Overview of Deer Valley Resort, Utah

Deer Valley is the ultimate in any skier’s dream- in fact, its skiers only – and it's posh. Deer Valley is everything you have heard about; rated the #1 resort by Ski Magazine readers for years, four and five diamond lodging, award-winning on mountain cuisine, ski valets that carry your skis from your car. Deer Valley is posh, almost like a private ski club – snowboarders are not allowed and lift ticket sales are limited to about 8,000 a day to assure everyone has a seat in their lodges, and outside on sunny Utah days. What’s not limited is the terrain, with five separate peaks spreading over 2,026 acres, 3,000-vertical served by 22 lifts including 11 high-speed quads and a leather-upholstered gondola. Deer Valley host World Cup aerial and mogul events including the 2002 Olympic Winter Games along with celeb ski events regularly – like the Deer Valley Celebrity Skifest each December. You will feel like a ski star too, because of the 5-star ski services. Deer Valley continues to improve upon its top notch service and perfect snow conditions.

Skiers, exclusively, start on the Silver Lake Express at 8:45 am, (tip: this base lift often opens 15 minutes early to get you to the upper mountain in time for official 9 am opening). Deer Valley lays out the white carpet each night (while you rest in high thread count beds), catering to the Bogner wearing real estate buying clientele. Enjoy skiing Hidden Treasure and Legal Tender named for the silver discovered in these mountains in 1868. Deer Valley slopes coined over $400 million in silver, today the gold rush is in real estate, as magnificent mountain mansions hug the hillsides of the buffed slopes.

You will find gorgeous well-pitched groomed cruisers off Bald and Flagstaff Mountains, and powder-filled Aspen groves in Triangle Trees. Empire Canyon is Deer Valley at its peaks, 9,570’, here in Daly’s Bowl this pampered paradise gets double black steep with chutes and tremendous tree stashes which I can’t share as I have been sworn to secrecy (hint: ask a local). The Lady Morgan lift far skiers left, beyond the massive Montage Hotel, offers more open bowl skiing and some pleasant powdery trees.

Now a confession about my love of skiing and Deer Valley: the more you ski the more you can indulge in Deer Valley’s fine food. The best burger I had ever encountered was made with Chipotle at Royal Street Café. Now you can ski into the Montage Burger and Bourbon with slope views for another great lunch in this luxe ski hotel. Or you can ski to the delightful Austrian lodge, The Goldener Hirsch, for the finest cheese fondue lunch.

For a long leisurely finale, ski down to Deer Valley’s Jordanelle Gondola, which we called a “real estate run” as you ski over and under expansive snow bridges built solely to access enormous elegant ski chalets in Deer Run, including the Ski Magazine Dream Home. Second homes are booming in Utah, and luxurious hotels by St Regis and Montage both grace these slopes as well. Deer Valley is the trail map out of “lifestyles of the rich and famous” but you can have your moment of fame as you ski this posh upscale downhill resort.

For après ski toddies and treats, Stein Eriksen’s Lodge is the 5-star place to be seen, the legendary Olympic Gold medalist Stein passed away in 2015 after proudly serving as Deer Valley’s director of skiing since the resort opened in 1981. Another Deer Valley après ski option is to ski to the St Regis Terrace Cafe, sip and watch the Fire Garden sparks and the Champagne sabre event.

For condominium lodging at Deer Valley, the Silver Baron is perfectly appointed; they call it rustic mountain living but I call it refined with leather furnishings, stone fireplace, fluffy robes and our own private hot tub on our deck ( I told you Deer Valley does it right!). A shuttle will take you to the slopes, or to the fabulously funky Main Street of Park City. You could also rest easy at the St Regis Deer Valley or The Montage – these two beautiful ski-in ski-out are modern posh and perfectly situated on the ski slopes as well for 5-star ski lodging.

Deer Valley is definitely our favorite, the best snow with the least crowds, no snowboarders, and really spectacular lodges. But it's fun to compare and contrast by skiing next door’s Park City including The Canyons too during your Utah ski trip. Deer Valley abuts Park City – but ducking the rope is a no-no. Hopefully soon, Deer Valley, Park City, Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, and Brighton will all be part of the Utah Interconnect where you can ski from one resort to the next with a guide, the Utah Governor is considering this bill. Deer Valley now owns Solitude. Skiers that want to ski waist-deep Utah powder, trademarked “the greatest snow on earth,” should make their way to Park City - one fun town, two world-class resorts, all within a half hour of airplane touchdown. You can also combine your Park City ski trip with a visit to nearby Solitude, Brighton, Snowbird, and Alta.