Alpine Skiing at Deer Valley Utah
Five Mountain Peaks And Wide Open Terrain Lure Skiers West
With a base lodge at 7,200 feet, three of the peaks are over 9,400 feet high, the tallest 9,750 feet, providing more than 2,000 feet of vertical drop.
Deer Valley Resort is a great opener for skiers experiencing western skiing for the first time. It covers an immense amount of space and a variety of trails that will suit skiers of all levels.
Even skiers with limited experience should hop on the Carpenter Express lift, ski down the short Silver Link trail to the Sterling Express lift and take it to the 9,400 foot top of Bald Mountain.
At the top, be sure to check out the view over the valley to Heber City, then follow the signs for the Homeward Bound Trail. It is marked green and is a broad sweeping trail, fun to cruise and with challenging spots along the way. It will take you back to Sterling.
Between the Sterling and Wasatch lifts lie several intermediate and advanced intermediate (blue and double blue) trails and beyond then some classy black and super black options.
But ski down beyond Sterling to the Quincy Express and take it to the top of Flagstaff Mountain (9,100 feet). The green-marked Trump (and Ontario) Blue Bell (to Silver Buck) and Bandana offer options from the top, but there are some nice intermediate trails as well. Anyone from beginner to advanced intermediate can have fun on this mountain.
For different views and terrain, take the Empire Express to the top of Empire Mountain (9,570 feet). From the top here there are also great views, especially toward the steep cornice-topped Daly Chutes and Daly Bowl mountainsides reserved for advanced expert skiers.
From the top of Empire an intermediate (Supreme) and advanced intermediate (Orion) bring skiers back to the Empire lift but Domingo, Conviction, Solace and Buckeye give experts a chance to show their stuff. The nearby Lady Morgan Express also provides experts with more options.
By the time you have reached the top of Empire you are a long way from the Snow Park Lodge, so save some energy. A comfortable skier should have no problem taking Orion to the Ruby Express and taking it back to the top of Flagstaff.
Use the Ontario Trail to get to Homeward Bound then follow Homeward down to the Homestake lift to get back up to the top of Bald Eagle Mountain. Success, Last Chance, Big Stick and Little Stick will all get you back to the main lodge. On Last Chance look for the raccoon and bear houses with carved and painted animals and the totem house with a beautiful hand carved totem pole.
And speaking of lodges, the Snow Park Lodge at Deer Valley is full service, with a variety of restaurants and shopping opportunities. On the mountain there are restaurants for lunch at the base of the Empire and Ruby lifts, on the top of Flagstaff Mountain and on the top of Bald Mountain.
Deer Valley Resort is only a few miles outside of Park City, Utah, where snow is always plentiful and the skiing superb. Access to Park City is via Salt Lake City airport. Within Park City a free bus service is available for skiers from bus stops close to most hotels.
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