Ski Lifts in Snowbasin

Snowbasin Ski Lifts & Passes

Snowbasin has an impressive and speedy lift system – so much so that readers of SKI magazine voted it the best lift system in North America in 2008.

There are a total of nine lifts at Snowbasin, as well as two surface tows. From the main base area, skiers have a choice of two lifts – the John Paul Express Quad or the Needles Express Gondola. With verticals of 2,424 metres and 2,310 metres respectively, these lifts waste no time in getting people high up the mountain, and give skiers and boarders a choice between friendly blue trails and challenging black trails, as is the norm at Snowbasin.

Not all of Snowbasin’s lifts are quite so long, however, with a network of shorter chairlifts found in the middle of the ski area. Based next to Snowbasin’s upper parking lot, the Wildcat and Becker lifts take skiers half way up the mountain, from which point skiers can choose from a selection of green, blue and black trails.

The Porcupine and Middle Bowl lifts, meanwhile, are based midway up the mountain, and take skiers up beneath the Middle Bowl, Needles and Porky cirques, where there are a variety of intermediate and advanced trails connecting with the rest of the ski area.

Advanced skiers and boarders visiting Snowbasin will appreciate the Allen Peak Tram as they get to grips with the ski area. Found above the John Paul Express Quad, the tram elevates passengers 510 metres up to Allen Peak, from which skiers have a choice of double black diamond chutes all within short hiking distance.

Another important lift is the Strawberry Express Gondola. Favoured by both intermediate and advanced skiers, the gondola is Snowbasin’s longest lift with a vertical of 2,472 metres. A number of double black diamond chutes can be accessed off the Strawberry Express, though most skiers use the lift for the access it provides to long cruisers such as Elk Ridge and Main Street.