#1 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
With more than 7,300 skiable acres across 17 peaks, Park City Mountain Resort is the largest resort in the United States.
It’s located in the former silver mining town of Park City, less than an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City International Airport, a major U.S. flight hub. The site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City is the epicenter of the self-proclaimed “Greatest Snow on Earth”. The mountain enjoys an average snowfall of 355 inches with about 500 acres of snowmaking.
Park City Mountain Resort has a summit elevation of 10,026 feet, with a vertical drop of 3,226 feet, and more than 330 trails accessed by 41 lifts. The resort is groomed by 40 snowcats each night for corduroy-like lines on over 120 trails each morning. Unlike the more exclusive Deer Valley Resort next door, Park City features terrain – eight of of them – as well as a super pipe and one mini-pipe. Night skiing is no longer offered, though the area has plenty of winter recreation other than skiing. Cat skiing, tubing, and ice skating are offered in Park City, as well as sleigh rides, snow biking, snowmobiling and dog sledding.
The resort itself has three base areas: Park City, Canyons Village – about 4 miles from Park City’s Main Street – and Park City Mountain Village. There are numerous ski and snowboard rental shops in Park City, and the resort has a ski and snowboard school offering adult and children’s private and group lessons, a ski academy and an adaptive ski program. Both slope-side lodging and on-mountain dining are plentiful at Park City Mountain Resort, which is an Epic Pass destination.
The season at the resort generally runs from late November to the first week of April, though the best snow coverage can be found from December to March. Keep in mind that the Sundance Film Festival in January brings in thousands of film fans, so just like weekends and holidays, expect longer lift lines and higher prices during these dates.
Park City Mountain is an Epic Pass destination. The Epic Pass , Epic Pass Local , and Epic Day Pass all provide access to the mountain with significant savings when compared to the window price at the mountain.
For the 2022/2023 season the holiday window rate is $259 for 13+ age group and $166 for ages 5 to 12. The non-holiday window rate is $215 for 13+ age group and $138 for ages 5 to 12. Purchasing online, and ahead of time, can save around 15% on lift tickets.
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The trails at Park City Mountain Resort were designed mostly for intermediate (42 percent) and expert skiers (50 percent), with just eight percent of trails labeled beginner-friendly. Here are the best Park City ski trails for each level, according to Jess Miller, senior communications specialist at Park City Mountain.
Located at Mid-Mountain on the top of the Red Pine Gondola, Park City Mountain’s new High Meadow Park offers a dedicated learning area for beginners with wide open terrain, a new express lift and three adventure trails for beginners to explore and improve their skills.
Park City Mountain’s King’s Crown run offers intermediate skiers and snowboarders pristine grooming and stunning views of the town of Park City.
Expert skiers and snowboarders will love Park City Mountain’s iconic Jupiter Bowl. Hike to the top of the peak to find powder stashes, steep chutes and the highest skiing at the resort.
There are a variety of hotels near the Park City Mountain Resort, both in historic downtown or near one of the other two base areas. At the Canyons Village, the Grand Summit Hotel, a RockResort is located near the Red Pine Gondola and the Orange Bubble Express and offers ski-in/ski-out access, a spa and health club, and concierge service. Also in Canyons Village, the Waldorf Astoria Park City has one- to three-bedroom suites, a luxurious spa, a private gondola connecting guests to the main base village and the award-winning Powder Restaurant. A five minute drive from the resort, the Hotel Park City, Autograph Collection , has rooms with fireplaces, a spa bath and mountain views, as well as a wellness center and ski storage.
Park City is known for having a great restaurant scene, both in town and on the mountain. At the mid-station of the Orange Bubble Express, Lookout Cabin serves inventive, Rocky Mountain-inspired cuisine with hand-crafted cocktails and an impressive wine list, all with views of the Wasatch Range. For authentic Mexican fare at a high elevation, ski to the Sun Lodge, near the base of the Sun Peak Express, where you can enjoy tacos, house-made salsa or grass-fed beef chilli before heading back into town. The Farm, at Park City Mountain village, has aged sirloin and buttermilk fried chicken, along with house favorites like the watermelon and tomato salad and locally sourced steak tartare.
Park City has plenty of places to unwind after a day of skiing. In the Canyons Village, the Umbrella Bar has a huge deck with locally brewed beers, while Legends Bar & Grill in the Park City base area offers upscale gastropub fare and a full-service bar. Try the world’s only ski-in gastro distillery when you cruise into High West Distillery and Saloon at the bottom of the Town Lift – you don’t even have to take off your snow boots in this town favorite before bellying up to the bar here.
Park City Mountain Resort is 36 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, a major U.S. flight hub. Shuttles and rental cars are available from the airport to the resort; the drive takes around 45 minutes.
Once here, guests will find Park City easily walkable, though there is a free trolley for in-town transport. A free public transit system also makes regular stops to Park City Mountain Resort bases and some hotels. Shuttle services, luxury car rentals and taxi services are also readily available.
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