Having actually spent much of my youth snowboarding the mountains of Europe, it was a transfer to Los Angeles that offered me the opportunity to enjoy the “unique snow” I ‘d heard a lot about from good friends who had actually been lucky enough to ski in The United States and Canada growing up. In my very first three winters in the U.S., I checked out a few of the country’s most revered ski towns, from Tahoe to Aspen, and in 2023, I was excited to check Park City, Utah, off my ever-growing must-ski list.
The Western U.S. had an extraordinary season of snowfall in 2022– 2023, which included Utah, where more than 700 inches of the white stuff fell in record time. During my own six-day check out, more than 5 feet of snow came down– an impressive total that assists show why Park City has a growing track record as a sanctuary for spring skiing.
No matter when you wish to check out, though, Park City has plenty to use. The town itself, a previous mining boomtown turned sophisticated ski community, exudes beauty thanks to the conventional saloons and leather-goods outfitters along Main Street. However the main draw, of course, is the mountains.
Park City is home to 2 ski resorts: the smaller Deer Valley Resort, booked for skiers just, and the behemoth Park City Mountain Resort, which has been America’s biggest ski area because its 2015 acquisition of the resort once called Canyons. Combined, Park City and Deer Valley provide more than 9,000 acres of skiable surface, all located in among the best mountain towns in the West.
Considering that ski season here has extended well into April in recent years, there’s no rush to prepare your next Park City trip– though the appeal (both on-mountain and off) means you’ll probably want to visit ASAP anyhow. Keep reading for more about Park City’s best combination of top quality snow, world-class culture, and rollicking après.
When to Go
The ski seasons at Park City and Deer Valley tend to be comparable, normally lasting from late November or early December till mid-April (weather condition allowing). Going to whenever because span can make for a fantastic journey, but locals state the location is especially great for spring snowboarding. Park City has actually seen abundant spring snowfall in recent years, which implies a March or April check out can consist of not just the common perks of spring snowboarding– smaller crowds, lower prices, more tolerable temperatures– but powder that’s just as impressive as that of peak season.
Where to Stay
Montage Deer Valley
A grand, stunning resort set down 4 miles above the historic town of Park City, Montage Deer Valley uses whatever you might require from a high-end ski-in, ski-out hotel. There’s likewise a resident Bernese mountain pet dog.
Pendry Park City
On the other end of town lies Pendry Park City, an elegant, modern-day ski retreat set at the heart of Canyons Village. The hotel provides a selection of perfectly selected spaces and houses, all with access to an elegant rooftop that boasts a swimming pool, bar, and fire pits neglecting the surrounding white mountains. The Pendry also has a vibrant après-ski scene with live music, upscale Japanese and Mexican dining, and a cool pizza spot kids will enjoy.
Washington School House Hotel
Simply off Main Street in downtown Park City, this luxury boutique hotel is set in a 19th-century limestone schoolhouse. Each of the 12 spaces at the Washington School House Hotel is unique, including antique furniture, Pratesi linens, and service from the splendidly mindful personnel. The on-site chef prepares complimentary breakfast and après-ski fare daily, and when it’s time to hit the slopes, the ski valet can manage your equipment and shuttle you to and from the mountain of your choice.
Where to Eat
Riverhorse on Main
If you can, snag a table at the popular Riverhorse on Main, a lively venue in the middle of Main Street that boasts an excellent variety of land and sea dishes sure to replenish the calories burnt on the slopes. The Alaskan halibut is a favorite, and the trio of wild game (buffalo, venison, and elk) provides an opportunity to sample regional flavors.
Yama Sushi
You may not think of sushi as a ski-trip food, but Yama Sushi at Montage Deer Valley will alter your view of winter dining forever. Legendary signature dishes include the Wasatch roll with spicy avocado aioli and the truly unmissable Surf N Turf roll, which combines A5 Wagyu with king crab. You can’t go wrong with the chef’s option sashimi, either.
Dos Olas
Located inside the Pendry, Dos Olas offers affordable Mexican favorites motivated by the Mexico City childhood of executive chef Carlos Segura. Try the chicken tinga tacos, designed on Segura’s mama’s recipe, and clean them down with a spicy mezcalita.
Harvest
For breakfast and lunch, there are couple of better options than Harvest. This Australian-style coffee shop has places in the center of town and at the base of Park City Mountain, both providing fair-trade espresso and healthy mains like avocado toast stacked high with sautéed spinach and mushrooms.
Where to Après-ski
High West Distillery
Old-Fashioned enthusiasts will be thrilled to learn that Park City has its own ski-in scotch distillery. Accessed by means of a difficult yet pleasurable blue run down the face of the mountain (or a simple walk from Main Street, if you ‘d rather walk in), High West Distillery’s downtown saloon offers bourbon, rye, and cherished mixed drink riffs.
No Name Saloon
Found just a few blocks away, No Name Saloon is an organization. Drop in for local draft beers, buffalo sliders, and a party scene that’s called one of Park City’s wildest.
The Après Lounge at Montage Deer Valley
For the most raised of après-ski experiences, do not miss the Veuve Clicquot yurt, officially known as The Après Lounge, at Montage Deer Valley. Here, you’ll discover a log-burning fire and all the yellow-label Champagne you might ever need to commemorate an unforgettable day spent knee-deep in pow.
Off-mountain Activities
As the home of one of Hollywood’s swankiest film festivals– Sundance, held here each January– Park City is unsurprisingly filled with fantastic locations to shop. Main Street uses both boutiques (like the high-end knitwear shop We Norwegians) and big-name outside brand names, such as The North Face and Helly Hansen.
For the most remarkable shopping in town, however, head to Burns Cowboy Shop, in organization since 1876. Here, you can be fitted for a custom-made cowboy hat (complete with your initials branded into the brim) while comfortably seated on a big leather saddle. The shop is full of gorgeous leather boots and conventional Western devices that’ll guarantee you blend in with the locals.
If shopping isn’t of interest, don’t fret– there’s plenty more to do. The Egyptian Theatre (which hosts the Sundance Film Festival each January) uses live music and plays year-round, and simply down the block lies the Park City Museum, a fantastic stop for households and history enthusiasts.
Spectators, meanwhile, will enjoy the Utah Olympic Park. This complex developed for the 2002 Winter Games houses museums devoted to snowboarding and Olympic history in addition to ski-jumping and bobsledding centers where Olympians still train today. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even pay to rocket down the sledding track with an expert bobsled, luge, or skeleton athlete.
How to Ride
Tickets
Regrettably, there isn’t a single pass that will provide you access to both Park City and Deer Valley. (The former is on the Epic Pass and the latter, Ikon.) At Park City Mountain Resort, one-day lift tickets start at $299, and at Deer Valley Resort they start at $199.
Deer Valley also uses season passes independent of the Ikon system. Season passes without blackout dates cost around $3,500 per adult, however you can minimize that significantly if you’re prepared to confine your sees to weekdays. The Midweek Season Pass provides limitless Monday-through-Friday snowboarding for simply over $1,800– a good deal for residents or anyone wanting to avoid weekend crowds.
Leasings
Park City and Deer Valley both run comprehensive rental programs serving riders of any ages and capabilities. Each resort has 2 different rental-center areas, and they all use delivery to most accommodations in the area.
If you don’t want to lease your gear straight from the ski resorts, though, there are independent alternatives. Aloha Ski & Snowboard has 8 places around town, and many big hotels have rental centers, too. (At the Montage, for example, guests can rent equipment through the on-site outfitter Compass Sports.) Simply remember if you go the independent route that Deer Valley is a ski-only mountain– so avoid the snowboards if that’s where you’re headed.
Skiing and Snowboarding Info
Park City Mountain Resort holds the title of America’s biggest ski area, thanks to its whopping 7,300 skiable acres and 40 lifts. There are more than 330 runs here, of which half are advanced and another 42 percent are intermediate. Yes, that means just eight percent of the routes appropriate for novices– however with numerous tracks in overall, that implies even beginner riders have more than 20 different go to explore.
Deer Valley, on the other hand, is among simply three mountains in the U.S. that prohibit snowboards, giving it particular appeal for skiers in search of an experience they can get practically nowhere else. The resort has just over 2,000 skiable acres, 103 runs, and 21 chairlifts, and the terrain is appropriate for all type of skiers. Around 27 percent of the routes here are newbie, 41 percent are intermediate, and 32 percent are advanced.
Programming
Novices remain in good hands here, since both resorts run well-regarded training programs. At Deer Valley, you can choose in between traditional lessons at the ski school and more distinct “Ski with a Champion” clinics. In the latter, you’ll be taught (either individually or with your friends and family) by an embellished Olympic skier, like freestyle legend Fuzz Feddersen or mogul skier Shannon Bahrke, who won a silver medal right here at Deer Valley throughout the 2002 Games.
Throughout town at Park City, the ski and snowboard school offers a broad array of programs for kids, teenagers, and adults of all skill levels. Additional offerings consist of a six-week ladies’s ski program and extensive 3- and five-day courses for riders aiming to make significant improvements to their method.