Park City, UT, USA

It took the 2002 Winter Olympics and the Sundance Film Festival to put this former silver-mining town of 7,400 people, with its brightly painted 19th-century storefronts dusted with light snow, on the map. Hit the slopes at Park City Mountain Resort, the Canyons Resort and Deer Valley Resort. Try out biathlon, a mixture of Nordic skiing and gunplay, at Soldier Hollow, the 2002 Olympics cross-country skiing and biathlon venue. At the Homestead Resort, find yourself encapsulated by a rock with natural light sifting in only through a small opening above in the Crater, a 55-foot-tall limestone rock that nature has hollowed out and filled with lapis-blue, 95-degree mineral water. Try out the Olympic bobsled track behind an experienced driver at the Utah Olympic Park, hitting a speed of 80 miles an hour and dropping 40 stories in just under a minute. Oh, and don’t do this before lunch.

  • Hiking, Mountain, Rustic, Snow, Snowskiing
  • 91%

 
 
link40.6602617099-111.50942802438Park City, UT, USA
 
 
 

   

 Directions 

Distance from closest metropolitan area: 36 miles (from Salt Lake City, UT)  
 
Estimated travel time: 35-45 minutes (from Salt Lake City, UT)  
 
Most visitors arrive by air to Salt Lake City International Airport, which is a hub for Delta Air Lines and is served by 11 other airlines, aside from Delta. From the airport, take I-80 to Utah Hwy. 224 and follow the signs to Park City. The drive from the Salt Lake City International Airport to Park City takes 45 minutes.  

 

   

 Weather 

  • Current conditions

    Cond070

    Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s.
    Low: 30° F.

  • Tomorrow's forecast

    Cond007
    Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.
    Hi: 61° F, Low: 30° F.


  • Weatherbug's weather page.
 

   

 Reviews(Average Rating: 91% for 15 reviews) 

  • faineg
    fainegReviews: 4
    Posts: 0

    Park City: Not Just For Pretentious Film Buffs

    11/02/2008

    78%

    Park City, UT, USA

    As aa kid growing up in Salt Lake, the drive up the hill was always a bit magical, especially in the winter. Hordes of folks from the valley ascended to snowboard, shop, and eat delicious food far away from climate inversions and traffic. Winter meant carving down powdery slopes at Park City Resort or The Canyons, followed by a tasty dinner from Robert Redford's Zoom and a poke around the seemingly innumerable shops and boutiques lining the streets. Park City is definitely a bit full of itself: rich folks buy up enormous ski chalets, and luxury tourists congratulate themselves for not going to Vail while drinking vintage wine downtown. Park City has reason to be proud: witness the prestigious Sundance Festival, which draws the glam and talented from all over to view art-house flicks, and wander the icy streets or the startling number of cultural events, galleries, and high-quality restaurants that have popped up in what was a rough n' ready mountain town. Park City may be small, but it isn't lacking in culture or entertainment. Visitors to Park City don't need to limit themselves to the resorts or the main drag either: drive out of town to hike in the gorgeous and pristine high Uintas (where I had my first face-to-face encounter with a moose) or head over to Soldier Hollow for some truly excellent cross-country skiing. Despite its occasional pretensions, I love Park City: it's a place that indulges all the senses.

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  • Cliffs near Donegal, Ireland
    ndmeadorReviews: 5
    Posts: 5

    Great for terrain parks, but not big mountain skiing

    09/19/2008

    75%

    Park City, UT, USA

    Many Utah resorts benefit from close proximity to the Salt Lake City airport (once our flight got canceled, so we drove back to Park City for another day on the slopes). In terms of skiing, Park City is the middle ground between two of Utah’s opposites: the fancy shmancy atmosphere and all-around grooming of Deer Valley, and the rugged, steep, powdery paradise down at Little Cottonwood Canyon’s Alta and Snowbird. The chair lift from the middle of the Park City is a unique ride, and the mountain certainly boasts some world-class terrain parks. But most of the trees are deciduous (i.e. – lose their leaves in winter), so there are very few tall pines or other greenery for eye candy. The town has shops and nightlife, which are two things you won’t find at many Utah resorts. Still, Park City’s greatest feature might be the one-hour bus ride to Alta/Snowbird.

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  • It's Me!
    Jessica_Nunemaker
    • Top member
    Reviews: 16
    Posts: 21

    OH my Aching Muscles...

    08/11/2008

    100%

    Park City, UT, USA

    Park City, Utah is known for being a smokin’ hot ski and snowboarding paradise, but it rocks equally hard in summer as well. Zip lines, hiking, fishing, and mountain biking await the intrepid vacationer. Located in the Wasatch Mountains, Park City holds some pretty fun bike trails that zig and zag their way around the scenic mountainside, or go through Park City itself! What was once an abandoned train track is now a great trail for families! The Rail Trail is an expansive cinder and dirt double track with such gradual elevation changes easy enough for the whole gang. From pine dotted rocky areas to tidy farms to the sage hills on the way in to Park City, riders will pass alongside the Weber River, Echo Reservoir, and open farmland. Take Rail Trail to Round Valley 2 for a simple beginner ride. For another awesome option, check out Deer Park, a popular ski resort turned summer mountain biking playground that also has bike rentals. Ask Park City locals for favorite haunts or consider taking a guided bike ride that can prevent beginners from getting lost or stuck. No matter how you do it, just get out there and ride!

    People found this:  Useful (7)  Disagree (0) 

  • This is me.
    mistyfau
    • Elite member
    Reviews: 16
    Posts: 100

    Took the Short Cut - Over the Mountain

    08/06/2008

    95%

    Park City, UT, USA

    My first experience with snowmobiling was in Park City, UT. I'd love to tell you that I had a blast and was one of the best experiences in my life, but...I can't. It wound up being one of those experiences that you think about and cringe. My sister was the impetus behind the idea. She had been before and loved it. But, the thing that needs to be said here is that she learned how to snowmobile on a FLAT area. I, on the other hand, learned how to snowmobile on an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie (to quote Gilda Radner) hiking trail. And, when I mean small, I mean that I think my bike tires are bigger than this surface area was. Still, I took the challenge and went for it. Well, not really went for it, but closed my eyes and hoped that I was still on the trail. At one point, however, this wound up not being the case. I had taken a short cut. A short cut that led me over the side of a mountain cliff, down through the trees and into a snow bank. I must one of these days thank my sister for a delightful trip.

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  • Marc Peters
    Marc PetersReviews: 1
    Posts: 0

    Park Station Condominiums at Park City Utah

    07/25/2008

    94%

    Park City, UT, USA

    If you want to have an amazing location in an amazing ski town, you usually have to pay amazingly high prices. Not so at Park Station. For far cheaper than similar locals, you get a condo that is one block from the downtown main street and one block from the ski lift. I cannot tell you how wonderful a vacation it makes to have such fast an easy access to both great skiing and great nightlife. As for the condo itself, they are spacious and fully featured. One downside is that its in need of remodeling and a bit of a facelift. But its not that bad. And we met some great people at the hot tub every night. So is there a catch ? You bet there is. Its in such high demand that it is usually fully booked for the season by late September. So make your reservations early !

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  • This is me.
    mistyfau
    • Elite member
    Reviews: 16
    Posts: 100

    Park City: Lost in the Mountains

    07/23/2008

    95%

    Park City, UT, USA

    Park City feels like a ghost town that suddenly took on a life of its own during the last century. Cramped between the Wasatch Range mountains, it glistens with shiny stores whose kitchy wares overflow onto the narrow streets. Bars that look like the Old West is still happening fill in the spaces between the vendors. Every January, movie fans from around the world trek here to catch the newest award-winning indie films at the Sundance Film Festival. It's hard to breath or even get a place to sleep during this event. But, then again, with all the parties and festivities going on, few people actually do sleep during the event anyway. In Park City, you can partake of the ski slopes yourself, or just watch the varying events that happen on the slopes. Despite the tourist draw of the city, Park City still exudes that home town feel. Maybe tucked between the mountains, hidden in a valley, it's hard to get away from the shadows of the past. Or, maybe, Park City has overcome the simple ski resort/film festival tourist town karma and has become something all the more enjoyable and refreshing.

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  • CarFelt
    CarFelt
    • Top member
    Reviews: 9
    Posts: 20

    More than Skiing

    07/09/2008

    73%

    Park City, UT, USA

    One of the best parts of a Park City ski vacation, in my opinion, is that there's so much to do. Hard-core skiers can ski black diamond and blue runs until they’ve had their fill, while newbies and less dedicated followers can take a few green runs and then hit up another activity. I opted to ride the Alpine Coaster at Park City Mountain Resort, a toboggan-like roller coaster through more than a mile of bends, curves and loops on a track in the snow. It allowed me to rest my tired legs and take in the pristine views of the surrounding mountains. I even had time for a stroll down quaint Main Street and a cup of hot apple cider before dinner- and this is after attempting to ski all morning. The following day, I took a crash course on snowboarding. I found it to be less intimidating than skiing, yet I fell more and never even made it to a chairlift! Nevertheless, my brief introduction to the sport further demonstrated the multitude of winter activities available in the area.

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  • toresteen
    toresteenReviews: 2
    Posts: 0

    Park City as a ski destination

    07/04/2008

    100%

    Park City, UT, USA

    Here is what one of my YPO friends had to say about Park City: The premium ski area in Utah is 30-45 minutes outside of Salt Lake City in three resorts: Deer Valley, Park City and The Canyons, in that quality order. Deer Valley is routinely rated one of the top three resorts in the US in Ski Magazines' annual survey, its lodges are comparable to, say, Sun Valley. Deer Valley does not allow snowboarders, but if you have any in your group, Park City does and is only a short car or bus ride away. We stay in Deer Valley and our teenagers routinely go to Park City on their own. In Deer Valley, the premium lodging is on the uper mountain, Silver Lake Village. Stein Eriksen Lodge is the best hotel (ski in and out) although The Chateaux and Golder Hirshner are good, too. There are also numerous condos and very large private homes for rent throughout Deer Valley (search the web). If nightlife or shopping matters, you might prefer to stay in the town of Park City, the annual site of the Sundance Film Festival. There are numerous hotels, restaurants, and shops in town, and the ski resort is a short shuttle away, and has a lft that actually loads from the center of town. Deer Valley/Park City is a favorite of YPOers in the Western US. If you decide on this location and want more detailed opinions, you will get many of them from this forum. In any case, I would not take too long to book. The first two days of your dates overlaps with the last days of the 2009 Presidents' Day Break week, one of the busiest weekends of the ski year, when many families book their vacations.

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  • Mona
    MonaReviews: 2
    Posts: 0

    Summers are as much fun as winters!

    07/03/2008

    100%

    Park City, UT, USA

    I live in Park City, and moved here never having skied or hiked in my life.  I'm now committed to both, and love that Park City trails are delightful regardless of the season.  If you're an avid skier, you'll love knowing that ski resorts within 1 hour are open well into April, and often even later.  Restaurants are fabulous, and the charming Main Street ambiance means there's always something fun to do, regardless of the season.  This is a wonderful place to visit, and an even better place to live.

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  • Possessed or obsessed????
    Danteling
    • Top member
    Reviews: 15
    Posts: 5

    Costume party on the slopes

    06/29/2008

    90%

    Park City, UT, USA

    When our friends Tore and Mona invited us to Park City, I could see why they love this place so much! The skiing is awesome, the town is cute, and there is just so much to do...no matter the time of year! We caught the last day of the ski season in Deer Valley! It was the most beautiful, magnificent day for skiing! The perfect blue sky outlined the solid white mountain. It was like heaven! We caught a glimpse of the beach in the morning as we started our day (see pic). It was empty at the time. But little did we know what was to go on there after our day of skiing was done! After our most perfect day of skiing where we saw this crazy man skating on skis (see pic) and caught awesome views from the top, we skiied back down to Deer Valley Lodge only to discover a costume party! We saw little people in wigs...wiggin' out (see pic), a Howard Stern look alike, a guy half-business, half-beach......and how can we forget hula girl? - with the sea shell brassiere. Yep. These people go nuts on the last day of skiing! Costumes kick off a wild party, which goes all night. So, if you go to Deer Valley on the last day of ski season, don't forget to wear your costume on the slopes! Its way more fun that way! If you get lucky, you might even run into Deep Throat who now lives in PC.

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  • Halloween Adventure in North Carolina
    DCarlow
    • Top member
    Reviews: 11
    Posts: 15

    Park City is Cool, but The Canyons is CRAZY Powder

    06/26/2008

    89%

    Park City, UT, USA

    As an east coast girl, believe it or not, I never had a chance to ski down a New England mountain. All my trips were to the powdered slopes of Colorado. So, when my friends bought a place at The Canyons, in Utah, I thought, "Well, nothing is as good as Beaver Creek." I WAS WRONG and I am glad I spent a week at my friends’ new plush ski-in, ski-out condo! Getting to The Canyons from Utah's airport is easy. Only a 45 minute drive from airport to mountain (which is way better than flying into Denver and braving the Vail Pass). Once at The Canyons resort, a skier or snowboarded can enjoy the largest ski resort in all of Utah. I have never experienced such light a fluffy powder in my life – one day it was up to our knees. My sister lost her ski in it and we searched to no avail! At least the rental shop was friendly and the manager said, “This happens all the time, we won’t charge you!” I guess losing skis in powder is a GREAT problem for a ski resort to have! I highly recommend taking a ski trip to Utah! When you are there, don’t miss Park City and Deer Valley – both are just as fabulous as The Canyons!

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  • Cruisin'
    dmonson
    • Top member
    Reviews: 11
    Posts: 5

    Film Festival & Snow

    06/13/2008

    85%

    Park City, UT, USA

    The film festival is fun to attend, if you have some connections to get into some of the year's good films. The year I went I ran into Blink 182 walking around, as well as Robert Redford. The snow is great, Utah is famous for it's powder. The city continues to grow in popularity year after year, like a good secret let loose.

    People found this:  Useful (0)  Disagree (0) 

  • toresteen
    toresteenReviews: 2
    Posts: 0

    Norway without socialism

    06/09/2008

    100%

    Park City, UT, USA

    the local saying is "we all moved to Park City to go skiing, but we are staying here because of the summers"

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  • davidrrennie
    davidrrennieReviews: 1
    Posts: 0

    We picked Park City as our chosen place to retire because......

    04/27/2008

    98%

    Park City, UT, USA

    Ann and I made the decision that we wanted to have our home somewhere in the mountains with good downhill skiing close at hand, and Park City has plenty with Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley and The Canyons all within 5 to 10 minutes (and a great free local bus service connecting them together). But it's also got Snowbird/Alta and Brighton/Solitude less than an hour away, and Sundance, Snowbasin and Powderbasin 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours away, plus all the opportunities for back country and touring skiing in the neighborhood. Of course we can't miss mentioning the great snow we get here. However we were looking for more than just skiing. There are other places in the US with a lot of skiing opportunities and great snow, (e.g. Summit County Colorado) but they don't have: - 1) a real town/city that real people live in (and in large numbers and all walks of life) year round ... Park City is a real place with it's own community and cultural activities - 2) a major city nearby with all the attendant amenities ... Salt Lake City is 30 minutes drive from Park City - 3) a major airport nearby ... Salt Lake City is a major hub for Delta and is serviced by multiple carriers, yet is only 45 minutes from downtown Park City AND is accessible 24 x 7 (the only time I've heard of I-80 being closed has been for very brief period and that was due to an accident ... weather closures are unheard of as far as I know) Finally we also discovered that property here was better priced than many of the alternatives, Utah has a growing population and economy (good for long term property pricing) and it's also really beautiful here in the summer!

    People found this:  Useful (2)  Disagree (0) 

  • tanya
    tanyaReviews: 2
    Posts: 2

    Great place for family reunion

    03/22/2008

    95%

    Park City, UT, USA

    My family had a reunion in Park City last June. It was perfect! Everyone had something to do during the day. Some went dirt biking down the slopes, some went to the adventure park, others went shopping, and others hung out by the pool. We all met up during the evening for dinner to hang out and compare notes.

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