Winter's Greatest Playground

Imagine this playground. Endless acres of pristine, sparkling snow offset by a sky so brilliantly blue that you are certain you’ve died and gone to heaven. This winter season, stimulate your senses and treat yourself to the wide-open spaces waiting for you at The Canyons Resort. With 3,700 acres of absolutely incredible terrain to explore, The Canyons is the largest single ski and snowboard resort in Utah and one of the five largest resorts in the U.S. 

If your passion is skiing or snowboarding, or if you are simply looking for entertainment, The Canyons Resort offers it all!  Nestled in the quaint mountain town of Park City, Utah, The Canyons has been developed into a world-class destination resort with lodging, dining, pools and spas, plus ongoing concert and sports events. Since the resort is located a short 25 miles from Salt Lake City off Interstate 80, you have the big city and the small town within minutes. It’s the best of both worlds. 

Always Upgrading
The Canyons is continuously looking for ways to make the next season better than the last. This year alone, it spent over $1.6 million in improvements to ski runs and facilities. On the mountain, new trails have been opened in the Dreamcatcher area that offer some seriously great tree skiing.  The Shortcut lift has new chairs and the Flight of the Canyons gondola has new racks that accommodate snowboards and twin tip skis.  Once on the mountain, you’ll be soaking up rays on the new patio furniture at Lookout Cabin and Smokie’s Restaurant. 

The Canyons has become a designated Burton Learn To Ride Center. This innovative training program gives first-time riders skills before they even go up on the hill. Canyon Mountain Sports, the rental and retail shop at the base, offers a variety of outdoor and casual wear and is the perfect place for all of your clothing and equipment needs. Here you can gear up in the most stylish products and be ready for anything.

The Canyons welcomes you with a relaxed atmosphere and the familiar faces of the employees that come in from all over the world, year after year. Their knowledge of the resort and their sense of family make The Canyons a comfortable place to come home to.  To make sure your visit is memorable, stop by the Adventure Desk at the Grand Summit Hotel and see what other activities they have to offer.  A day of snowmobiling or cross-country skiing may be just what the doctor ordered.

Special Events
In its commitment to provide a unique experience for its guests, The Canyons hosts several unique events and activities. One of our favorites is First Tracks. Offered two days a week, this is an opportunity to be on the mountain before the general public.  Imagine riding the first lift of the day, perfectly timed to watch the sunrise, with an entire mountain all to yourself. Other ongoing events include the Western Barbeque on Saturday nights. You don’t have to be a skier to enjoy this ride up the gondola for authentic barbeque and fancy dancing at the Red Pine Lodge. On the weekends, free après ski entertainment can be found at Smokie’s Smokehouse. In the spring, the entertainment moves outside to the Forum for the Spring Concert Series.

New this year is the sleigh ride dinner to Lookout Cabin Restaurant. Ride the gondola up to mid-mountain, where a sleigh awaits to escort you to a fine dining experience high above the city. And, the season would not be complete without the Annual Pond Skimming Contest in March. The most festive day of the year, this event has been featured in several movies, including Warren Miller’s ski extravaganzas.

The 2007-08 season has something for everyone, so now is a great time to start planning your next vacation at The Canyons Resort.

RV Parks Nearby
If you’re driving your RV, you have more than one option for accommodations. Park City RV Resort is located off I-80 at Kimball Junction. Another excellent location is the Heber Valley RV Park, which is off Highway 40 on the Provo River next to the Jordanelle Reservoir. Both RV parks are only minutes from the resort and offer hookups, natural settings and stunning scenery.  They are the perfect places to use as your home base

For information, contact Park City RV Resort at www.parkcityrvresort.com or (435) 649-2535 and Heber Valley RV Park & Resort at www.hebervalleyrvpark.com or (435) 654-4049.

Whether you choose to fly to Park City or drive your RV this winter, the beauty and natural wonder of The Canyons will inspire you to return time and time again.  So bring your sunscreen and shades and get ready to experience all that this world-class resort has to offer.

The Canyons Resort is at 4000 The Canyons Resort Drive, Park City, Utah 84098. Winter lift hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For information, phone (435) 649-5400 or (888) CANYONS, visit www.winterplayland.com or www.thecanyons.com, or send an e-mail to info@thecanyons.com.

Kathy Stanger is a freelance writer who lives in Park City, Utah.