There’s nothing quite as refreshing as knowing you have a well-deserved trip to scenic Park City, Utah coming up. All year round, this inviting vacation destination beckons to travelers who are looking for a revitalizing escape from the daily routine. In Park City, visitors can always count on enjoying stunning landscapes, a rich arts and culture scene as well as easy access to outdoor fun and adventure of all types. If you happen to be a history buff, Park City is a place where an era of mining that existed long before the destination was a popular tourist spot can still be dug into with ease. Local museums and galleries speak to those who are creatively inclined while the culinary scene across Park City is palate-pleasing at every turn. From opportunities to enjoy wildlife watching in the spring, admire fall foliage in the autumn, and take to the trails in the summer, Park City is packed with options for customizing your stay to fit your style.
All of that said, it’s hard to imagine anything more thrilling than a winter trip this way with a ski-focused journey top of mind. Home to world-class ski resorts and receiving ample snowfall each year, those with a passion for downhill fun will find endless opportunities to spend time in Park City doing exactly what they love. When you’re looking to make the most of every single moment, consider this your ultimate guide to skiing in Park City for an unforgettable stay.
A Stunning Winter Destination for Ski Fun
No matter where you look in Park City, a winter getaway puts natural beauty right at your fingertips. Between the towering mountains and rich valleys, you’re in for an idyllic backdrop when you head this way in the name of skiing fun. When the fresh powder falls, Park City’s main activity is definitely time spent on the slopes, and with good reason! Locals and visitors alike make Park City their home base for winter fun each year thanks to easy access to both of the Park City ski resorts, Park City Mountain Resort and nearby Deer Valley Resort. These appealing meccas for ski fun showcase a stunning array of trail and slope options alongside scenic lifts, and gorgeous lodges to check out when it’s time to warm up in style. From lessons and rentals to post-ski activities like snow tubing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, the hardest part of a ski trip this way is often narrowing down the list of how you want to spend your time. A ski trip to Park City is perfect for travelers of all ages and the resorts keep you close to destinations like Main Street when you’re looking to explore further once the skis come off. There’s no shortage of opportunities to learn how to ski, perfect your skills, or make the most of the stunning views when you head this way in the winter.
Getting to the Slopes Is a Breeze
Winter travelers heading to Park City for a ski getaway frequently fly into Salt Lake International Airport. This modern airport is a great place to land because it’s just a 35-minute drive to Park City. Shuttles can be organized from the airport to Park City ski resorts in the wintertime, but if you’re up for driving yourself in despite snowy weather, the airport also has a variety of car rental kiosks on-site. Smaller airports that you can choose to fly into if you’re traveling privately include the TAC Airport, the Atlantic Aviation Airport, or the Heber Valley Airport.
Choose How to Get Around with Ease
While there’s a good chance you’re going to be spending most of your time right on the slopes, it’s a good idea to plan for how you’re going to get around when you’re not making the most of skiing fun. Fortunately, Park City is a convenient place to travel from one place to the next if you have a rental car. If you decide to book your stay at Deer Valley Resort, there are shuttles provided to guests during ski season. If you reserve your place in a ski-in ski-out rental, walking where you need to go is also a viable option. Beyond shuttle services associated directly with the ski resorts, the city has an efficient public bus system in place. Make sure to download the Park City mobile bus app before you arrive so you can track schedules, routes, and timing to fit your needs.
All About Park City Mountain Resort
Many skiers set their sights on Park City Mountain Resort when they’re in town and it’s easy to see why. This Park City ski resort is designed to impress with a summit elevation of 10,026 feet. Even the base elevation point sits at 6,800 feet and in total, visitors will be delighted to find they have access to a Park City ski area of around 7,300 skiable acres. When you need to get to the trails and slopes you’re looking to enjoy, there are 40 lifts to get you there with scenic views included along the way. When you’re not gliding down the snow at breathtaking speeds, there are 7 terrain parks to check out on-site and more than 330 trails to explore. By the numbers, Park City Mountain Resort dedicates about 8% of its terrain to beginner-level runs while 42% are ideal for intermediate skiers. Advanced skiers will find this is the place to be as 50% of the skiable terrain is terrific for taking skills to the next level. With around 355 inches of snowfall on average each year, Park City Mountain Resort is a destination that never disappoints.
Discover Deer Valley Ski Resort
Ski enthusiasts heading to Park City who are looking for a bit more of an intimate setting with fewer crowds typically find Deer Valley Resort to be an ideal choice. This is a ski-exclusive resort which is wonderful for those who are looking to focus their time on downhill ski adventures without having to share space with snowboards. It offers up a great environment for skiers of all levels and provides exceptionally great ski conditions alongside luxurious on-site amenities. There are high-end restaurants to enjoy after a day of downhill thrills with options like The Mariposa and Cast & Cut consistently delighting patrons from near and far. You can count on learning from top-notch ski instructors when you’re booking lessons at Deer Valley and advanced skiers will appreciate the challenges and views that go hand-in-hand. The Snow Park base area gives this resort a real community feel, while the meticulously crafted runs and slopes are sure to inspire. When you spend time skiing at Deer Valley Resort, you’ll be treated to 103 runs, six bowls, and 2,026 acres of alpine skiing access. The resort receives more than 300 inches of snow each year. Plans to expand the skiable terrain by up to 3,700 acres are currently underway.
Tips and Trails for Beginner Skiers
There’s no better place to try skiing for the very first time than Park City, Utah. Learning from the best instructors on world-class slopes is a sure way to get started on the right foot. Having endless fresh powder at your disposal sets a prime scene for instruction while access to quality rental gear gives you the foundation for excellence you deserve.
Because Park City Mountain Resort is a bigger location than Deer Valley, beginners will find more options for customized instruction, but that said, you can’t go wrong at either Park City ski area. Both are designed for family-friendly winter fun and if you choose Deer Valley, you can focus your lessons exclusively on ski techniques. No matter where you choose to ski, beginner trails and slopes are marked with signage featuring green circles.
At Deer Valley, Blue Bell and Lower Lilly are great Park City ski trails to start with, and in total, there are five green-level slopes to explore. Over at Park City Mountain Resort, hitting up the First Time Trail is a must for new skiers because it’s really more of a bunny hill than anything else. Here, you can work on balance and movement before making your way to more challenging beginner slopes like Home Run, which is accessible using the Town Lift from Park City’s Main Street. When you’re booking ski lessons at either resort, you’ll have options to pick and choose from group lessons according to age, or private lessons that give you one-on-one time to learn and ask questions. At Park City Mountain Resort, you can pair your first-time ski lessons with snowboarding lessons too.
Tips and Trails for Intermediate Skiers
Park City is an oasis of fun for intermediate skiers who are looking to have a great time on the slopes and can’t wait to improve their skill set along the way. When you have experience skiing but you wouldn’t consider yourself an expert quite yet, both Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley offer up exceptional options and runs to check out. Of the two resorts, Park City Mountain Resort has more skiable acreage to explore for intermediate-level guests, but Deer Valley offers a limited lift pass experience that keeps you far from the crowds.
At Deer Valley, intermediate-level skiers can access the Carpenter Express from Snow Park Base and make their way up to Success. This is a gentle run to kick things off that leads to the base of Little Baldy. Once you feel warmed up, be sure to check out Park City, Utah ski trails like Little Stick, Flagstaff, and Big Stick, where loosely spaced trees and wide terrain make for fun weaving exercises. Don’t overlook Hawkeye or Hidden Treasure as well.
If you’re focusing your ski fun on time at Park City Mountain Resort, blue-level slopes are ideal for intermediate skiers and include Home Run, Mel’s Alley, Powder Keg, and Tombstone Express to name a few of many. The vast majority of intermediate-level skiers will love time on the Upper Lookout Ridge as well.
Tips and Trails for Advanced Skiers
As soon as the fresh powder begins to fall each ski season, advanced skiers from across the map are jumping at the chance to spend quality time in Park City. Here, they have access to world-renowned resorts with so much to offer and opportunities to take skill sets to the next level with ease. Expert skiers enjoying time at Park City Mountain Resort will love the 13 signature Park City ski trails that are groomed meticulously for qualified athletes to enjoy. Be sure to hop on the Jupiter Lift while you’re here and make your way to the advanced runs at both Juniper Bowl and Juniper Peak. These runs are dotted with steep shots and spaced glades as well as trees that add to the challenge. You’ll also want to make sure to set your sights on 6 Bells, which has earned a reputation as a great place for advanced skiers thanks to the deep powder it contains. Scott’s Bowl, Machetes, and Puma Bowl are also must-try destinations when you have the skills to take on rugged terrain. Looking for a double black option to tackle? You’ll find it waiting for you at McConkey’s Bowl.
If you’re planning to spend more time at Deer Valley, Bald Mountain is a must. The mogul runs off the Mayflower lift are ideal while the north-facing slopes are great if you’re in the mood to try ungroomed and steep terrain. Before you go, make sure you’ve given Daly Chutes and Daly Bowl a try too.
Après Ski Stops to Enjoy
No matter what level of skier you consider yourself to be, skiing in Park City comes with some spectacular options for après-ski flavor and fun. The Après Lounge behind the Montage at the base of Rub and Empire Express at Deer Valley is an incredible choice when you’re looking for a more elegant atmosphere. Here, you can order up handcrafted cocktails in good company and enjoy small bites to match. This stop offers up cozy yurts for guests where you can settle in and savor wine or Champagne to celebrate your successes on the slopes.
For Park City Mountain Resort skiers who have worked up an appetite, High West Saloon on Park Avenue is a great choice. This ski-in eatery is located just before the town lift bridge and is a popular place to enjoy pork chops and whiskey with family and friends. The Old West atmosphere is a delight while you can’t go wrong with the barrel-aged cocktails on the menu.
Book Your Park City Ski Adventure Today
When you’re ready to travel to Park City in the name of a ski journey, the team at I Love Park City is here to make sure you have luxurious accommodations to match. Reach out today to learn more about our portfolio of vacation rental properties across the city and how we can help you infuse comfort and style into your stay.
Mark your calendars and start your planning now for a very exciting event! The Utah Olympic Park is slated to host ski jumping and Nordic combined Olympic trials on Dec. 30 and 31.
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Nordic combined and ski jumping will be taking place at the Utah Olympic Park. This winner-take-all event will identify those taking their places on Team USA for the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The event is a coordinated effort between Park City-based U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the United States Olympic Committee, and the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation.
You can expect to see Olympic veterans such as Bryan and Taylor Fletcher, with the brothers expected to lead the pack in the Nordic combined event. This event will be held on the Olympic Park’s HS100-meter hill, followed by a 10-kilometer cross-country race.
The ski jumping event will see a battle for the top spot, with may rising stars looking for an Olympic spot, including Devin Bickner, who also recently set a new American distance record.
The women will be in the spotlight as well. For only the second time in history, women will be qualifying for the U.S. Olympic ski jumping team. 2014 Olympian Sarah Hendrickson is expected to see a repeat berth on Team USA.
Schedule of Events
The schedule for the weekend event is:
Saturday, Dec. 30 — Nordic combined events
Sunday, Dec. 31 — Ski jumping for both men and women
While NBC will be broadcasting the coverage on Sunday, the best way to truly experience these exciting events is right there at the Olympic Park.
Says Tiger Show, President and CEO of U.S. Ski and Snowboard, “Our sport is fortunate to continue to take advantage of legacy opportunities nearly 16 years after the 2002 Olympics in Utah. The Utah Olympic Park will be an amazing backdrop for our athletes in an event that will showcase our sport nationwide on NBC.”
At Park City Rental Properties, we are always proud to see Olympic events held in our great community. We invite you to schedule your rental properties now to get the very best. Plus, this is also the New Year’s holiday and the area will be full of very exciting happenings. Contact us today!
Just outside of town a bit to the north and east is a recreational area called Round Valley. The state purchased Round Valley Park City, Utah from a private landowner a bunch of years ago and have been turning it into Disneyland for adults. The trail system here is easily one of the best training grounds to get sweaty spring, summer, or fall; there’s even great cross-country skiing here during the winter. If you are staying at one of our Park City vacation rental homes, you should be able to either jog down there or ride a bike.
Jump on your iPhone and download Trailforks application so that you can have access to all of the different trails and their difficulty levels. It’s also nice to have something that you can use while you are offline, because it fully downloads the trail maps for the entire state, allowing you to use them even when you don’t have cell service.
There are several places to enter the Round Valley network of trails. It’s pretty much accessible from all four sides, so depending on which part of town you are staying, you can likely get down here easy. It’s closest to PC but isn’t too far away from Deer Valley vacation rentals or our properties at the Canyons Resort. If you are looking to drive down there and start your adventure from a place you can park and use the restroom, Google the ice-skating rink and park nearby that, or Google Quinn’s Trailhead. You can also access Round Valley via The Cove or Old Ranch Road.
If you are here during the summer, you can run one of the four Park City trail series (pctrailseries.com) races that start at Quinn’s Trailhead. The first race in the beginning of the summer is a 5K, and they get progressively longer and harder as the summer goes on, ending with a half marathon on the trails. No matter what time of year you are exercising here, it’s always a solid idea to bring extra water. If you’re coming from a sea level location to vacation here in the mountains, your body will definitely love the extra hydration.
As you can tell by the picture above, you never know what you’re going to see here on the trails. This particular day we ran into a pretty young moose, but even as a youth, he was probably over 6 feet tall and definitely aggressive. These are not the kind to animals you just want to walk up and try to pet—make sure to keep your distance! There are tons of other fun creatures you can chase after like the marmot or even the deer, but definitely back up as soon as you see a moose.
If you want to take the long way around Round Valley, there is a great route called Ramble On and another one called Rambler. These can link up with other fun trails like Mats Flats and Nowhere Elks.
Remember that bikes or runners that are traveling downhill have to yield to people that are climbing. Please be careful when cruising around corners or sharp bends; you never know who you’re going to bump into! This area is a great place to meet some of the local athletes that like to come out and train. A smile and a wave is a great way to show the locals a little love.
On a personal note, thanks a lot for staying with us at Park City Rental Properties! We know that there are a lot of choices out there for places to book your vacation. If you have any other questions about these trails or anything else fun to do while here on vacation, feel free to give us a call. we have a helpful concierge staff that’s ready to handcraft you tons of adventures while here in PC. Keep your eyes peeled for us out on the trails. We use them, too!
