Park City Guide

Use our realist Park City Guide to plan your next adventure in this ski resort. Park City, UT is a mountain resort city in Utah best known for its ski slopes and scenic landscapes. We visited Park City during our winter Utah trip.

This post includes affiliate links that will earn us commission if you make a purchase via these links.

Getting to Park City

Park City, UT is located just west of Salt Lake City, UT on the Interstate Highway I-80. Without traffic you could reach Park City, UT from Salt Lake City International Airport in under an hour. This makes Park City, UT one of the few major ski resorts close to a large city and airport hub. Utah Olympic Park, located next to Park City, UT, hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

While Park City, UT is quite far from Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks, Salt Lake City International Airport is likely one of the gateways to Utah’s natural wonders for out-of-state visitors. That would make Park City, UT an excellent itinerary addition to ski and snowboard enthusiasts visiting Bryce Canyon, Zion, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, or Arches in the winter.

Where to Stay

Thanks to Park City resort’s popularity and favorable location, the accommodation options are plentiful. Depending on your budget and preferences, you could either stay right in Park City, UT or consider accommodation properties further away in Salt Lake City, UT and Provo, UT.

The trade-off is quite straightforward. You would pay more for the properties closest to the slopes since they, understandably, increase their nightly prices during the ski season. At the same time, you would be among the first on the mountain and can enjoy the fresh powder on the trails. Alternatively, if you do not mind the traffic and additional driving time, venturing to the larger Salt Lake City metropolitan area could allow you to save on accommodation or secure a better quality stay.

Skiing Entrance Requirements & Passes

Park City Mountain Resort is part of the Epic Pass program that combines other well known mountain resorts, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Whistler Blackcomb, and Breckenridge. For anyone who skied or snowboarded in Europe, Park City’s ski pass prices would appear extremely high for the fraction of the service provided. The ski pass will provide you with access to the ski lifts. Be prepared to pay well over $100 per adult per day just for the ski pass as of the time of writing.

Make sure to budget another $60+ per day for equipment. Unfortunately, the quality of the ski lifts leaves a lot to be desired. One would think that the home of the Winter Olympic Games would have lifts with at least a basic leg rest. However, one would be mistaken.

Sights & Places of Interest

On a bright side, Park City Mountain Resort features an extensive trail map.

While some ski lifts could benefit from adding basic amenities, other resort infrastructure appeared to be in a good condition. The snowmaking machines would be pumping snow early and late in the season. Therefore, you can always expect a high quality and sufficient amount of snow.

The slopes are also generally well maintained. Throughout our visit we did not run into any problems with the trail condition. The snowcats have always plowed the snow before the trails opened for the day during our visit.

The trails were clearly marked and signed so you would easily know what trail you are on and how to reach your destination. You could also locate your position on a paper trail map or follow it on the online map app of your choosing.

Coupled with an overnight snowfall, these prerequisites make skiing or snowboarding in Park City a really enjoyable experience.

On top of snowboarding or skiing, you will be getting fantastic views of the mountains if the weather cooperates during your visit.

For example, this is a truly breathtaking view from the Ninety-Nine 90 elevation point.

Takeaways: Park City

Park City, UT came across as a fairly overpriced skiing and snowboarding resort. Outside of pricing, its close proximity to Salt Lake City International Airport, well maintained slopes, and beautiful scenery are certain to appeal to an avid outdoor enthusiast. If you are looking for a ski or snowboarding destination that does not require multiple hours in a car to reach, Park City, UT is solid destination in the United States.

Take a look at our Best Places to Visit in Utah guide and visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!