Why is the Park City Area Perfect For Skiing?

The secret to good skiing is all in the climate, and Park City is kind of a unicorn in that regard. 

What do we mean by that? Park City has mountains, but they are surrounded by desert. This magic combination creates a low-humidity and high elevation terrain which produces plenty of light, fluffy snow – perfect for skiing. In addition, nearby Great Salt Lake produces plenty of “lake effect” snow, which means larger snowfalls. The city sees an average of 300 to 400 inches of snow each year and with modern technology the ski season can last from late November to early April.

In fact, Park City skiing is so good the U.S. Ski Team is based here and the 2002 Winter Olympics were held in Park City, with several of the venues still available for training and skiing.

Once you’re off the slopes, Park City offers everything you need right in town, from shops to buy gear, to an active nightlife and fine dining, to a historic downtown district. Best of all, Park City, Utah skiing puts you near some of the best ski-in and ski-out resorts in the nation.

Park City is a major destination for skiers, so you’ll find every service you need from wonderful hotels and dining to easy transportation. There are many services in Park City catering to skiers. You can get boots, skis, and poles delivered right to your hotel room, for example, and the rental company will even bring a range of sizes. Many hotels have heated storage areas for your gear, a concierge to help you get on the slopes, and other services designed for skiers. Some help you ship your skis through local airports while others have ski valets and other luxury amenities.

There are plenty of classes for new skiers in Park City, trainers for advanced skiers, and everything from bunny hills to double black trails to explore. At Deer Valley, you can even ski with an Olympian.

What Are Some of the Top Ski Spots in and Around Park City?

Park City skiing includes two major resorts designed for everyone from the new skier to the advanced professional, but there are also mountain ski tours, cross country trails, and other ski options to discover as well as resorts outside of town. When it’s time to hit the slopes, you can explore:

• Deer Valley. There are only three ski-only resorts in the U.S., and Deer Valley is one of them. With 21 chairlifts and 2,000 acres, there’s plenty of space, especially since the resort limits tickets. Deer Valley has everything you can expect from a premier resort, from lodging to lessons at the award-winning ski school. Amenities such as ski valet service and a restaurant that has been ranked first in Utah make skiing here an amazing experience. Dining in Deer Valley is excellent, with unique fireside meals and commute by horse-drawn sleigh.

• Park City Mountain. Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort have merged to make the largest resort in the country, with 7,300-acres to ski. This resort has over 300 trails and close to 40 lifts as well as 14 bowls. A paradise for skiers and snowboarders, it’s free to ski if you have the Epic Pass. The resort has ski-in/ski-out hotels and accommodations and the Quicksilver gondola is a high-speed lift taking skiers from Iron Mountain to Miner’s Camp, giving access to some advanced trails that previously required a hike. The Canyons side of the resort has the Super Condor, considered the best expert chair today, giving access to double black as well as single black trails.

• Alta. One of the oldest ski resorts in the country, Alta opened in 1938 and today offers more than 2,614 acres for skiing. Snowboarding is not permitted, so this resort, which gets more snow than most of Utah, appeals to those who are dedicated to skiing only. There are many amenities available, including lessons, rentals, child care, lodging, and a calendar of events that includes holiday festivities, concerts, and more.

• Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. Snowbird is located in Wasatch National Forest and boasts more than 2,500 acres of skiable land. This is an ideal resort for more adventurous skiers since several of the ski runs are for “intermediates only” and there are several runs for experts only. Snowbird shows up in rankings as the top ski resort in America. The resort offers lodging, lessons, dining, and a spa.

• The Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. Located at Wasatch Mountain State Park and part of Utah Olympic venues remaining after the 2002 games, this is a place for Nordic skiing, ski classes for all ages, year-round training programs, and more. Wasatch Mountain State Park itself has a 7.2-mile track for Nordic skiing and 31 kilometers of trails for cross-country skiing.

• Solitude Mountain Resort. With 66 trails and 1,200 acres, this ski resort is great for families, because half of the trails are for beginners or intermediate skiers. The resort has hot tubs, heated pools, dining, lessons, shops, and more. The resort’s Nordic center has snowshoe and cross-country trails.

• Brighton Ski Resort. Opened in 1936, Brighton was among the first ski resorts in the country. Today, serious skiers and locals love Brighton for its great trails and backcountry access. The focus here is on excellent skiing and not on added amenities, although dining, lessons, rentals, and other services are offered.

• Powder Mountain Ski Resort. Even with the opening of Park City Mountain, Powder Mountain remains one of the largest ski resorts in the country, with 8,464 acres, two terrain parks, nine lifts, and 154 trails. The resort offers access to 1,200 acres of off-piste powder, guided tours, dining, Snowcat rides, events, lessons, and training.

• Uinta Mountains. Guided ski tours are available of the Uinta Mountains. These mountains have not been developed with resorts, so adventurous and advanced backcountry skiers generally need the help of tour guides and snowmobiles to access the tree-lined hallways and more gently-sloped meadows.

• White Pine Nordic Center. Cross-country loops of 3K to 10K are available at the White Pine Nordic Center. More than 75 kilometers of groomed trails and guided tours as well as tuning and rental services onsite allow skiers to enjoy full days of adventure.

• Recreation Trails. Basin Recreation maintains and grooms trails between Utah Olympic Park and Willow Creek Park. There are about 18 miles of trails to explore. Summit County also has an 80K Nordic Trail System available for cross-country skiing.

From Nordic skiing to downhill slopes, bunny hills, cross-country skiing, and more, Park City, Utah skiing has something to offer everyone. Whether you want a pleasant day on the slopes in a family-friendly atmosphere or want to challenge yourself on a virtually untouched trail, you can find the gear, tour guides, and conditions to make it happen in Park City.

What Else Does Park City Offer for Skiers?

While skiers want to spend hours on the slopes, eventually even the most die-hard fans need to remove their skis. When they do, Park City has many amazing winter activities to explore: 

• Ski-in establishments. The High West Saloon lets you ski right in from the Quit'N Time run to enjoy a drink, made with ingredients from the High West Distillery, the world’s first ski-in/ski-out distillery. The Silver Star Café is one of the local favorites for lunch and another spot you can ski right in.

• More winter activities. Park City offers dog sledding, snowboarding, tubing, ice fishing, Nordic skiing, winter horseback trail rides, bobsledding, skating, snow biking, winter hiking, and plenty of other winter activities.

• Town Lift. You can get a lift to Park City Mountain right from downtown in the town lift. The 10-minute ride takes you from Main Street to the upper mountain, offering views of Old Town along the way.

• Lots of ways to get to the slopes. Park City has a free bus system to get you to your skiing destination and almost all hotels have shuttles. There are also rideshare and other transport systems for those who fly in and leave their car at home. Downtown Park City is very walkable, so you don’t have to worry about renting a car.

• Unique experiences. Norwegian royalty has dined at Viking Yurt, which offers live music, a candlelit dinner in a yurt, and a sleigh ride. There are also photography workshops and services available to help you take photos of the mountains as well as the first slope-side raw bar in the country.

You can turn your ski trip into a once-in-a-lifetime event in Park City with the added fun activities, transportation, unique dining experiences, and more. The town is designed to make your skiing seamless.

Why Is Benloch Ranch the Perfect Home Base for Skiers?

Benloch Ranch puts you within 15 minutes of Park City and the best skiing in the country. While people travel from all over the country and all over the globe to experience Park city skiing, residents have the slopes just minutes away, allowing them to explore the thousands of acres of trails every day, if they wish. Residents never have to leave, allowing them to fully explore all Park City has to offer.

Benloch Ranch also has proposed amenities just for skiers, including storage spaces for your gear, over 20 miles of trails for hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities, and a shuttle service to get to the slopes. Concierge services can help you with tours and all your skiing needs.

Residents of Benloch Ranch enjoy beautiful modern mountain homes with lifestyle-enhancing amenities and sweeping views of the mountains. Benloch Ranch is also committed to sustainable building so future generations of skiers can enjoy the natural beauty of the Summit County area.

If you’d like to know whether Benloch Ranch might be a good fit for your future, learn more about the lifestyle or contact us to speak with our team.