs. But I enjoy both.
8:54 does anyone know what run this is and/or which resort it’s at? Thanks!
That is Alf’s High Rustler at Alta! We actually made a dedicated video on it a few years back czcams.com/video/V-45cN6Vx0I/video.html
Local here. Snow is better at Snowbird. Snowbird has many more areas than Alta which get opened in a staggered fashion so as a result you get to go from one fresh area to another whereas at Alta it is pretty much HighT/Collins everyone is after which gets opened at once. Also, no one ever points out how Snowbird is 500 feet higher than Alta and Alta's best runs are at the bottom whereas Snowbird's are at the top which equals more snow where it matters. Snowbird is also steeper and with more steeper terrain. In addition Snowbird has many more angles and nooks and crannies than Alta which means when a storm comes in that is only dumping in certain aspects due to wind you can always find the goods at Snowbird whereas at Alta sometimes the wind is not cooperating for things to pile up on West Face.
There is nowhere better than Snowbird on a powder day, IMO. You are right! Both Mineral and Little Cloud areas are just Bliss, and there is so much good stuff at the Bird. As a kid, I went to Alta a lot (it was like $23-30 back then), but when I switched to boarding, I took Brighton/Bird. And I think Snowbird, on a blue bird pow day is unparalleled.
I also think the Apres ski is nice at Snowbird if you head to the cliff lodge or main mountain. I also love the pools at Iron Blossom and the Cliff if you are staying.
Local here. Alta is better.
Local here. (Sandy, UT). 100% Snowbird for steeps and snow. In all honesty, only accomplished expert skiers will appreciate the level of terrain found at Snowbird. Most skiers cannot even access the best Snowbird has to offer.
@@ThirdBrainLives All UT locals know your age with that statement. When hard chargers get old and can no longer charge they all of a sudden like Alta better lol. That is how a LCC local knows he has reached middle age 🙂
Nah, the Bird is sick but it gets tracked out way faster. Alta retains snow better, that’s a fact
**gets done explaining snowboarding isn’t allowed**
**immediately gets cut off by a snowboarder**. Alta doing the Lord’s work😂
I new Alta would win, I get to go there all the time, and it’s just such a fun experience every time
Local here. Old men and advance skiers choose Alta, young chargers and experts choose Snowbird. Snowbird is a better resort for experts.
These two shouldn't be compared, they should be combined. Snowbird/Alta TOGETHER is the perfect ski location.
If you want to pay 300 dollars for a day ticket that’s a great plan!
If they made it ski only I’d riot
So could you actually snowboard at Alta if you entered from Snowbird? You just wouldnt be allowed on a lift?
Yep!
Due to the culture at Alta, you may not have a good experience on your way down. The majority of skiers at Alta will not be friendly toward a boarder on their exclusive mountain.
I'm curious, why is Brighton only a 9 for snow? If there's anywhere in the country that would compare to LCC, it's there (since it's literally right over the mountain) and maybe Alyeska, Wolf Creek, or Targhee.
I understand Solitude being a lower score since it's a little further down the canyon.
They just typically get a little less snow per year. For most storms you can expect around 2 inches less per foot. That being said, there both great options and it does vary storm to storm.
Brighton typically sees a bit less total snowfall than Alta/Snowbird each season. But the resort usually fully opens faster than Snowbird, hence the higher resiliency score.
Brighton is not in LLC and Solitude is side by side Brighton. BBC gets quite a bit less snow than LLC.
@@tommyv8312 Dude i live 10 minutes from Snowbird and ski there EVERYDAY they are open. I also have passes to Solitude and Brighton and Alta. LLC gets way more snow than BCC. You dont even need to live here to know that. Just Google for chrsts sake.
@@kevinl8440 actually I take it back. Altas average is 520 brightons is 500, snowbird is 495, solitude is 430. Orcagraphic are a thing man. Just that LCC has better terrain to actually ski.
What’s the best Utah resort for teaching children to ski?
Snowbasin has good teachers and doesn’t cost as much
I might nitpick a point on the score in a few places, but you're pretty dead on.
The only thing I want to add is that both mountains have incredibly freestyle terrain, if you include jump lines that aren't park of terrain parks. Lots of little ridges to jib off of all over both ski areas.
Request: Stratton video review and Bromley video review
Will try to revisit both resorts this season to get the needed footage!
@@PeakRankings Ok
I'm just wondering if you like jazz music.
Been skiing Alta/Snowbird since 1976. I'm in my 60's now. Big difference is the vibe. Probably due to lack of snowboarders, Alta has a slightly more traditional/maybe older vibe. Snowbird is amazing, but Alta has a homey feeling to it for me. One thing I think you missed is that both mountains have incredibly variable aspects. If you follow the sun, you can get fantastic wind blown in the morning and then super fun corn in the afternoon. You have to know where and when to go. Perhaps let's stay quiet on those details. Great video.
Just admit you have a prejudice against snowboarders because you can’t really shred that hard and you prefer a bigoted resort that discriminates.
@@JohnDouqh I ski Mammoth, Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows all the time. I love watching the snowboarders shred. And as long as I stay on their front side, they can see me when I pass them. I'm not prejudiced at all. Just like Alta as it is.
yes 500+ inches a year means very few sunny days you can spend November to mid February & not see much of the sun.
I started skiing at Snowbird in 1972 and usually got in 90+ full days a season. LCC has plenty of sun.
at snowbird you can race the tram down the mountain
Alta is the greatest ski area in the country, but getting there from SLC on a weekend morning is a nightmare.
Buried the lead here with Alta not allowing snowboarders… that eliminates an entire option for some people like me
I've been to Alta twice and both visits were the worst conditions I've ever experienced. Really bad luck it seems.
Very bad luck, i've been twice and had the exact opposite experience. Best powder i've ever seen.
No way Whistler better than Alta/Bird. Yes, it has some good terrain and on a given day can get good snow but, year long, year after year it's no match for Alta/Bird. What other mountain do they give you plastic garbage at the base to keep you dry because it's raining. And if you score Whistler Blackcomb, you should score Alta Snowbird as one. I'd rate Vail over Whistler.
Whats the different....thought they were just one place
They're actually two separate resorts with different lift tickets!
Time for Interior BC!
Ello
Alta: steeper, deeper, cheaper.
I can't believe there is a resort that doesn't allow snowboarding that is 1950's level intolerance and I might avoid Alta for that reason alone. I'm a skier but I see no problem with skiers and snowboarders sharing the mountain. I've seen just as many reckless skiers as reckless snowboarders.
You know what A L T A stands for? Another Long Traverse Ahead….
FIRST VIEWER
"with no traffic" he says, as if that exists
The intro was very sus😂
I can't imagine going to a resort and paying for parking. Ski independent resorts, much better experience.
Alta is an independent resort ...
@@timothytao898 it might not be owned by Vail but it is partnered with the Ikon pass and therefore Alterra. It still doesn't have that independent feel to it.
@@matthewseel5961 Alta is most definitely not owned by Alterra or any large conglomerate - Alterra only owns ~1/3 of Ikon resorts (though Snowbird is conglomerate owned)
Alta has better jumps look up slvch Alta
As an intermediate snowboarder I really disliked snowboarder, didn’t enjoy any part of my day at all
Fugk Alta (excuse my French)...
No Snowboarding 🏂
Haha
They are both great resorts , I do like that Alta does not allow snowboarding.
Alta is prejudiced against snowboarders which should be a crime and they should have to forfeit their resort to a snowboarder who will show them how to properly shred
Snowboarders would ruin the resort
Alta's the most overrated resort in the country! The terrain is not that gnarly and requires way too much traversing and sidestepping to access, I'd rather lap the snowbird tram all day. Also, banning snowboarding is dumb and outdated.
snowbird is way better
Alta is overhyped. Snowbird and Brighton are better.
stay away
SNOWBIRD BEST RESORT IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA, JACKSON HOLE NUMBER 2 , LAKE LOUISE IN CANADA NUMBER 3