Park City Resort Skiing, Boarding
Big Utah Trails and Powder for Skiers and Riders of All Skill Levels
Near Salt Lake City, Utah's Park City Mountain Resort delivers challenge and perfect powder, with easy access from all local hotels by public bus to the base lodge.
Spread over several peaks and ridges Park City has a separate beginners/first-timers area, a beautiful long beginner run, gorgeous intermediate (both blue and double blue) options, challenging expert (black diamond) trails and vast areas of trek-in wild double black bowls and ridges.
The resort is right on the north edge of Park City; one run on the east end even lets you ski into town and then ride a lift back to the mountain. Begin at the Resort Base area near the Legacy Lodge where the ski school and beginner slopes are. Payday Hi-Speed Six-Pack will whisk you from there to the top.
Go to the right from the top of the lift and take the Green Bonanza Access trail, then follow Homerun Trail (the easiest way down) back to the Six-Pack. The trail is a meandering beginner (green) cruiser, a good trail to warm up on.
If you are ready for a gorgeous blue run, take the Payday lift again, stopping at Bonanza Hi-Speed Six-Pack and taking it to the next peak. Follow the pleasant green rated Homerun (a different section than the first run) down to McConkey's Hi-Speed Six-Pack. McConkey's will lift you to the top of McConkey's Bowl, stunning place for an intermediate skier and with killer views.
The trail you want here is Tycoon, carved into the snow pack of this ridge. To the left are the powder double-black slopes of the bowl, to the right a view (out of bounds) that stretches for miles. Ahead (after a short steep) is a wide trail for cruising. Watch for and take the new Georgeanna Trail on the left, just as the trail makes a sharp turn to the right. A small narrow trail through a gully can offer more challenge. Or continue on Tycoon; double black glades line the left side of Tycoon all the way.
Both trails lead to the McConkey's and Pioneer lifts. If you use McConkey's, consider taking Sunrise or Buckeye, both double blues. Or if you are an expert, hike up to 9,998-foot Pinyon Ridge to ski its east face, 3,100 feet above the base lodge.
This is solid double black diamond territory. Beyond, accessible only by walk-in are a series of ridges and peaks that surround the north and south sides of the western end of the resort, literally miles of fine powdered double-black bowl and glade skiing. Access to all of this is only via the McConkey's and Jupiter lifts.
But take the Pioneer lift and try the terrain on the slope that faces that double black stuff. Jupiter and Keystone, the most southerly, are intermediate and lead down to the Thaynes Canyon trail, a long, long run to the King-Con Hi-Speed Quad. If you don't like bumps, check before you start to be sure it's been groomed. Or, take Parley's Park trail, another blue with a number of blue and black options.
The King-Con Hi-Speed Quad opens up yet another peak with 14 different blue or double blue trails to choose among. Rose Bud or King Con will let you get the Silver Lode lift back to the top for Parley's Peak again, or take King Con Ridge and Gotcha Cut-off to get back to the Base lodge.
Great powder and grooming, convenient access from Park City and a broad range of skiing and boarding challenges make this a must-see and must-ski choice. Access Park City from Salt Lake City airport via Interstate 80.
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