Have you ever seen the way fresh snow will cover a tree, turning it white from top to bottom? I’ll never forget that view on the top of Bald Mountain, and it’s one of my favourite memories of skiing at Deer Valley Resort.
A short drive from Salt Lake City, Utah, in one of the snowiest mountain ranges in North America, Park City is a skiers paradise, and the best of the area is Deer Valley.
The ski resort is a favourite among families and skiers who love a wide range of easy, intermediate, and difficult trails. Deer Valley is spectacular, perfectly groomed, with great runs, and their customer service is unmatched.
After more than 20 years without skiing, I was curious to explore Deer Valley and Park City, and as a green skier I was really impressed.
The award-winning ski resort offers an excellent rental service, a number of restaurants and bars, and they are expanding in the 2025/26 season to add 3,700 acres of skiable terrain, with a number of new lifts. More on that shortly.
Deer Valley has a number of accommodation options, including the Lodges at Deer Valley, and they offer free shuttles around the property and into Park City, if you’re staying with them, so you can park the car and relax. Deer Valley also offers free ski valet, so you can leave your skis at the base when you’re done for the day.
Most of all though, what I loved about Deer Valley was the spirit of the destination. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, and I chatted with a dozen other skiers about how much we all loved the resort. It’s a very special place in one of the most beautiful mountain ranges, with views on some peaks for miles and miles.
Skiing Deer Valley and what to know
Skiing in the area started in the 1930s, when mining tapered off, and people realized that the mountains were perfect for outdoor recreation. Deer Valley Resort opened in 1981, and they continue to earn the praise of skiers across North America as one of the best ski destinations.
In 2002 the resort hosted events for the 2002 Winter Olympics, and they will most likely host mogul skiing at the 2034 Winter Olympics when they return to the region.
The ski-only resort–one of three resorts in the U.S. that only allows skiers on their hills–is notable not just for their impressive ski school and professionals to help new skiers or green skiers, they also have a large number of green runs on nearly every peak.
Part of the Ikon Pass family of resorts, the ski season at Deer Valley usually begins at the end of November or the beginning of December, and runs until the end of March. What’s really impressive though is that the resort receives an annual average of over 300 inches of snow. Last year though, the resort received a record 606 inches of snow during the season.
Lift tickets are between $189 and $269, depending on the timing of your visit, and they have 122 ski runs for all kinds of skiers.
And the skiing here is absolutely wonderful.
On my first day skiing I had an instructor for half the day, to help me and take me around the green trails and give me tips and suggestions for improving. Deer Valley has amazing instructors, and their ski school is excellent whether you’re 5, 15, or 50. Some people even hire the instructors as a ski partner for the day. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
Among all the runs I ended up with a few favourites that I think new and green skiers will love. Homeward Bound in particular is an amazing run. It’s a beautiful and fun run with incredible views, including one section through a stunning Aspen forest that’s very serene when you’re alone there. On the second day of skiing there was a fresh layer of snow that coated everything at the top of the mountains, and it was stunning to ski, especially through the Aspens.
Another favourite was McHenry, one of the longer trails at Deer Valley, at 2.62-miles, and one of the newest that just opened at the start of the year. One of the longest runs you can find in Utah is also at Deer Valley; Green Monster is an impressive 4.85 mile long run, and it just opened in January.
Other easy ski favourites are Ontario, and Success, but there are a lot of other runs to try, and intermediate and advanced skiers have a wide range of options on every peak. And when you’re there, as it starts to snow, there’s no feeling quite like it. The fresh snow is like magic, especially on the tops of the mountains.
Getting around between ski runs is very easy thanks to a great network of ski lifts. Deer Valley even launched their first ski lift with heated seats; Keetley Express lift seats six people, with seat warmers, and a bubble cover to protect against the wind.
Skiing at Deer Valley was a complete treat, and I can’t wait to visit again some time and explore more of the hills, restaurants, and amenities.
Where to stay at Deer Valley
The Lodges at Deer Valley are wonderful, welcoming, and so cozy. A 5-minute shuttle ride away from the slopes, and just 10 minutes away from Park City main street, the Lodges are comfortable, and look the part of a classic ski resort in the mountains.
The luxury accommodations offer hotel rooms, or one to three bedroom suites. For families, the suites also include a full kitchen, dining and living room, plus laundry. I stayed in one of the suites, with a classic, rustic mountain design, and they also have some suites with modern designs.
The furnishings were very nice, and I appreciated the little touches, like the board games that were in the living room, the fireplace, and the walk-out space so I could sit outside if I wanted and have a coffee as it snowed. The bedroom was also excellent and the linens and pillows were perfect.
At the Lodges you’ll find a number of amenities, including a heated outdoor pool and hot tubs, free Wi-Fi, a complimentary hot breakfast buffet, ski storage, a small general store for snacks and drinks, and The Brass Tag restaurant serving upscale Italian cuisine.
Deer Valley offers a wide range of accommodation options, and that includes ski in lodges, private residences, plus traditional hotels and apartments. The Grand Lodge, Trail’s End Lodge, and Stag Lodge all offer their own unique benefits, and you can find the perfect spot for your ski group or family.
The area around Deer Valley also has a large number of other hotels and accommodations, including the stunning St. Regis Deer Valley, the Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley, Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, Marriott’s MountainSide, and many more.
Where to dine at Deer Valley, and enjoy après-ski
Deer Valley has restaurants and a few bars at Snow Park, Silver Lake, and Empire Canyon, plus one delicious hot chocolate bar on top of Bald Mountain.
The Sticky Wicket is a popular bar and restaurant, just upstairs from another favourite, the mid-mountain Silver Lake Lodge. If you’re craving some local Utah beer, The Sticky Wicket has a number on tap, with the option to order a table keg, plus they have great bites, like the Deer Valley turkey chili, a resort specialty, bison burger, and Sticky fingers brisket fries.
Over at Snow Park Restaurant, at Snow Park Lodge, you can stop by for casual breakfast, lunch, and après-ski with really healthy and refreshing menu options. There’s also a cafe, to warm up with a nice, hot drink, and baked goods like the giant chocolate chip cookies.
Over at The Brass Tag at Deer Valley Lodges, the restaurant has a range of Italian inspired dishes, with calamari fritti to start, as a sharable for the table, pizza, chicken Parmesan, New York strip steak, and one of my favourites, the 3 meat Bolognese. This hearty dish features big pasta shells, coated in rich sauce, with slow braised lamb, wild boar, and veal. It’s an impressive dish, and then be sure to save room for the chocolate chip cookie skillet, served with ice cream.
For a little warmer while you’re skiing, Snowshoe Tommy’s is at the top of Bald Mountain–near the Sterling Express chairlift–and the hot chocolate is legendary. The snack stop also has Deer Valley turkey chili, chocolate chip cookies, beer, and soft drinks, for those moments when you need a little break before you hit the next slope.
Near the main lodge, at Deer Valley Plaza, look for Deer Valley Café where you can get breakfast and lunch, with views of the mountains. For upscale cuisine, make plans at Fireside Dining at Empire Canyon Lodge with a menu inspired by the European Alps. Enjoy warm Swiss raclette, soups, salads, prime rib roast, and more during a four course meal. A horse-drawn sleigh ride is also available to book, for that definitive mountain experience.
Nearby you can also visit Cena Ristorante at The Chateaux at Deer Valley, Glitretind Restaurant, or visit St. Regis for upscale, fine dining at RIME, featuring seafood and steak.
Expanded terrain in 2025/26
The biggest news for Deer Valley is that they are expanding for the 2025/26 ski season, adding 3,700 acres of skiable terrain, doubling the size of the resort for a total of 5,726 acres, with a total of 37 chair lifts, 238 ski runs, and a new gondola.
The expansion is a huge, exciting update for the resort. If you’ve visited Deer Valley before, 2025 and beyond will be a great opportunity to see more of the iconic mountains. If you haven’t been to the area before, it will also be a great opportunity to plan a few days with friends or family to discover some of the magic of the resort.
Travel suggestions, tips, and resources
Deer Valley and Park City had an incredible sense of the community and a wonderful, welcoming attitude. It was very refreshing. Park City has that perfect small town vibe, even with all the skiers across these huge mountain slopes. You won’t believe what it’s like until you visit.
Experience skiers will love all of the runs, and finding their favourite slopes. For the green skiers, or even new skiers entirely, I would definitely encourage you to book a little time, or a half or full day, with the instructors. They are incredible, supportive, and kind.
In terms of travel planning, I recommend booking your trip as early as possible. For flights, hotel, and your lift tickets, I would book those 3-5 months in advance for the best deals, and to make sure you get the dates that you want. If you’re from Ontario, like me, there are select direct flights from Toronto to Salt Lake City, and otherwise you can find a number of connecting flights, including through Atlanta. I really enjoyed flying Delta, but there are a few alternatives.
Aside from the Sundance Film Festival, in late January, most of the month is a great time to visit Park City, with lots of available room nights, and the slopes are not usually quite as busy. The resort gets busier in late February, and the peak of the season is March, when many families travel. Expect it to be busier during the holidays, until a few days after New Years Day.
For tips and ideas on visiting the area, explore the Visit Park City website, and their guide to eating and drinking in the city. Deer Valley’s website also has a guide to winter in the area, details on packages that they offer, and if you’re not bringing your own skis, read more on renting from the resort.
It’s also worth noting that Park City and the mountains are an all-season destination, and there is a lot to do in the summer, too. Hiking, mountain biking, taking in concerts, enjoying scenic lift views, and much more.
Stay tuned soon for my video on the trip, and let me know in the comments if you have any questions.
All photos by W. Andrew Powell/The GATE.
