Utah itself is renowned for its powder snow and Park City Mountain Resort has cashed in on this with the tagline “The Greatest Snow on Earth®”, but all for a good reason. Utah’s Wasatch Mountain range is surrounded by high desert, so there is no excess moisture in the air to cause snowflakes to stick together. This results in light and fluffy snow aka the perfect powder.
For the icing on top, the Park City area receives an abundance of snow due in part to the “lake effect” from the Great Salt Lake. This year neighboring Alta Ski Area has reported to have the number one snowfall in the WORLD this season. We are talking the entire globe.
Now that we have established that Utah is home to some of the best snow. Let’s dive into why Park City Mountain Resort should jump up to your number one ski destination for this ski season (if you have the EPIC Pass. Let’s be honest for a second here, if you happen to have the IKON pass, please go to Alta Ski Area for me).
Park City Mountain Resort is worth the hype. With more than 7,300 skiable acres across 17 peaks, it’s now the largest ski area in the United States. Less than an hour drive from Salt Lake City International Airport or a mere 6.5-hour drive from Las Vegas International Airport takes you to the former silver mining town of Park City and the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics where you can enjoy an average snowfall of 355 inches with about 500 acres of snowmaking a season.
- World-class skiing and snowboarding
- Easy Access
- *No Wait Lift Lines
- Free shuttles
- Great Après-Ski Scene
- Historic Downtown
- Off-Mountain Activities
Park City is not just a ski-town.
Top après spots include the High West Saloon in Park City, the Après Lounge in Deer Valley and the Umbrella Bar in Canyons Village.
1. World-Class Skiing and Snowboarding
Why make a list about Park City in the first place if the skiing wasn’t up to par?
Park City has terrain for every level of skier and snowboarder from magic carpets that help little ones learn to terrain parks and world-class halfpipes for perfecting your backflip. If keeping both your skis on the ground is the way you’d prefer to go, the bulk of the terrain includes moguls, powder, and trees. The variety is limitless, for beginners and advanced riders alike, and if you catch the first chair up and stay until last chair, you wouldn’t have to ski the same run twice.
We have already established that Park City Mountain Resort is home to the Greatest Snow on Earth® and thus, fantastic skiing. The light and fluffy powder will change your entire skiing experience, especially if you are from the East Coast like me and grew up skiing crud and ice. The snow’s lack of moisture (remember Park City is surrounded by high dessert), lets you glide through fresh tracks effortlessly. Plus, the moguls are not giant ice mounds of death out here, they are (dare I say it) actually fun to ski. And if you’re new to the mountain, the resort itself offers daily free guided tours with mountain hosts, and if you’re feeling extra adventurous you can get off the beaten track by going heli or cat skiing.
Did I mention that PC’s backcountry is another world? First you will find varying forests of trees from firs to aspen which give you a new experience when riding the trees. Just be mindful in there, some do get a bit dense at times.
2. Easy Access
Park City is located just a short drive from Salt Lake City International Airport, making it easy to get to and from anywhere in the world. There is a lot to be said about driving in the winter and since you would be traveling in the prime winter months to experience all that the west has to offer, typically you’d want a 4×4 to help get you there. Yet, with so many tracker trailers traveling on I80, the state of Utah must prioritize keeping the highway clear. They are well-maintained enough so that you skip the 4X4, rent a sedan, and access Park City safely and on a budget.
3. *No-Wait Lift Lines
There is an asterisk here because I may just be lucky, but there was barely a queue at the lifts at Park City Mountain Resort. Besides the weekend mornings at the Gondola, there were countless times where I skied right onto the lift. Of course, you need to avoid the major hot spots on the mountain but that was easily done at Park City, especially in comparison to my experiences at other Vail resorts. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised majority of the time when it came to lift lines. Pro Tip: If you can travel to Park City during Sundance, the wait lines at lifts reduce even more since all the locals leave town and the tourists are there for movies and not skiing.
4. Free Shuttles
While you’re in Park City, skip the Ubers and Lyfts, forget the rental cars and traffic jams, and take advantage of PC’s mass-transit system. It is a totally free, full-coverage Park City transportation system and as of 2021, it is served by two cooperating districts— the Park City Transit and the new High Valley Transit system. Together, they service the entire town from Kimball Junction to Historic Main Street, encouraging locals and tourists alike to choose public transportation.
- Main Street Trolley
The Main Street Trolley, which has become a bit of a city icon itself. It cruises Historic Main Street from 7:05AM – 8:05PM seven days a week. You can get picked up and dropped off all along Main Street ensuring you don’t miss an inch of this charming town.
- Buses
Park City Transit operates multiple loops in the downtown area, Prospector Square, and Deer Valley. High Valley Transit also runs bus routes through Kimball Junction and Canyons Village. In addition to those focused, circular routes, both companies run a bus all the way from Deer Valley to Kimball Junction. Remember, all those buses are free!
- High Valley Transit Micro Rides
When you download the High Valley Transit app, you gain access to free “micro” rides. On any day of the week, log into your High Valley Transit app (which requires confirming your phone number and allowing the app access to your location data) and choose your pickup and drop-off locations. Once you confirm the number of passengers you’re booking for, the app will tell you when and where to meet your driver. You can go anywhere in the service area, from Summit Park to Snyderville. Note: this app will not let you setup micro rides for routes already being serviced by another method of public transportation. These micro rides come in handy when other types of public transportation are out of service hours or if your trip is not within their normal routes.
- CV Connect On-Demand Rides
CV Connect services the Canyons side of Park City and is similar to the High Valley transit setup in the sense you will need to download the CV Connect app, which also requires confirming your phone number and allowing the app access to your location data. You may request private micro rides throughout the Canyons Village where the drive always arrives within 15 minutes. This app also allows you to see a live interactive map of the other bus routes and estimate arrivals. Note: this app will not let you setup micro rides for routes already being serviced by another method of public transportation. Regardless, I used this app almost daily!
Park City Transit has an interactive bus tracker and route map. For High Valley Transit, make sure to download their app for the latest info.
5. Great Après-Ski Scene
Park City is home to a diverse selection of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Whether you’re looking for a casual après-ski spot or a fine dining experience, you’re sure to find something that suits your taste.
And my taste happened to take me to High West Saloon. Park City is home to the world’s only ski-in distillery. You can ski directly into town from your day on the slopes, unclip out of your bindings, put your skis on the rack and toe-heel your way to an old-fashion. It’s a beautiful thing. Just be weary of crowds. High-West Distillery does not take reservations, but they will take your name and number to be put on a waiting list.
If High-West doesn’t work out, there are countless places right nearby to have a drink at the end of a ski day such as the Butcher’s Chop House & Bar (right across the street from High-West), No Name Saloon, or The Cabin. The latter two are a little bit of a walk uptown or you can take the Main Street Trolley.
If you are at Park City Mountain Resort center, check out the Pig Pen Saloon. Or if you are in the Canyon Village side check out, The Umbrella Bar or the The Pendry. Each one has its own unique vibe. The Pig Pen Saloon can get packed so its vibe ties closely with its name; The Umbrella Bar is right next to the top of the Cabriolet ski lift which you can take back to your parking spot for the day without worrying about walking in your ski boots too far, plus its right in the heart of Canyon Village. The Pendry has an upscale vibe with a rooftop bar, great for watching the fireworks at night.
6. Historic Downtown
Park city is rich in history and culture. Park City is a mining town turned ski resort, and its rich history is highlighted throughout the town. From the building designs to the local shops, you can find encounter history throughout Park City even as it has developed into the ski resort town it is today. There are tours of the historic Park City Main Street available to you as well, where you can see Victorian-era buildings and learn about the town’s past.
Did you know that Park City, Utah hosted the 1924 and 2002 Winter Olympic Games? The 1924 Winter Olympics were the first Winter Games ever held. At the time, Park City was still a small mining town with a population of around 3,000. The town was chosen to host the ski jumping and cross-country skiing events, both won by Norwegian athletes. The 2002 Winter Olympics were a much larger event, with over 2,400 athletes from 77 countries competing in 78 events. Park City hosted events such as alpine skiing, and bobsleigh, where The United States won a total of 34 medals, including 10 gold medals, making it the most successful country at the games. If you’re interested in learning more, I would recommend checking out the Utah Olympic Park while in town.
7. Off-Mountain Activities
Park City offers plenty of activities outside of skiing and snowboarding, such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. There are family-friendly activities available to you as well such as ski schools, snow tubing, ice skating and sleigh rides. Who wouldn’t love a hot chocolate after a snow tubing with the family? Or even better a dip in a hot spring or hot tub?
Depending on your accommodations, your hotel may have outdoor hot tubs. This is a great way to rest and relax your muscles after a long day on the slopes or just to warm up while enjoying the winter weather. Just note, the hot tubs get crowded right after last chair so be prepared to be soaking with the monkeys. Keep in mind that this area has hot springs that you can take a dip instead.
If you are traveling to Park City during Sundance, it’s a no brainer to stop in and see a film or cruise mainstream for some amazing people watching. You may even see some celebrities.
If I haven’t convinced you yet, the scenery here in Park City will win you over. Park City is nestled in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains, which means that skiers and snowboarders are treated to some of the most breathtaking views. Whether you’re skiing through aspen groves or taking in the view from the top of a mountain, I know you won’t regret making Park City your next ski destination.
