PARK CITY SKI RESORT GUIDE
Park City Ski Resort Overview
The largest ski resort in North America, Park City Mountain Resort spans 7,300+ acres and has over 340 trails. Park City earned this position after merging with neighbor The Canyons in 2015. Only 40 minutes from Salt Lake City, Park City Ski Resort is one of the most accessible resorts from almost anywhere. Snowfall is a reliable 355 inches annually, and the base depth averages 46 inches. The terrain offers incredible variety. Over 40% of slopes are intermediates. Experts, don't worry; there is plenty of steep and deep terrain. Head to the Super Condor Express or 9,990 on the Canyons side or McConkey’s and Jupiter Bowl on the Park City side. With eight terrain parks, snowboarders are welcome, unlike at next-door neighbor, Deer Valley.
Many people will be familiar with Park City due to their hosting of the annual Sundance Film Festival. The base of Park City is in the heart of the historic mining town of Park City, Utah. Park City is not only home to Park City Ski Resort; it also houses smaller resorts such as Deer Valley Resort. The Canyons Village Area has more parking and is only 5 minutes from Kimball Junction. It also features one of the most popular ski beach setups in the country.
The ski school is excellent and rigorous, offering full-day mountain programs for children as young as three. The surrounding area has an amazing selection of accommodations with hotels and single-family homes, many of which have ski on ski off access. For those that prefer a hike to mix in with the skiing, Bald Mountain Trail is quite the adventure. The Epic Local Pass is the key to maximizing value here – it offers unlimited days and is perfect for anyone able to navigate peak periods.
Quick Take
Let's Go
Huge, the largest ski area in North America, spanning over 7,300 acres.
Excellent terrain variety, a mix of gentle slopes, groomers (over 120 trails are groomed nightly), steep and deep, and bumps.
Convenient to reach from almost anywhere, only 40 minutes from SLC Airport, which has non-stop flights from 70+ cities.
One of few places where you can ski directly into an authentic town with a vibrant community, assortment of restaurants, artwork, nightlife, and events.
Hesitations
Pick a Base - Park City or Canyons Village and stay for the day. There is plenty of terrain from either base, and going between the two on skis is time-consuming.
It can be challenging for skiers of varying ability levels to stay together. Peaks with access to expert terrain often have no easy way down (9,990, Jupiter).
Beginner terrain is limited.
Crowds. Park City's super convenient location and Epic Local Pass access are no secret. The lower mountains tend to bottleneck, especially on weekends and after a storm. With multiple lifts involved to get to the upper mountains, be ready for a slow start
Insider Tips
The Town Lift offers convenient access to the mountain from the middle of town, along with a ski valet. The lift is long and slow, though, so consider driving or taking a shuttle to the Main Base to get up the mountain faster.
For deep powder and untracked snow, try Park City Powder Cats. They are now offering guided backcountry tours in addition to cat skiing. Private cats are also available for up to 10 guests.
For families, we prefer staying in Canyons Village. There are more large, single-family homes with ski-in ski-out access. The Day Care Center is here. The Family Adventure Zone is a family favorite, and small children love being able to take the Gondola or Orange Bubble Chair to access this gentle terrain.
Canyon's Village is closer to Salt Lake and provides the most convenient access for a day trip to the Cottonwood Canyons.
Unless you are going for the movies and party scene, avoid visiting during the Sundance Film Festival; crowds are much larger than usual.
Trail Map
For an in-depth breakdown of Park City's terrain, head to our Mountain Guide. Top trails and mountain stats included.
Getting To & Around
Park City is a short trip from Salt Lake City, straight East on1-80. Cars are not essential, though we prefer to have one here. Parking at the mountain base is easy and free. Cars are helpful for shopping, dining, and visiting neighboring resorts. Ride shares are also readily available.
Getting To
Closest Major City: Salt Lake City, UT
Distance: ~37 miles East (and slightly South) of Salt Lake City
Travel Time: ~ 40-45 minutes
Neighboring Resorts
Closest Neighbor
Deer Valley (~2.5 miles, ~5 mins)
Closet Neighbor on the Epic Pass
Snowbasin (64 miles, ~1 hr 10 mins)
Little Cottonwood Canyon Neighbors (on the Ikon Pass)
Big Cottonwood Canyon Neighbors (on the Ikon Pass)
*The Cottonwood Canyon neighbors are located on the backside of Park City but require driving around the canyon, if you enjoy the backcountry, consider booking a tour to ski between
Travel by Plane
Closest major commercial airport: SLC (Salt Lake City International Airport)
~35 miles West, ~35-40 mins
Travel By Bus
The Town of Park City runs free buses to Park City Mountain, Deer Valley, Main Street, Kimball Junction, North of Main, Quarry Village, and the Utah Olympic Park
Airport shuttle services is available to / from SLC airport, though we find shared rides or rental cars more convenient and cost effective
Travel by Car
Cars are not essential when staying in town, but are very helpful to exploring the broader area
Pros: Convenience; the rental car area is easily accessible from the airport terminal; having a car is helpful for getting groceries, dining, visiting neigbhoring resorts and tons of off mountain activities in the area
Cons: Parking in town can be crowded and require paying
Ride shares: (e.g., Uber, Lyft) are convenient and reasonabley priced
- Uber and Lyft rides to / from SLC airport are ~$40 - $60 for up to 4 passengers during non-peak times
