The Inside Scoop On Park City

Since we live in the internet age, you can go to any of the zillion web sites and get the stats on Park City skiing.

Instead of giving you the same old stuff, here is the inside scoop on what a skier/rider should know about the Park City ski areas.

CANYONS

The Canyons Location
The route to Park City is I80 East, then south on Hwy 224 straight into Park City. The Canyons Resort is about 1.5 miles south of I80. Park City is about 6 miles further down the road. So, at The Canyons Resort you are at a stand-alone resort not within walking distance to Main Street.

There are condos and timeshares at the Canyons base, and the exclusive single family development “The Colony” is on the Canyons property. There are a few places to eat and whoop it up at the base, but you are not near Park City proper. We say this so that you don’t book a Park City vacation staying at The Canyons Resort, then you are disappointed because the town, restaurants, and such are a 6 mile drive away.


The Canyons Elevation and Snow Conditions
The Canyons base elevation is 6800 feet. While the Canyons may receive the same amount of snow fall as Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley, they are usually behind the Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley in terms of opening and they usually lose their snow a little sooner. Be careful if you are coming early or late season. Check snow conditions.


The Canyons Parking Lot to Ski Commute
From the parking lot, you take a cabriolet lift (open air bucket) to the base. At the base you buy your ticket and then get on the gondola. The gondola then takes you to the Red Pine lodge which is the mid-mountain base.

Once at the base, you are now ready to take yet another lift so you can go skiing. This is mentioned because the time from when you park in the lot to when you are on a ski run is usually about 40-45 minutes.

If you are driving to the Canyons and you have kids, just get an early start so that you have plenty of ski time. Obviously, if you are staying at the base of The Canyons Resort the commute is much easier.


The Canyons Layout and Clientele
The Canyons is really spread out. It is expansive. When you ski the Canyons, you cover a lot of terrain. For beginner and intermediate skiers, this means that there are a lot of cat tracks and people mover trails that you have to take to get from one spot to another. The terrain is 14% beginner and 44% intermediate. For the slightly more advanced skier, there is some great terrain that includes nooks and crannies where you can find powder stashes 2-3 days after a good snow fall.

The Canyons has historically always had the best lift pass deals for kids from Salt Lake (used to be that if you made straight As, your season pass was only $100). So, there are usually more local kids on the weekends, and the percentage of snowboarders is probably higher at the Canyons than at the Park City Mountain Resort.

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT

Park City Mountain Resort Parking and Access to Lifts
Park City Mountain Resort is one of those places that offers something for everybody. That is probably why families and larger groups tend to go to the Park City Mountain Resort.

The parking lot to ski area access is via 2 lots that are adjacent to a bunny slope. You can park and go to the main base area (slightly uphill) to buy your ticket at the main ticket windows, or you can go to the bottom of the hill and buy your ticket at a little ticket shack at the base of the Three Kings lift. (On busy days, just go to the bottom of the hill.)

The time from parking to sking a run at the Park City Mountain Resort is usually just 15-20 minutes or so, including the time it takes to buy your ticket.


Park City Mountain Resort Layout and Intermediate Skiers
The Park City Mountain Resort isn’t as spread out as the Canyons, although it is a large area with 3300 acres. Because of the number of restaurants and warming huts at the Park City Mountain Resort, it is easier to meet up on the mountain for lunch of a hot chocolate. The beginner terrain is 17% and the intermediate terrain is 51%. The Park City Mountain Resort is a great place for intermediate skiers. It has many runs that are perfect for that minor difference between a weak intermediate and a strong intermediate.

Also, a number of the side-by-side intermediate runs have increasing difficulty, so you may be skiing with someone a little weaker or stronger than you, but each of you can pick your run, then meet at the same spot at the end of the run. Check out the King Con area.


Park City Mountain Resort Ski School
Ski school for tots and small children begin and end right at the base, so it is easy to drop off and pick up your little one. Moreover, the Park City Mountain Resort ski school for little ones has just always had a good vibe and reputation. Even the instructors look like they are having fun!


Park City Mountain Resort Elevation, Snow, and Jupiter Lift
The elevation at Park City Main Street is about 7000 feet, so the elevation at the Park City Mountain Resort base is around 7100 feet. Snow conditions at the Park City Mountain Resort tend to be good from opening to closing (similar to Deer Valley).

The double diamond terrain at the Park City Mountain Resort is via the Jupiter lift. To get to the Jupiter lift you have to walk about 5 minutes from the top of the Pioneer lift or Thaynes lift to the Jupiter Lift Access run. This short walk gives folks a chance to think about “trying” to ski double diamonds in case they may not be up to it. The result is that most folks that are skiing Jupiter are qualified to do so and if you are back there you don’t spend time having to help someone that is in over their head.


Access Using Your Car or the Park City Shuttle Bus
No matter where you stay in Park City or Deer Valley, it is easy to access the ski areas using your car or the shuttle bus. At the Park City Mountain Resort you can ski to the main base area (the little village) where there are shops, eating places, and a few drinking holes, and meet up with your friends or family. Or, you can ski down to Main Street by following the Town Lift signs.

A small word of caution, however, is that the two runs going to the Town Lift can sometimes be icy and hard packed. This isn’t always the case, but just keep that in mind.

DEER VALLEY

Deer Valley – No Snowboards
Deer Valley doesn’t allow snowboards, so if you ride this place isn’t for you.
Having said that, if you are one that likes to ski with just skiers, then this is the place!


Deer Valley’s Reputation
Instead of reciting how many times Deer Valley has received recognition for being the best this or that in the ski world, suffice it to say that Deer Valley is always rated one of the best ski resorts in the world. Our experience is that Deer Valley lives up to its great reputation.


Deer Valley – Snow Park Lodge (lower Deer Valley)
If you approach the area by car or shuttle, the driver drops you off at the Snow Park Lodge where a valet helps you with your skis. This is really handy if you are taking 2-3 little ones that can’t carry their gear. If the driver needs to park, he/she does so in parking lots that are easy to access, just a minute or two away. The lots aren’t quite as convenient as the Park City Mountain Resort, but Deer Valley has a parking lot tram that comes by and shuttles drivers back to Snow Park Lodge t to meet up with their group.

At the Snow Park Lodge base you buy your tickets and the lift is right there, ready to take you up to Silver Lake. The time from skier drop off to riding the lift is maybe 5 minutes unless you are waiting for the driver in your group to ride the tram back from the parking lot, in which case the time lag is only 10-15 minutes.


Deer Valley - Silver Lake Lodge (upper Deer Valley)
The Snow Park Lodge (called lower Deer Valley) is at 7200 feet. Silver Lake Lodge is a lift ride away at 8100 feet. There is skiing between Silver Lake and Snow Park, but the large majority of skiing begins at the Silver Lake Lodge mid-mountain base. Most folks will ride up from Snow Park at the beginning of the day and will not return to Snow Park Lodge until the end of the day.

The Silver Lake Lodge mid-mountain area is populated with high end condominiums and large (some are massive) vacation homes. You can drive up to Silver Lake, but don’t do so if you intend to park your car and ski as parking is limited during the season. It is best to park at Snow Park Lodge.


Deer Valley Silver Lake Elevation
Keep in mind that the Silver Lake area, as attractive as it is, is located at 8100 feet. Although this is not an absolute by any means, those folks with a propensity for altitude sickness will generally be affected when sleeping at an altitude starting at 7300 to 7500 feet.

Of course, you or someone in your group may be affected as low as 5,000 feet, but it seems that the large majority of folks are affected starting at 7300 to 7500 feet. It seems that there is a world of difference between say 7300 feet and 8100 feet in how altitude affects someone.

If you are uncertain about how altitude may affect you or someone in your party, you may want to stay below 7300 feet. That is no guarantee that all will be well, but it is better than 8100 feet.


Deer Valley Beginner to Intermediate Ski Terrain
Deer Valley has a reputation for groomed ski runs and being a great place for beginners and intermediate skiers. This is true. Deer Valley is a great place for folks who may not want to go charging down the mountain. Quincy, Red Cloud, Northside, and Empire lifts access terrain from easy intermediate to advanced intermediate with green runs intertwined. The same is true for the Wasatch lift and the Sterling lift. If you are an intermediate skier, you will love Deer Valley.

Similar to the Park City Mountain Resort, if you like skiing one type of difficulty, but your partner likes a slightly different difficulty, you can both pick your runs then easily meet at the lift.


Deer Valley Expert Terrain – Mayflower Bowl
Deer Valley expert terrain is a well kept secret. The Mayflower bowl is one of a kind, particularly after a big snowfall. For some reason, the snow really piles up back here. The bowl isn’t a wide open bowl, but rather a series of tree lined runs. Most runs are wide, well defined single diamond runs with room to bail out and rest. The aspen glades in between the runs give you some great opportunities in the trees. There is some double diamond terrain as well.

The Mayflower area doesn’t get a lot of skiers, so after a big snow you may have 1-2 days of fresh powder on open runs before you have to start looking for powder stashes in the trees.


Deer Valley Expert Terrain – Lady Morgan Lift
This is a relatively new lift that services some great single diamond terrain and a double diamond glade (Centennial) that is out of this world. The Lady Morgan lift is tucked away at the edge of the ski area, you only get expert skiers on this lift. Rarely is there ever a line. You usually just ski right up to the lift.

Unlike the Park City Mountain Resort or the Canyons, when you ski expert terrain at Deer Valley, you are often in the company of only a few other skiers. Even during busy periods you can enjoy relative privacy on Deer Valley’s expert terrain.


Deer Valley Restaurants
The variety and quality of the food at Deer Valley is beyond compare. Whether you are a beginning skier or an expert skier, everyone appreciates the time and effort that goes into good food. Whether you are at Snow Park Lodge, Silver Lake Lodge, or Empire Pass Lodge, the quality is always outstanding. In addition, the lodges are spacious and architecturally impressive.

Rather than tell you more about the food, just go to Deer Valley and experience it for yourself.