Resort height: 2468m
The mountains
Steep and varied is the theme in Snowbird. In a single, top-to-bottom descent, you'll hit open powder fields, chutes, trees and cute little drop-offs. There are beautifully-groomed pistes to be skied or boarded here too - but that's not really the point. If it's the groomers you're after, you'll find far more of them to ski in the likes of Courchevel, Aspen or Vail.
One thing to bear in mind is that Snowbird has now joined forces with its neighbour, Alta, to create one of the USA's largest combined ski lift systems. Actually, it's still pretty modest by European standards, but the quality of the snow and the terrain makes up for that. The bad news is that Alta still operates a no-snowboarders policy - a weird throwback to the early 1990s when newspaper headlines screamed 'Ban this killer craze!'
No matter - snowboarders can always jump in a hire car and commute. Snowbird is a short drive from Salt Lake City, and within an hour's drive you'll find four more resorts to sample - Park City, The Canyons, Solitude and Brighton (there's one more, Deer Valley, but like Alta it also bans boarders). All in all, in a good snow year, it adds up to a tantalizing prospect.
Getting there
You'll have to change planes at least once to fly to Snowbird from the UK. But at least the resort is less than an hour's drive from Salt Lake City airport.
Rating: 
4/10
Après-ski
Utah is a Mormon State, and Mormons don't drink. There are simple rules designed to circumvent their strict licensing laws however, and entry to a bar simply requires that you become a 'member' for a nominal fee. But all the same, the nightlife here is pretty muted - and not helped by the fact that Snowbird is such a small resort. But on a powder day, at the weekend, the Tram Club at the bottom of the ski slopes does get lively. For dinner in Snowbird, the Lodge Bistro is the place to head for posh nosh, and El Chanate Cantina for more laid back, Mexican meals.
Rating: 
3/10
Non-skiers
You've got to be kidding! Snowbird is a place for one-eyed powder fanatics. There's a big spa in the Cliff Lodge hotel, complete with roof-top pool - and plenty of outdoor activities such as skating, ice-climbing and snow-shoeing. And you could always go shopping in Salt Lake City. But you're non-skiing or snowboarding partner won't thank you for bringing them to Snowbird.
Rating: 
6/10
Cost of living
Getting to Snowbird from the UK isn't cheap, and a hire car is a must, to allow you to explore the other ski resorts nearby. That said, accommodation needn't be expensive (they'll sometimes throw in free lift passes as an incentive), and there's precious little to spend your money on in the evenings, except dinner and a couple of drinks.
Rating: 
5/10
Attractiveness of the resort
The Canyon itself is lovely - but because it gets so much snow, the hotels have to be avalanche-proof. The biggest is, to be honest, a bit of an eyesore.
