If you’re planning a ski trip to Park City, then you have the choice of two ski resorts: Deer Valley Resort or Park City Mountain Resort. Situated side-by-side in the Wasatch Mountains surrounded by natural beauty, both resorts have scenic vistas, exciting terrain and slopeside cuisine. But of course, the burning question everyone has is: Which resort is best? Or maybe the better question is: Which resort is best for me?
The simple answer is that they are both great. Most locals and visitors will have positive and constructive things to say about Deer Valley vs. Park City Mountain and probably have had killer powder days at both resorts as well because this is Utah!
Skiing is Personal
Everyone has their own opinions on what makes a good ski resort. Your personal expectations and priorities shape your experience on the slopes. Maybe you require a resort with lots of groomed options because that’s what you’re comfortable skiing. Or maybe you are an advanced skier seeking solitude. Your preferences are essential in choosing the best resort for you.
Whatever your ski day preferences, buckle your boots and let’s get into where Deer Valley and Park City Mountain stand in some major factors that play into your ski experience. First, let’s establish the key differences between the two resorts.
Major Differences
Skiers Only
Deer Valley is a ski-only resort, no snowboarders allowed! They’ve been steadfast in enforcing a ski only policy from their opening in 1981 and many DV guests state it as their number one reason to keep skiing Deer Valley.
Jumps, Parks and Pipes
The other major difference between DV and Park City Mountain, is that Deer Valley does not have any terrain parks while PCMR has 6 terrain parks, 1 halfpipe and even a mini pipe for developing shredders. Park City Mountain also allows ski bikes and skate skis, while Deer Valley does not.
Ikon vs. Epic
These two resorts are on different multi-resort passes. Ikon pass holders are able to ski up to seven days at Deer Valley while Epic pass holders have access to Park City Mountain. Ikon pass skiers also must make a reservation to ski Deer Valley online prior to their ski days. Epic Local pass holders are prohibited to ski the resort on certain high-traffic days like holidays and around school breaks. Now, one can purchase the full Epic pass and there are no limitations or restrictions to skiing Park City Mountain.
Crowd Control
Deer Valley ensures their slopes aren’t packed with crowds by limiting the amount of lift tickets they sell for each given day. This helps preserve slope conditions, ensures skier safety and maintains their exceptional guest experience. Deer Valley also does a significant amount of snowmaking in the early season, in order to maintain stellar conditions even during lower snow years.
Now these differences between the resorts can be deciding factors for many tourists and locals. Snowboarders, park riders and trick skiers alike will flock to PCMR to check out their diverse selection of terrain parks. While those skiers who prefer a more reserved, classic ski experience might enjoy Deer Valley season after season.
Skier Experience Comparison
Everyone loves a head-to-head comparison, so let’s first look at the objective statistics of Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort together:
| Category | Deer Valley Resort | Park City Mountain Resort |
| Skiable Terrain | 4,500 acres | 7,300 acres |
| Ski Trails | 202 | 348 |
| Chair Lifts | 31 | 37 |
| Gondolas | 2 | 4 |
| Highest Summit Elevation | Empire 9,570 ft | Jupiter 9,998 ft |
| Average Annual Snowfall | 300 inches | 290 inches (350 inches at Jupiter Peak) |
Terrain
Park City is Bigger
Based on the numbers, you can see that Park City Mountain offers more terrain and lift access than Deer Valley. Park City Mountain actually used to be two different resorts, Canyons Resort and Park City Mountain Resort. After both resorts were acquired by Vail, they merged the two and created one massive resort with the most skiable acreage that a ski resort has to offer in the United States.
The canyons side has a bustling base village with parking, lift access, hotels and a bit of a closer drive if you’re coming from the airport. You can also take the Quicksilver Gondola from the Canyons side over to the Park City side, or vice versa, so you can access all of the terrain and hopefully skip all the ski traffic.
From Canyons to the Mountain village, Park City’s terrain is expansive. You’ve got iconic, groomed ski runs like Payday. Condor Woods and Black Forest are fun, off-piste tree runs, plus the Jupiter and 9990 Express chairlifts bring you up to wide-open bowl skiing that’s a freerider’s dream. Park City Mountain is definitely a top choice if you prioritize endless terrain options for your ski day.
Deer Valley’s Groomed Runs Are Elite
Of course, Deer Valley also offers a variety of terrain, just not to the scale of Park City Mountain. For impeccable groomed runs, Deer Valley takes the lead. There is something magical about hitting a freshly groomed Deer Valley trail. Your edges grip the snow and the slope seems to be at the perfect pitch for fast, flowy turns. Nabob, Tycoon, Big Stick, and Hawkeye are some fan favorites that will have you lapping the same lift for hours.
Moguls For Days
If you have legs of steel and love moguls then Deer Valley is the top choice. Deer Valley was home to the Freestyle Mogul event in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. They also have been a regular host for the Freestyle International Ski World Cup which showcases top athletes from around the world showing us all how moguls are to be skied. The dedicated mogul runs at DV are consistently demanding.
If reading about moguls being fun makes your stomach turn, don’t worry. For the first timers, the cautious skiers and those still getting their snow legs, which resort is best?
Deer Valley: Beginners
Deer Valley Resort’s Ski School has been voted #1 in the country several times because of their impeccable instructing and their beginner-friendly terrain. The long, wide and rolling groomed runs offer options across the resort where skiers can gain confidence. With limited skiers each day and no snowboarders, Deer Valley is a great choice for beginners.
Park City: Beginners
Across town, Park City Mountain Resort also has a robust ski school program and you’ll see many beginner skiers and snowboarders out on the slopes. Dedicated “beginner zone” areas like the First Time Chairlift and the High Meadow Adventure Park are mellow, speed-regulated runs where beginners can practice their skills to gain confidence. There may be more people out on the slopes at Park City Mountain, but due to sheer size, you are able to explore different areas of the mountain to get away from crowds.
If there’s room in your budget, I’d recommend taking a lesson at Deer Valley Resort to get the best instruction in the country, then as you build confidence, head over to Park City Mountain so you can develop your skills on larger scale with diverse terrain.
Advanced, Backcountry Enthusiasts Head to Park City Mountain!
Jumping to the other extreme, advanced skiers will love Park City Mountain and Deer Valley, depending on what you’re seeking. If you’ve got your touring set up and avalanche gear, you’ll be in a dream exploring Park City Mountain’s ridgeline. Strap on your skins, head out the proper gates, and enjoy beautiful open bowls and access to some of the Wasatch’s most iconic backcountry areas.
Though Park City has significantly more advanced terrain than Deer Valley, DV still has plenty of advanced areas to get your blood pumping. There’s lots of fun, technical steep stuff off the Sultan and Lady Morgan Chairlifts, and of course, the Daly Chutes and Empire Canyon are the most popular. Most people head over to Empire when there’s been fresh snow, so be prepared for some fast and hard skiing when the Daly Chutes get tracked out.
No Backcountry at Deer Valley
Deer Valley also strictly prohibits any uphill travel or unpermitted boundary crossing onto or off its property. Keep this in mind if you are wanting to access backcountry skiing up at Bonanza Flat—you are not able to get to it from Deer Valley. Unlike at Park City Mountain Resort, where there are dedicated gates where you can legally access the backcountry at your own risk.
Cuisine
Skiing all that different type of terrain will definitely have you working up an appetite. So, let’s get into the next best thing to skiing—food! Here are some favorite dining options at Deer Valley and Park City Mountain.
Deer Valley Dining Experience
I’m calling dining at Deer Valley an experience, because it truly is much more than a lunch break. The dining halls have a plethora of options including fresh salads, hand carved meats, wood-fired pizza, famous turkey chili and some world class desserts. If you want to skip the whole dining hall style, you can grab a table to wine and dine at places like Royal Street Cafe and Apex restaurant located inside the Montage at Empire Canyon.
If you still don’t want to pay the prices for Deer Valley food, that’s okay. You can grab an Adirondack chair at any of the resort’s outside seating areas like Silver Lake or Empire Canyon and enjoy your own food. Please note that Deer Valley does not permit outside food or beverage to be consumed inside their day lodges.
Park City Mountain to Main Street
On the other hand, Park City Mountain has plenty of lodge space where you can sit down and enjoy your own food—or purchase dining hall style food like burgers, fries, and sandwiches. Red Pine Lodge and Miner’s Camp get crowded during the lunch rush from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, so plan ahead! If you’re going to head to one of the main dining hall lodges during the rush expect to wait in line and share your table with other skiers.
Not a fan of the dining hall madness? Thankfully Park City Mountain has several other dining options. Lookout Cabin is a sit-down style restaurant with great views on the Canyons Village side, this place also fills up quickly so make a reservation if you’d like to have lunch. At the base of the Canyons you’ll also find The Farm and Red Tail Grill where you can sit inside and warm up over lunch.
Now, if you’re really wanting a true Park City experience, then make your way to Payday Express chairlift and ski right on down to Main Street. Put your skis on the rack and take your pick of amazing restaurants. There’s sushi, steak, pizza, Mexican and more options just a short walk from the slopes. Afterwards, hop on the Town lift chairlift to continue your skiing.
Let’s Hit The Slopes
Now that you know a little more about what it’s like to ski at Deer Valley vs. Park City Mountain Resort, you’re ready to hit the slopes once winter comes. For some, it is an easy choice. Snowboarders and park skiers will always go for Park City Mountain. Retired ski-racers and those who prefer a classic, refined ski day will always go for Deer Valley Resort. And if you’re able to ski both places, then maybe you decide which you’re going to ski after the initial snow report is out in the morning!
My hope is that you are able to ski both resorts and enjoy what makes them each unique. Whether its powder laps at Park City’s Jupiter or shredding groomers at Deer Valley on a blue bird day, you’ve got options for what you want out of your ski day. And remember, having to decide between these two ski resorts is not a bad dilemma to find yourself in. Park City is truly a beautiful place and anyone who is able to experience Deer Valley or Park City Mountain Resort is lucky. We hope to see you out on the snow!
By Cassandra Ali, Content Writer, jans.com
Shop Now
Additional Links
When to Reserve Ski Rentals in Park City
Why You Should Get a Rennstall Tune This Year
