The snow. The variety. The sunshine. The easy access from Salt Lake City to fourteen fabulous resorts that take skiing seriously.
No wonder we love skiing in Utah. And each year, Utah’s resorts improve with new facilities, new programs and, this year, even new ownership. Read on to discover some of what’s new for the upcoming 2017-2018 ski season.
Deer Valley Resort is in new hands. The previously independent, exclusive, snowboard-banning resort will join Intrawest, Mammoth Resorts, and Squaw Valley under common ownership. For the moment, management has promised no operational changes and no plans to lift the Deer Valley snowboard ban.
For an off-mountain adventure, Deer Valley’s Montage has expanded its Montage Expeditions program with excursions to Yellowstone National Park. Guests can ski the well-groomed slopes of Deer Valley and visit one of Utah’s national parks all in one stay with a day trip adventure to southern Utah led by a Montage guide, complete with private flight aboard a Pilatus-12 and a gourmet Chef-prepared lunch.
The Stein Eriksen Lodge, also at Deer Valley, introduces a new program for families with a scavenger hunt that takes them to some of Park City’s best attractions. Kids can earn special stamps and buttons for each activity completed and/or visited throughout town. If they collect all 10, they receive a Stein’s Gold Medal and a complimentary one-night stay for a future visit.
Renovations at Snowbird include the addition of 13,500 square feet of space at The Creekside Lodge, which will house the Mountain School plus upgrades to the “Cliff’s” rooftop Spa, where new radiant heated decks, gas fire pits, and expanded communal areas provide a spot to relax after a day on Snowbird’s renowned slopes.
Snowbasin has replaced its old Wildcat triple chairlift with a new high-speed detachable six-pack lift that will deliver skiers 1,290 feet up the hill in five minutes and has increased its snowmaking to improve beginner and intermediate terrain in that area. Looking to improve your comfort on the steeps? Snowbasin has also introduced a three-day adults steeps camp.
Park City Mountain is also improving service for those just learning to ski or ride with a new, enclosed-surface lift and a newly-designated beginner trail at the base area.
One of Macaroni Kid’s favorites, The Grand Summit Hotel, in Canyons Village is open for the season after an extensive $15 million renovation and is now flagged as a RockResorts property. The renovation included a complete overhaul of all 212 suites.
Kids will love discovering Park City’s rich mining, skiing, and local history on the Silver to Slopes Historic Mining Tour on Park City Mountain. This free on-mountain guided tour is offered twice daily. Intermediate and above skiers will explore the mountain and uncover the historic mining buildings and hidden relics scattered across the resort.
The Waldorf Astoria Park City invites its family guests to live out their dreams of being an Olympian with a visit to sites from the 2002 Olympic Games with a professional athlete, and the chance to ski together at Park City Mountain and bobsled at the Utah Olympic Park. The day ends with a gourmet dining experience with their athlete at Waldorf Astoria Park City’s acclaimed restaurant, Powder.
New this year, Solitude Mountain Resort introduces a program called Women on Wednesdays (WOW), for women who seek camaraderie, challenge, and a great learning partnership. The program is for all skill levels and is taught by Solitude’s female instructors. Solitude also improved the Roundhouse Restaurant, Last Chance Lodge, and Moonbeam Lodge, and added a new Rossignol rental fleet at the Nordic Center.
Last but certainly not least, Alta Ski Area will celebrate its 80th anniversary this winter, making it the oldest lift-serving resort in Utah. If you are an intermediate skier ready to take your skiing to the next level, you can celebrate at their new Alta Breakthrough Camp.
