Three Unique Resorts in One Exciting Town

Living in Park City, Utah, for the last four years, Diesel and I have joined the locals, affectionately called Parkites, anxiously waiting for opening day of the upcoming ski season. By the time you read this article, The Canyons, Park City Mountain Resort, and Deer Valley Resort will all be open to explore, experience and discover.

With three world-class ski resorts within six miles of our home, we are always fortunate enough to get on the mountain that first day and have a few good laughs as we get our “ski legs” back under us. The snow is always very light and dry, glistening in the sun like millions of diamonds. That’s Utah snow. They call it “The Greatest Snow on Earth.” During the winter, the sun is always shining, unless it’s snowing. It’s either sunny or snowing. It couldn’t be more perfect for us. There is an abundance of rarified air, bright sunlight, combined with the most absolute fun exercise ever—skiing, which brings me to my next point.

Last year’s ski season in Utah was undoubtedly the best in many years. Snowfall was way above average at all of Utah’s 13 ski resorts. It actually snowed so much that we were skiing powder for days after every snowstorm. Keep in mind that I’m a “newbie” when it comes to powder skiing. Previously, I only skied on the “grooms” when it was sunny. And fabulous they were! There was no better feeling than gliding down corduroy in bright sunlight with no one else in sight. Well, the last two ski seasons gave me the opportunity to learn how to enjoy lots of powder skiing through the aspens and evergreens at The Canyons, Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort.

Ski to Town
After one storm last winter, Diesel experienced an awesome day at Park City Mountain Resort on Jupiter Bowl, claiming it to be “steep ‘n deep” with wide open glades and treed chutes. With eight other bowls spread over seven peaks and 100-plus trails, it’s no wonder that Park City Mountain Resort is ranked Number 5 by Ski Magazine. They even have one run that’s 3.5 miles long. Another unique feature is the Town Lift Bridge, exclusive to PCMR, allowing you to ski directly from the slopes across the groomed trestle. Pop off your skis or snowboard and walk along Historic Main Street in charming Old Town.

The Canyons has bragging rights as the fifth largest ski resort in the country and the largest single ski and snowboard resort in Utah. It truly is still virtually undiscovered, and its 3,500 acres are the most diverse I’ve ever skied. We’re still discovering new places to explore and can hardly wait for next season when they open Dreamcatcher off Dreamscape accessing 200-plus acres new acres for advanced and intermediate skiers. With 146 trails on eight separate mountains, The Canyons is a continual adventure waiting to unfold before your eyes. If you’re adventurous, go find “Canis Lupus” named in honor of the wolf, an endangered species. It is a one-mile long natural gully with 15-foot banked walls. Be sure to let me know how it is for I haven’t mustered the courage to try it yet.

Let’s not forget Deer Valley Resort, which is celebrating its 25th year this season, and was named the Number 1 ski resort in North America by readers of Ski Magazine. Whenever we ski there, we’re always amazed by the high quality of service, both on and off the mountain. Best known for its groomed corduroy, it really has a ton of off piste skiing that we discovered over the last couple of years. Locals don’t like to share that information with tourists, so you’ll just have to find it on your own. Do not miss “Last Chance,” a mellow run down to the bottom that exposes several mansions called the “Bear House,” the “Raccoon House” and the totem poles. They’re signature.

Huge Snowfall
With over 10,000 acres combined, each of these fabulous ski resorts boasts over 3,000 feet in vertical drop and annual average snowfall of more than 350 inches. All are located within 35 miles of Salt Lake City International Airport and are a straight shot on Interstate 80. It couldn’t be any easier to get there from anywhere in the country. In fact, the Park City Quick START (Ski Today and Ride Today) Vacation allows you to fly into Salt Lake City in the morning and convert your airline-boarding pass into a same-day lift ticket to any of these Park City resorts. For details on the Park City Quick START Vacation, visit www.parkcityinfo.com.

It is well known that Park City’s legacy was created during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games as the venue for the slalom, giant slalom, freestyle aerials, ski jumping, Nordic combined, bobsled, skeleton, snowboarding and luge. Visitors now have the opportunity to participate in a wide array of activities at the Olympic facilities, such as the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Soldier Hollow in Midway, and the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns known as the “Fastest Ice on Earth.”

If you’re driving your RV, rest assured there is plenty of room at the Park City RV Resort located off I-80 with stunning 360-degree mountain views. Just a few minutes from Park City’s ski resorts and with amenities that rival those of any RV resort, it is a perfect place to use as your home base.

Whether you choose to fly or drive your RV to Park City, the experience will be unforgettable, and I can only encourage you to take in the beauty and natural wonder of Park City and its three world-class ski resorts. I guarantee you’ll never be the same.

Toni Davis is a member of the RV Life staff and a contributing writer