PARK CITY RESORT GUIDE
Park City Resort Overview
February 2021
**Park City will operate at full capacity, no reservations required. Face coverings will be required in indoor settings. Proof of vaccination will be required for indoor, on-mountain restaurants. Transactions will remain cashless. For the latest on Park City's operating guidelines view their Winter 2021-22 Experience Page.
The largest ski resort in North America, Park City 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 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 8 terrain parks, snowboarders are welcome, unlike at next door neighbor, Deer Valley.
The base of Park City is in the heart of the historic mining town of Park City. The Canyons Village Base has more parking and is only 5 minutes from Kimball Junction. 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. 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.
Resort Ratings
EARLY season
Snow Reliability
Snow-Making & Grooming
Travel Convenience
Terrain Variety
Extreme / Off-Piste Terrain
Ski School
Accommodations
On Mountain Dining
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 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 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