Solitude Mountain Resort, located 30 miles (about 50km) southeast of Salt Lake City, is one of the smaller, quieter ski resorts in Utah, and is chiefly popular with families on weekend getaways. Situated in Big Cottonwood Canyon, in the Wasatch Mountains, the resort's slogan - "Refined by Nature" - highlights its incredible natural beauty, and its unmistakable allure. As far as skiing is concerned, Solitude caters mainly to the beginner and intermediate markets, with 70 percent of its slopes being graded at these levels. Solitude boasts 64 trails on 1,200 acres, a wealth of high-quality lodging, shopping and dining facilities, and has consistently been voted in the top 20 family ski resorts in the USA.

Address: 12000 Big Cottonwood Canyon

E-mail: info@skisolitude.com

Website: www.skisolitude.com

Telephone: (801) 534 1400

Transport: The small village at the base of the slopes is easy to navigate on foot. The Solitude Shuttle takes visitors form the front of the Moonbeam Lodge to the centre of the village.

Opening times: Ski lifts open at different times, depending on the lift and conditions

Admission: Daily lift tickets are $68 (adults); $42 (children); children under 6 are free. Further concessions are available.