Another skiers-only resort in Utah, Deer Valley is all about the pampering. From ski valets to four and five diamond lodging, the 5-star service here fits hand in hand with their incredible skiing over five separate peaks. To top it all off, the abundance of famous Utah powder that falls at Deer Valley makes it an unmissable ski resort.
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Salt Lake City International Airport
Deer Valley Resort (45 minutes - 1 hour)
With green trails across 4 of its 5 mountains, beginners will have no trouble finding suitable trails here! Never-evers can start off in beginner area near Snow Park Lodge while Success off the Carpenter Express and Ontario off Quincy Express great long runs for practicing twists and turns. For those looking to take it to the next level, Bandana off Ruby Express is a bit steeper, making it a nice progression trail.
Deer Valley spoils intermediates with ideal steepness and grooming on every mountain peak and chairlift! The best variety of groomed blue runs can be found off the Northside Express. The Sterling Express offers access to tons of challenging runs but beware they get a little icy and moguly later in the day. Of all these runs, nothing is like our favorite, the Jordanelle, a double-blue that's long and fast!
While there's more extreme terrain over at Snowbird, advanced and experts will find something to enjoy at Deer Valley! The scary steepness of the Daly Chutes will keep experts on their toes while the runs off Empire Express are plenty of fun serving up tons of vertical and fresh powder thanks to its high altitude! If you're a fan of bowls, Empire Bowl and Lady Morning Bowl are not to be missed.
No snowboarders mean snow stays fresher for longer! While Deer Valley isn't the largest resort, freshies don't actually get tracked out easily but you should still consult the daily grooming map before heading out for the ungroomed runs. If you love a bit of tree skiing, our pick for the best spot to find freshies is in the trees at Empire!
The Northside Express is the busiest lift in the resort; avoid it during 10:30am to 2:00pm. Instead, opt for the less crowded areas around Jordanelle Express Gondola, Sultan Express, Mayflower and Lady Morgan Express. For beginners, the Ontario green run gets packed in the afternoon with slow tired skiers so head over to Bandana run instead!
There is not a lot to offer for non-skiers other than snowmobile and snowshoe tours at the resort but off-mountain, there is tubing at Gorgoza Park! Nearby Park City also has a ton of activities and sights, as does Salt Lake City though it's much further away.
Deer Valley is great for families with plenty of easier trails around Flagstaff Mountain. There are also a range of varying difficulty runs that lead back to the Empire Canyon Lodge, making it a perfect spot for families with different abilities to meet up at the end.
| Deer Valley Resort | Alta | |
|---|---|---|
| beginner | 27 % | 25 % |
| intermediate | 41 % | 40 % |
| advanced | 27 % | 35 % |
| expert | 5 % | - |
| total runs | 101 | 116 |
| ski area | 2,026ac | 2,200ac |
| summit elevation | 9,570ft | 10,550ft |
| total lifts | 21 | 11 |
| child lift ticket | $32 | $54 |
| adult lift ticket | $145 | $104 |
| uncrowded | ||
| snow | ||
| back country | ||
| value for money | ||
| average total snowfall | 153″ | 270″ |
