Explore A Different Side of the Wasatch with Snowbird Mountain Guides

Snowbird is hardly in need of an introduction. The snow and terrain are so legendary, Snowbird was able to transform one-star reviews into a heralded ad campaign. Yet for all its well-earned accolades, the mountain has so much more to explore than you can access from the lifts. That’s where Snowbird Mountain Guides step in. Whether you’re an experienced, expert shredder in search of steep, untracked lines, a relative newcomer aspiring to undertake your first backcountry adventure or just someone seeking to explore a different side of the mountain, Snowbird Mountain Guides can create a custom experience for you.

From helicopter and snowcat skiing to on-mountain guiding to snowshoe tours, they offer something for everyone, regardless of ambition or budget. Learn about some of the highlights below, and stop by The Snowbird Mountain Guides office on the Plaza Deck right next to the Aerial Tram to talk about the unique opportunities available for you.

Helicopter Skiing

Exhilaration is stepping out onto an alpine ridge with the whirring thump of helicopter blades overhead. Helicopter skiing—once considered the exclusive provenance of professional athletes and grizzled mountain guides in remote ranges—has never been more accessible. With Helicopter Skiing, skiers and snowboarders can experience Utah’s famed Greatest Snow on Earth on iconic Wasatch terrain from a convenient location right next to The Cliff Lodge.

You can design a custom-tailored experience with Snowbird Mountain Guides. Purchase an individual seat or reserve a private group with your own helicopter. Whatever you choose, you’re in for an unforgettable day of skiing and riding. You can even book a scenic flight if the views are what you’re really after.

Snowcat Skiing

When it comes to riding premium powder, it’s hard to beat Snowcat Skiing with Snowbird Mountain Guides. The guided backcountry experience in upper American Fork Canyon takes skiers and snowboarders up to gorgeous mountains south of Mineral Basin. From the rolling aspens on Miller Hill in Mary Ellen Gulch to the north-facing steeps of Pagan Basin, there’s an extensive variety of terrain on tap. 

Book individual seats for a half-day of skiing and riding that includes breakfast at The Forklift restaurant as well as pre-public guided skiing in Mineral Basin before your guided backcountry snowcat skiing. For a truly memorable experience with your friends, family or colleagues, reserve a private tour for up to 12 people. Private tours include an additional three hours of guided backcountry cat skiing and a custom lunch in the field.

Guided Backcountry Skiing

Maybe you’re looking for a little guidance and expertise to safely explore the backcountry for the first time. Maybe it’s your first time venturing into the Utah backcountry, and you’re after a little local knowledge to help you get the goods. Regardless of your experience level, heading out with Snowbird Mountain Guides is the perfect way scratch that backcountry itch.

Guided Backcountry Skiing tours are customized to suit your goals with a focus on education, exploration and, of course, powder skiing. Learn about safe route finding and appropriate terrain choice, all while enjoying scenic views and signature powder in the Wasatch Mountains. Guided backcountry skiing tours do require the ability to hike with touring skis, but all the requisite equipment is available for rent on site.

All-Mountain Guided Skiing

Sure, Snowbird has no shortage of amazing terrain, but it can take years of exploration to find the nooks, crannies and secret stashes that often become your go-to spots. Snowbird Mountain Guides offer private all-mountain guided tours of the mountain to help get the most out of your day on the hill.

Want to ski some steep, rock-lined chutes? No problem. In search of some mellow powder turns in Aspen trees days after the last storm? You bet. Looking for some assistance navigating North Baldy’s best lines? Snowbird Mountain Guides have you covered. Custom guided experiences are available for up to five people and include priority lift-line privileges so you can enjoy more of whatever it is you’re after at Snowbird. 

Guided Snowshoe Tours

Walking in the outdoors is an immersive experience. The sights, the sounds and the smells, they’re all a little more profound when you’re able to slow down. Snowshoe Tours are a wonderful way to explore the wilderness around Snowbird.

Whether skiing and snowboarding aren’t your thing or you’re just looking for a fun, active experience on a down day during your ski trip, snowshoe tours provide a different context to explore the Wasatch under your own power. All skill levels are welcome, and custom, private tours are available.

Scenic Helicopter Tours 

Ready for a unique perspective on the majestic terrain of the Central Wasatch? Sign up with Snowbird Mountain Guides for scenic helicopter tours that depart from the heliport at Snowbird.  

You and up to three additional guests will be treated to jaw-dropping views from the sheer faces of the Pfeifferhorn and the Broad’s Fork Twin Peaks, to the improbable humped domes of Dromedary and O’Sullivan Peaks to the imposing slide paths Tanner’s and Stairs Gulches. You’ve never seen Little Cottonwood Canyon like this before.

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