To ski Park City means to ski some of the greatest mountains and the best snow in the world. Tens of thousands of slope-happy powder hounds come to ski Park City every year, and for good reason. This small city has bragging rights to no fewer than 13 world-class alpine ski resorts, and any enthusiast can find a ski area that matches their ski style. As a collective, they’re a world-renowned legion of unbelievable slopes for every skill level, all served by a fantastic range of lodging, dining, shopping and entertainment options in Park City itself. Taken individually, each ski area in Park City is a first class ski destination.
Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude, up Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon, showcase a rougher-around-the-edges, rugged terrain. Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley and the Canyons Resort are crisscrossed by dozens of immaculately groomed slopes. No matter where you choose to ski Park City, you’ll be slicing through some of the lightest, deepest powder anywhere in the world.
The different ski areas in Park City each have something of their own distinct “personality.” Alta is a known as a ski-purist mountain and is one of three ski-only mountains in the US. Combined with neighboring Snowbird as AltaSnowbird, this area has been voted the #1 ski resort in the US by Skiing Magazine five years running. Families with kids who can’t wait to hit the slopes will find a super-friendly, convenient skiing “headquarters” at Wolf Creek, with its Learning Center and Kids Zone.
Deer Valley invites visitors to ski Park City in style, balancing amazing terrain and slopes with superior off-slope services and facilities, and is known to feed hungry skiers particularly well at its many restaurants. Powder Mountain welcomes slope-hungry visitors with deeply powdered terrain, solitude and value. Their helicopter skiing offers a unique adrenaline rush for thrill seekers. Brighton offers not only phenomenal powder, great grooming, places to eat and a wide range of lessons, but has 70 years of experience in the ski resort business. It’s also known as Utah’s best family value for skiing.
Even more exciting detail on each of Park City’s top resorts can be found at the following websites:
- Alta Ski Resort - Serious skiing on amazing terrain. As one half of famed Snowbird-Alta, Alta has been ranked the number 2 ski destination by by Skiing magazine in the 2007 – 2008 season.
- Snowbird Ski and Summer - As one half of the Snowbird-Alta power duo, Snowbird Ski and Summer is a major end point for fun seekers.
- Solitude - A former local favorite turned well-known, popular yet quiet, European style resort – far from the crowds, but not the fun. The remarkable vistas, snug resort accommodations and array of activities have drawn excited vacationers, but not style-cramping crowds.
- Deer Valley Resort - A decidedly upscale resort experience that nevertheless still gives slope-hungry skiers the exciting, powder-thick ski thrills they want.
- Park City Mountain Resort - Park City Mountain Resort is ranked in the top ten family resorts year in and year out, offering all-encompassing fun in a variety of activities, from skiing to snowboarding, sledding, tubing, kids programs, and the country’s largest superpipe.
- The Canyons Resort - Combining 8 mountain, 17 lifts, 163 and 3 world-class properties, The Canyons Resort has become, and remains, one of North America’s largest single ski and snowboarding resort and a true winter playground extraordinaire.
- Sundance Resort - Sundance Resort captured Conde Nast Traveler’s #2 spot of 50 mainland US resorts in 2007. They’re obviously not doing something right; they’re doing everything right. From skiing to lodging to service and more, Sundance is among the best.
- Snowbasin Resort - This sleepy Utah hideaway, known almost exclusively by a handful of locals for sixty odd years, burst onto the international consciousness at the 2002 Olymic Games, having been by Earl Holding of Sun Valley, Idaho fame into a Park City Powerhouse. Abundant powder and terrain much blessed by Mother Nature meet man made touches, like high speed gondolas, luxe lodges, fine dining and superior slope grooming.
- Beaver Mountain - Wallet-friendly, low-key and with 60 years of family-owned and operated experience, Beaver Mountain is known as Park City’s best kept secret. In addition to the thrills of snowboarding and downhill skiing, Beaver Mountain is great for cross-country skiing and perfect in summer months, with superb hiking, biking and horseback riding opportunities.
- Brighton Resort - For over six years running, locals have voted 63 year old Brighton the best for families and best in value. Its 1936 opening date makes one of the oldest ski resorts in the US, but its age doesn’t stop it from being diverse, up-to-date and home to an acclaimed ski and snowboarding school.
- Powder Mountain Resort - Powder Mountain is a snow purists’ dream, because only nature-made, born-from-the-sky snow ever blankets the slopes of this resort. The excellent natural snow and first class terrain have earned it #1 in value and # 3 in snow quality for 2009.)
- Wolf Mountain Resort - Aware that not every ski lover is ready for black diamond glory, Wolf Mountain has long been considered the best place to learn to ski in the Rockies. Its family-friendly, welcoming reputation is well earned and much beloved. This season’s 50% increase to its Wolf’s Lair Terrain Park, there are 20 new features that appeal to beginners and advanced skiers alike.
- Brian Head Resort - As the foremost alpine destination in the Southwest, Brian Head is known for its 50 plus runs for all ability levels and exceptionally family friendly. As Utah’s highest elevation resort, they’re blessed with over 400 light, fluffy inches of powder each year.
The unparalleled ski resorts of Park City have been irresistible to snow lovers for decades. Their devotion to the area slopes year after year shows that when people want to ski the best resorts around, they ski Park City.
