The Cliff Lodge, Snowbird, Utah, USA

The Cliff Lodge is the heart of Snowbird, one of the most celebrated powder-skiing resorts in North America and one of the most searched ski resorts in the United States. Set deep in Utah's Little Cottonwood Canyon, its striking concrete-and-glass tower rises beneath steep, snow-loaded peaks, with ski-in, ski-out access to some of the most challenging terrain in the Rockies and a rooftop pool with views up the canyon.

Location: Snowbird, Utah, USA

The lodge sits at the base of Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, at around 2,500 metres, in Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Mountains, about 45 minutes by road from Salt Lake City International Airport. The canyon is famous for receiving some of the deepest snowfalls in the United States, often around 500 inches a year.

Alta, Snowbird's neighbour further up the canyon, can be reached on skis with a joint pass, and the canyon road is occasionally closed during heavy snowstorms for avalanche control, so allow flexibility in your plans.

The canyon itself is a dramatic setting, a deep, narrow glacial valley lined with granite cliffs and avalanche paths, where the mountains rise more than a thousand metres above the road. On a clear winter day, with fresh snow on every ledge and tree, it is one of the most spectacular approaches to any ski resort in America.

Rooms and suites at The Cliff Lodge

The lodge has around 350 rooms and suites over many floors, arranged around a soaring 11-storey atrium with views of the mountains. Rooms are comfortable and functional, with large windows facing the canyon walls or the slopes, and suites offer more space for families.

Spa-level rooms include access to the rooftop pool and spa facilities, which otherwise require an extra fee. Request a high floor for the best views.

The lodge's architecture, with its bold concrete lines and vast windows, is a striking piece of 1970s design that was built to withstand the canyon's heavy snow and avalanche risk. Inside, the atrium is filled with natural light and hung with carpets and art, and the views from the upper floors, straight up the mountain, are superb.

Facilities at The Cliff Lodge

The Cliff Spa is a highlight, with treatment rooms, steam rooms, a fitness area and the famous rooftop pool and hot tub, open to guests aged 16 and over, where you can soak beneath the snowy peaks after a day of skiing. The Aerie, on the top floor, serves modern American gastropub dishes with local, seasonal ingredients and spectacular views, and there are several other restaurants and bars in the lodge and around the resort's small base village.

Snowbird's Aerial Tram, which carries skiers from the base to the summit of Hidden Peak, at around 3,350 metres, is a short walk from the lodge. In summer, the resort offers hiking, mountain biking, a mountain coaster and tram rides, and the lodge is popular with families and groups.

The mountain moment

The defining moment is a powder morning at Snowbird. After a storm, ride the Aerial Tram to the top of Hidden Peak as the sun breaks through, then drop into deep, light snow across the steep bowls and chutes, with Little Cottonwood Canyon far below.

At the end of the day, the rooftop pool, with steam rising into the cold air and the canyon walls glowing pink at sunset, is the perfect reward.

Why The Cliff Lodge is one of the best mountain hotels

The Cliff Lodge earns its place because it offers ski-in, ski-out access to some of the finest powder skiing in the world, in a spectacular canyon setting, at a price that is reasonable by top-resort standards, especially outside peak weeks. Its architecture is functional rather than charming, and the lodge is large and busy in winter. But for skiers who care most about snow and terrain, it is a classic.

In summer, it becomes a surprisingly affordable mountain base, with rates often well under $250 a night, and the canyon's trails and wildflowers, along with the tram rides to Hidden Peak, make it a superb choice for hikers and families, which is why it sits in our Affordable stays collection for the warmer months.

When to go to The Cliff Lodge

Snowbird has one of the longest ski seasons in North America, typically from mid-November to May, and in big snow years even into early summer. January to March brings the deepest snow, and spring offers sunny days with good snow at altitude. Summer, from June to September, brings hiking, wildflowers, festivals and much lower rates. Holidays and weekends are busiest, and canyon traffic can be heavy on powder days.