At Solitude 16.9% of winter days see 6 inches or more of snow, 28% of winter months see 90 inches or more, and only 8% of months see less than 30 inches. This is top tier snow frequency, exceeded only by Alta, Snowbird and Grand Targhee in the Rocky Mountain states. Solitude is as renowned for its quality as quantity of snow. Utah professor Jim Steenburgh has analyzed decades of Cottonwood Canyon snowfall and determined that most storms deliver the ideal “right side up” snowpack that powder skiers crave. The surface layer is usually blower powder over a soft but supportable layer of denser snow that initiated the storm. Solitude is usually the least busy of the Cottonwood ski areas on powder days.

Accumulation and Preservation

Solitude’s base elevation is similar to Snowbird’s and snow accumulation is a bit slower than at Alta or Brighton. Solitude averages about 85% open at Christmas and is less than half open by Christmas in about 10% of seasons. Solitude has high altitude and favorable exposure, with very good snow preservation a notch below neighbors Alta and Snowbird. Overall snow reliability is among the “elite six” of the Rocky Mountain states.