Deer Valley

Deer Valley Ski Area

Deer Valley's four mountains

All levels of skiers are catered to, but boarding is not allowed. Deer Valley's 1,750-acre (708-ha) ski area, offering 91 trails, is spread over four mountains: Bald Mountain (9,400 feet/2,865 m), Flagstaff Mountain (9,100 feet/2,774 m), Empire Canyon (9,570 feet/2,916 m) and Bald Eagle Mountain (8,400 feet/2,560 m). Approximately half the trails at Deer Valley are blues and double blues, suitable for intermediate skiers, 15 percent green for beginners, 25 percent for advanced and 10 percent for experts.

Beginners to advanced in Deer Valley

Beginners are able to ski each of the four mountains, while intermediate skiers can cruise to their heart's delight on Deer Valley's many famed, groomed trails. Advanced and expert skiers will find themselves skiing uncrowded black and double black diamond trails, and eight chutes, three bowls and extensive gladed areas covering 800 acres (324 ha).

Cross-country skiing in Deer Valley

Widely acknowledged as one of the ultimate full-body workouts, cross-country skiing in the Park City area is a unique opportunity. Nature lovers will enjoy a gliding cross-country stroll through the beautiful backwoods of the Wasatch Mountains.

Snowmaking in Deer Valley

In 2001, a new snowmaking pond holding 15 million gallons of water was created on Bald Mountain, and for the 2002/03 season another snowmaking pond was created in the Snow Park Lodge base area. This water storage facility will hold a further ten million gallons of water and will ensure snowmaking over 500 acres (200 ha).

Deer Valley Ski Lifts & Passes

Deer Valley is one of the first ski resorts to implement a lift system that was engineered specifically by a mountain engineering firm, in 1981. This lift system was designed to allow for all-mountain accessibility, which translates into a consistent fall line and minimum traversing. Constant assessment makes the system work even better: for example, a lift tower or terminal may be moved to improve the flow of the lifts and to keep lift lines to a minimum. The lifts run from 9:00 am to 4:15 pm. There are 20 chairlifts (eleven high-speed quads, seven triples and two doubles) and one gondola, carrying around 43,500 skiers per hour onto the mountain. To ensure a quality skiing experience, and avoid overcrowded trails, the number of skiers is limited, avoiding long lift lines as well as long lunch lines. Get there early to reserve a lift pass!

Deer Valley Beginner Skiing

Wide West trail on Bald Eagle Mountain

One of the best areas for beginners is the separate, protected Wide West trail on Bald Eagle Mountain, reached by the Burns and Snowflake chairlifts. A very short trail on the lower half of Bald Eagle and void of any trees or other obstacles, it makes for a stress-free route. It's a very easy grade and ends at the back of Snow Park Lodge, so skiers can take off their skis and rest and relax. The ski area in the real estate development of Deer Crest is also accessible via the Little Stick or Navigator ski trails, or by catching the Jordanelle Express Gondola at the Mayflower/Deer Crest entrance on Highway 40.

Success trail on Bald Eagle Mountain

Also for beginners on Bald Eagle Mountain is Success trail. This is a longer trail than Wide West, from the top of Bald Eagle Mountain all the way to the bottom, and is accessible from the Carpenter Express quad. It's an easy, wide slope for beginners who feel comfortable doing a full-length trail. On Bald Mountain, Sunset and Sunset West, trails wind around the mountain and join with Ontario to give the longest trail (2 miles/3.2 km). This is the highest beginner trail in terms of elevation-9,400 feet (2,865 m)-giving beginners the best views from any green trail on the mountain.

Empire Canyon and more

Once skiers make their way to Empire Canyon, via Bandana trail, they can ski the Nugget by riding the Little Chief chairlift. Empire Canyon is Deer Valley's furthest mountain so beginners can feel a little more adventurous but still ski on a green trail. In fact each of Deer Valley's four mountains has at least one green trail. The trails connect between the mountains, so a beginner skier can always be on trails they can ski confidently.

Deer Valley Intermediate

Blue trails in Deer Valley

A classic ski itinerary for intermediate skiers is to begin on Bald Eagle Mountain to experience the blue trails such as Solid Muldoon, Big Stick and White Owl, a double blue which was the aerial venue for the 2002 Olympics. Then work your way to Bald Mountain for spectacular views. Single blues Keno and Legal Tender are popular, as is Stein's Way. Then try advancing to double blues such as Wizard and Perseverance. The longest trail is Jordanelle, which runs 2 miles (3 km) from Little Baldy Peak to the bottom of the gondola.

Further challenges for intermediate skiers

On Flagstaff Mountain, Sidewinder and Blue Bell are single blue favorites due to their wide and moderately winding layout. Ski over to Empire Canyon to ski Supreme, a single blue, and then experience the Empire Canyon bowl area by skiing Orion, Solace and Conviction, all double blues. The most challenging is Three Ply on Flagstaff Mountain, steep and seldom groomed.

Wide West trail on Bald Eagle Mountain

One of the best areas for beginners is the separate, protected Wide West trail on Bald Eagle Mountain, reached by the Burns and Snowflake chairlifts. A very short trail on the lower half of Bald Eagle and void of any trees or other obstacles, it makes for a stress-free route. It's a very easy grade and ends at the back of Snow Park Lodge, so skiers can take off their skis and rest and relax. The ski area in the real estate development of Deer Crest is also accessible via the Little Stick or Navigator ski trails, or by catching the Jordanelle Express Gondola at the Mayflower/Deer Crest entrance on Highway 40.

Success trail on Bald Eagle Mountain

Also for beginners on Bald Eagle Mountain is Success trail. This is a longer trail than Wide West, from the top of Bald Eagle Mountain all the way to the bottom, and is accessible from the Carpenter Express quad. It's an easy, wide slope for beginners who feel comfortable doing a full-length trail. On Bald Mountain, Sunset and Sunset West, trails wind around the mountain and join with Ontario to give the longest trail (2 miles/3.2 km). This is the highest beginner trail in terms of elevation-9,400 feet (2,865 m)-giving beginners the best views from any green trail on the mountain.

Empire Canyon and more

Once skiers make their way to Empire Canyon, via Bandana trail, they can ski the Nugget by riding the Little Chief chairlift. Empire Canyon is Deer Valley's furthest mountain so beginners can feel a little more adventurous but still ski on a green trail. In fact each of Deer Valley's four mountains has at least one green trail. The trails connect between the mountains, so a beginner skier can always be on trails they can ski confidently.

Deer Valley Expert Terrain

Deer Valley's black trails

About 25 percent of the trails are black diamond, suitable for advanced skiers, and 10 percent are double diamond blacks for experts. A classic ski itinerary for advanced skiers would be to start on Bald Mountain to ski the single blacks in the Mayflower Bowl area: Rattler, Reward, Perseverance Bowl, Grizzly, Morning Star, Fortune Teller, Paradise, Narrow Gauge and a few others. Next, head over to Empire Canyon to ski Domingo, Buckeye and Lady Morgan Bowl. Finish the day by skiing the single blacks on Bald Eagle Mountain. To ski in the tracks of the Olympic athletes of 2002, try Know You Don't, which was the slalom venue, and Champion, the mogul venue.

Sultan and Mayflower on Bald Mountain

Strong skiers in search of steeper, ungroomed trails and Utah's famous light powder will be rewarded with numerous trails in the Sultan and Mayflower areas of Bald Mountain. There are also spectacular views to be had up here. The chutes in Mayflower Bowl offer the challenges of steep, rocklined and narrow trails. Lady Morgan Bowl is a wide trail with bumps that eventually works its way into a glade-skiing section. Champion is a straight trail with bumps. Looked at from below it may not look much, but once you're standing at the top it's a different story!

Skiing off the beaten track

Deer Valley has six bowls and many chutes, in addition to 800 acres (324 ha) of glade skiing. The Daly chutes offer eight very steep chutes (one of which is the steepest chute in Utah) and challenge even the most seasoned expert skiers. Triangle Trees is one of Deer Valley's larger gladed areas, offering open shots and a variety of exposures. Glades and chutes are challenging because they may also have numerous unmarked obstacles and are not patrolled regularly. You can get a special experts-only trail map. There are plenty of opportunities for skiing off the beaten track but you should check conditions with the Ski Patrol or a mountain host prior to entering any off-piste area.

Deer Valley Snowboarding

Deer Valley Resort does not allow snowboarding. Snowboarders are catered to at Park City Mountain Resort or The Canyons ski resort, both nearby and easily accessible by shuttle bus.

Deer Valley Mountain Restaurants

Restaurants on the mountain

There are three main areas for eating out on the mountain: Snow Park Lodge at the base, Silver Lake Lodge mid-mountain and Empire Canyon Lodge at the bottom of Empire Canyon. The restaurants offer a good variety of dining options ranging from international, traditional and seafood to self-service and fast food. There are 10 mountain restaurants; three open in the evening and seven during the day.

Eating at Snow Park Lodge

In Snow Park Lodge there's the Snow Park Lodge Restaurant, open for breakfast and lunch daily from 8:00 am-2:00 pm. For evening dining, the Seafood Buffet offers a vast array of seafood appetizers and entrées, grilled fowl, pasta, prime rib and some fabulous desserts. Fine wine and spirits are also available.

Silver Lake Lodge eatieries

At Silver Lake Lodge there are several restaurants. The Silver Lake Restaurant has Continental-style breakfast and lunch daily. The Royal Street Café, new in 2003, replaces the former McHenry's Restaurant and features award-winning cuisine in contemporary but rustic setting, with sit-down waiter-service lunch, dinner and après ski daily. And the elegant Mariposa, the best restaurant on the mountains, offers a mix of classic and contemporary cuisine, as well as vegetarian and tasting menus and fine wines. Bald Mountain Pizza is open at lunchtimes only.

Lunch and snacks at Empire Canyon Lodge

Empire Canyon Lodge gives breathtaking views of Daly Bowl and chutes, along with scenic deck dining. The Empire Canyon Grill is open for drinks only 9:15 am-11:00 am and lunch 11:00 am-2:30 pm. Afternoon snacks are then available until 3:30 pm.

...and the rest

Also on the mountain, but not affiliated to any of the main lodges, are Snowshoe Tommy's on Bald Mountain (open 9:30 am-3:30 pm daily, conditions permitting) for chili, desserts, espressos and cold drinks; and Cushing's Cabin on Flagstaff Mountain (9:30 am-3:30 pm daily, conditions permitting) for snacks and hot and cold drinks.

Deer Valley Village

Deer Valley Resort

When developing Deer Valley Resort, its founder, Edgar Stern, fully utilized his hotel experience to create the most luxurious and service-oriented ski resort in North America. There is no village as such, with most of the nightlife and shopping to be found on nearby Park City's historic Main Street.

Snow Park, Silver Lake and Empire Canyon

The three day lodges: Snow Park Lodge (at the base), Silver Lake Lodge (mid-mountain) and the new Empire Canyon Lodge (at the bottom of Empire Canyon), are all styled after the grand old National Park lodges built in the late 19th century, and exude rustic elegance with their wooden beams, wide-planked wooden floors and lots of windows to showcase the local beauty.

Park City

Park City, Utah-just one mile (1.6 km) away from the Deer Valley base area-is a mix of old and new, the older buildings reminiscent of the mining days in the mid-1800s. Sixty-four of Park City's buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Main Street is the hub of Park City, a bustling skiers' haven alive with more than 100 restaurants, 20 bars, clubs, interesting shops and galleries.

Deer Valley Restaurants & Bars

Three of the mountain restaurants are open in the evening. In Snow Park Lodge the Seafood Buffet offers a vast array of seafood appetizers and entrées, grilled fowl, pasta, prime rib and some fabulous desserts. Fine wine and spirits are also available. At Silver Lake Lodge, the Royal Street Café features award-winning cuisine in contemporary but rustic setting, with sit-down waiter-service lunch, dinner and après ski daily. Elegant Mariposa, the best restaurant on the mountains, offers a mix of classic and contemporary cuisine, as well as vegetarian and tasting menus and fine wines.

Deer Valley Apres-Ski

Deer Valley's apres-ski scene centres on Snow Park Lounge and Main Street in Park City.

Entertainment at Snow Park Lodge

On the mountain, the Snow Park Lounge in Snow Park Lodge is a happening place for music, entertainment, videos and televised sporting events; hors d'oeuvres and cocktails are served seven days a week. It's popular with skiers of all ages due to its spaciousness and back deck that allows skiers to view Bald Eagle Mountain while sipping cocktails and listening to live entertainment. Real open fires warm up cold limbs.

Out and about in Park City

There are several choices on Main Street in Park City for apres ski. The Wasatch Brew Pub, Utah's oldest existing brewery, has pool tables, games and big-screen televisions. The Broken Thumb also has a pool table, games and a big-screen television that can be viewed from a comfortable couch and chairs. The No Name Saloon is a favorite of locals and visitors. Very often the numerous bars and restaurants in Park City offer a happy hour in addition to live music.

Deer Valley is quiet at night but over at Park City there are about 20 bars and nightclubs in the Main Street area. For jazz lovers, Mother Urban's on lower Main Street has a cozy atmosphere with leather couches and candlelit tables. If you dislike smoke, Renee's on Heber Avenue is the place to go. Known for their wide selection of martinis, Renee's usually offers a pianist for entertainment, or a solo musical performer of some sort. For those who love to dance, Club Creation, Cisero's and Harry O's offer an eclectic array of bands, DJs and solo performers. These nightclubs draw the attention of locals, visitors and many Salt Lake City residents who make the trip to Park City on weekends. Bars will close anywhere from 11:30 pm to 1:30 am, and the minimum age for consuming alcohol is 21.

Deer Valley Other Activities

Other sports activities in the area include snowmobile tours, sleigh rides, ski jumping, luge and bobsled rides at the Utah Olympic Park, hot-air balloon rides, snowshoeing, tubing, heliskiing, catskiing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, bowling and arcade.