Last Updated on 22nd August 2023 by Steve
Park City in Utah is the largest ski resort in the USA and is consistently rated as one of the best ski destinations in North America. The skiing consists of two different ski areas – Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort – in the Wasatch range of mountains just outside Salt Lake City.
Accommodation at the base of the slopes can be found in four different locations: downtown Park City; Park City Mountain Village; Canyons Village and around the Deer Valley ski slopes. The ski lifts from Park City Mountain Village and Canyons Village serve the massive interconnected Park City ski resort, while accommodation in the historic centre of Park City can easily access either of the Deer Valley or Park City ski resorts. There is also accommodation at the base and on the slopes of the Deer Valley skiing.
As well as the skiing, there is a separate indoor and outdoor sports resort – Woodward Park City – which has extensive snow tubing facilities, as well at the Utah Olympic Park commemorating the events of the Winter Olympic Games held here in 2002.
How to get to Park City
Park City is one of the most accessible major ski resorts in the USA. It is only a short drive or bus ride from Salt Lake City in Utah and is just a few miles off the major I-80 route on its way between Salt Lake City and the Wyoming border. There are regular express bus services between Park City and Salt Lake City and an airport shuttle from the Salt Lake City airport to the central transport terminus in the city.
Ski areas near Park City
Park City has access to two massive ski areas. One is the largest ski resort in the USA, the combined areas of the Canyons Resort and Park City Mountain, while the other is the upmarket development of Deer Valley.
Unfortunately for visitors to Park City, the two ski areas belong to rival ski resort conglomerates, which means that there is no ski pass which covers easy access to all of the Park City skiing. Park City Mountain and the Canyons Resort belong to the Epic Pass group of ski resorts run by Vail Resorts, while Deer Valley is run by Alterra Mountain Company and is part of the Ikon Pass group of winter destinations.
Park City Mountain Resort
The present-day Park City Mountain Resort has been developed from two separate ski areas with their own histories.
Park City Mountain was originally known as Treasure Mountain and opened back in 1963 by one of the former mining companies in Park City. It was rebranded to Park City Ski Area and finally as Park City Mountain Resort a few years before Park City hosted the Winter Olympic games in 2002 (using both Park City Mountain and Deer Valley facilities).
Canyons Resort was built in 1968 as Park City West and was then successively rebranded to ParkWest, Wolf Mountain and The Canyons before it was merged with Park City Mountain under Vail Resorts.
The massive ski area can now boast 330 different trails, mostly a mix of intermediate and advanced runs, and six terrain parks. Access to the ski slopes is via lifts from Park City itself, Park City Mountain Village and the Canyons Village.
Although the scope of the skiable terrain is massive, the ski area and the popular lifts can get crowded at busy periods because of the close proximity to Salt Lake City and the easy access from I-80.
Park City Mountain Resort video
Park City Mountain Resort ski stats
Ski lifts: The combined ski area is served by 43 ski lifts, including four gondolas
Ski vertical: The vertical drop in the Park City Mountain ski area is 3200 feet.
Skiable terrain: The Park City Mountain ski area covers 7300 acres.
Height of Park City Mountain base: The base of the ski area is situated at an altitude of 6900 feet.
Deer Valley ski resort
Deer Valley Resort is one of North America’s upmarket luxury ski experiences, designed specifically for the consumer sparing no expense for a winter vacation. The ski slopes are heavily groomed, the numbers on the trails are strictly monitored and access limited in busy periods, and snowboarders are still banned from using the ski resort.
It was the original ski area in Park City, known as Snow Park when it opened back in the 1940s. The name switched to Deer Valley at the start of the 1980s and it was purchased by Alterra in 2017 to add to their stable of North American ski resorts.
The skiing is designed to appeal to intermediate skiers with the emphasis on groomed runs. The area is still sizeable and the access limitations means that there is plenty of skiing to go around.
Deer Valley video
Deer Valley ski stats
Ski lifts: The Deer Valley ski area has 21 ski lifts, including a single gondola and 13 high-speed quad chairlifts.
Ski vertical: The vertical drop is 3000 feet.
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers just over 2000 acres.
Height of Deer Valley: The base area is situated at an altitude of 6570 feet
Where to stay near Park City
There is plenty of resort accommodation in all areas of Park City, with access to the various mountains available direct from the location or via the shuttle bus service which runs around the different areas.
Park City
This includes the historic Main Street in downtown Park City, which is a visitor attraction in its own right, as well as the Park City Mountain Village. From the Main Street area the slopes are reached by the Town chairlift.
Shadow Ridge ResortShadow Ridge Resort is an apartment complex near the base of the Park City Mountain lifts. Accommodation on offer ranges from studios to apartments sleeping up to eight people and includes free WIFI and tea and coffee making facilities.
Website: www.allseasonsresortlodging.com
Raintree’s Park Plaza ResortThe Park Plaza Resort is located on the way into Park City from the highway. It is a family-friendly condominium resort which offers apartments from studios through to two-bedroom suites. The resort offers a heated indoor pool and a fitness centre.
Website: www.parkplazaresort.com
Canyons Village at Park City
Canyons Village is a little further down the road from Park City but also provides great access and connections into the whole ski area.
Hyatt Centric Park CityThe Hyatt Centric resort accommodation is located at the foot of the Sunrise lift in the Canyons Village sector of Park City ski resort. It offers 120 options for accommodation from guest rooms through to four-bedroom residences and has a heated outdoor pool, fitness area and business centre.
Website: www.hyatt.com
Hilton Grand Vacations Club Sunrise LodgeThe Sunrise Lodge is conveniently located for the ski lifts at the Canyons Village sector of the Park City ski area. Accommodation options range from queen studio apartments up to premier suites suitable for larger families. The Lodge offers an outdoor pool, hot tub and fitness centre.
Website: www.hilton.com
Blackstone ResidencesThe Blackstone Residences resort complex is located near the Cabriolet lift in Canyons Village. It offers apartments for up to eight people with or without balcony. The clubhouse facilities include a year-round heated pool, a fitness room and a hot tub.
Website: www.blackstoneflats.com
Waldorf Astoria Park CityThe Waldorf Astoria resort hotel is situated at the base of the Waldorf gondola next to a ski shuttle stop in Canyons Village. There is a wide range of accommodation on offer from king rooms through to four-bedroom suites which can sleep up to 12 adults. Facilities include a spa and wellness centre.
Website: www.hilton.com
Deer Valley
Deer Valley accommodation stretches from the buildings at the base of the lifts through to exclusive ski-in ski-out lodges high on the slopes.
Stein Eriksen LodgeThe Stein Eriksen Lodge, named after the former Deer Valley director of skiing, is a luxury resort situated in the middle of the ski slopes. Accommodation ranges from rooms for couples through to four-bedroom corner suites with hot tub suitable for up to 14 people. The lodge offers a swimming pool and full services spa.
Website: www.steinlodge.com
St Regis ResortThe St Regis is located at the base of the ski lifts in the exclusive Deer Crest area of the resort. It is reached by its own funicular and accommodation ranges from rooms through to deluxe suites. The facilities include a fitness centre, split-level pool and hot tubs.
Website: www.marriott.com
Other Park City accommodation
Visitors looking for non-resort accommodation such as hotel rooms or private apartment rentals may like to take a look at the availability map below. Enter the dates of planned arrival and departure and use the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ signs to zoom in or out to see more accommodation availability. Click on the accommodation to see more details and prices for the dates chosen.
