DEER VALLEY
Ski & Snowboard Resort Review
Deer Valley, UTAH , USA is a skiing only resort, snowboarding is not permitted. It is known throughout the USA as being a very exclusive ski resort with exceptional customer service and perfection to detail both on and off the slopes.
Deer Valley Ski Terrain
The skiing terrain at Deer Valley is spread across four mountains; Bald Eagle Mountain, Bald Mountain, Flagstaff Mountain and Empire Canyon. Terrain ranges from steep ungroomed bowls and chutes to mogul runs, treed terrain, long linking intermediate trails and beginner only areas.
Advanced Skiing
Advanced skiers flock to Bald Mountain for steep ungroomed terrain; the deep powder runs in Mayflower Bowl and Mayflower Chutes lead down into tight heavily treed terrain. For big moguls try the Narrow Gauge, Paradise and Morning Star runs.
The Ontario Bowl on Flagstaff Mountain is not groomed often and has trees that seem to have been planted in just the right position to get perfect slalom turns in.
Empire Canyon has the steepest terrain at Deer Valley. In 2007 a new quad chairlift the Lady Morgan Express was installed creating 200 acres of treed terrain and nine trails. On a fresh powder day the double black Daly Chutes and Daly Bowl are the place to be for waist deep powder turns; they are very steep and not too heavily treed.
Intermediate Skiing
Intermediate skiers can comfortably explore the resort’s four mountains skiing on corduroy groomed trails. The Deer Valley trails are marked both intermediate and advanced intermediate, the advanced intermediate trails are generally only slightly steeper than the normal intermediate trails.
On Bald Eagle Mountain start the day off with some quick runs up and down the Big Stick trail before moving up to Bald Mountain. The trails under and around the Wasatch Express Chairlift are both intermediate and advanced intermediate; they are very long and fast. In the 2006/2007 winter season the Sultan Chairlift was replaced on Bald Mountain with an extended high speed detachable quad chairlift opening an extra 75 acres of intermediate skiing.
For a challenge go to Empire Canyon and head down the Orion and Solace trails into the trees, a good introduction to off piste tree skiing.
Beginner Skiing
Beginners head straight to Bald Eagle Mountain for gentle wide slopes. The protected beginner area above the Snow Park Lodge is called the Wide West; this is where first time skiers are taught to turn and stop; two chairlifts service this area.
Once confidence grows catch the Silver Lake Express Chairlift up to the top of the long Success trail that is always immaculately groomed.
Beginners are not restricted to Bald Eagle Mountain, the Ontario trail on Flagstaff Mountain is really long and tree lined, while it is steeper than the trails on Bald Eagle Mountain it is still very manageable by confident beginner skiers.
As well as normal day ski passes Deer Valley offers a Silver Passport ski pass which is able to be used at the surrounding resorts of Park City and the Canyons.
Deer Valley Terrain Park
The Tricks ‘n’ Turns (TNT) Terrain Park, located in Empire Canyon at the top of the Little Chief Chairlift, is well suited to all ability levels. It has small boxes and jumps for beginners as well as large jumps, rails and boxes for advanced skiers.
Deer Valley GPS Ski Tracking
Deer Valley has the ‘SlopeTracker GPS’ system available to skiers. It works by guests wearing a tracking device which automatically records every turn, trail skied, speed, calories burned and vertical feet travelled in one day using global position system technology. At the end of the day you receive a poster showing all the trails you skied in order and a print out of speed and vertical statistics. The cost is $30 per day; it is available at the Snow Park Guest Services Desk.
Deer Valley Snowcat and Heli Skiing
Snowcat and heli skiing is operated by Park City Powder Cats & Heli Ski in the nearby Thousand Peaks Ranch. The Ranch is spread over 40,000 acres of privately owned land.
A typical heli skiing day consists of six runs between 8,000 and 12,000 vertical feet with one experience guide per three guests. A typical snowcat skiing day consists of 8 to 12 runs between 8,000 and 12,000 feet with two experienced guides per group. Gourmet picnic lunches and avalanche transceivers are provided.
Other Activities
Off the skis activities at Deer Valley include snowmobile tours, snow tubing, sleigh rides, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and hot air ballooning.
Deer Valley Shopping
There are only a few shops at Deer Valley; one that should not be missed is the Deer Valley Signature Store, located in both Villages, it sells Deer Valley logo apparel and accessories as well as gourmet foods. Ski rental equipment is available at both Snow Park Lodge and Silver Lake Lodge.
For the latest in ski equipment, fashion boutiques, factory outlet stores, art galleries, souvenir stores, jewellers and grocery and food markets go to Park City.
Deer Valley Restaurants
For on mountain dining Sunset Cabin, located just off the Sunset Trail on Bald Mountain, serves delicious gourmet cooked lunches and fondue. For a quick sandwich or drink go to Snowshoe Tommy’s at the top of Bald Mountain or Cushing’s Cabin at the top of Flagstaff Mountain
Snow Park Restaurant, located in the Snow Park day Lodge at the base of Bald Eagle Mountain, serves a hearty buffet breakfast and hot lunch. The Snow Park Lounge opens at 2.30pm serving drinks and appetizers; they have live music and big screen TVs.
The Snow Park Lodge has an all you can eat seafood buffet open for dinner serving fresh seafood and cooked steaks and pastas. Bookings are required as it is very popular.
The Silver Lake day Lodge, in the Silver Lake Village, opens for breakfast and serves cooked roasts, sandwiches and baked goods for lunch every day. Also located in the Sliver Lake Lodge is the Royal Street Café, it has award winning modern cuisine and is open for both lunch and dinner.
The Mariposa is Deer Valley’s premier restaurant; it serves classic cuisine in a beautiful setting and has a large international wine list. It is located in the Silver Lake Lodge.
For more restaurants go to Park City; it has more than one hundred restaurants and bars. The restaurants range from fine dining to take away fast food with European, American, Italian, French, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican and seafood cuisine.
Deer Valley Nightlife
The nightlife at Deer Valley is very quite, those who want to party catch the free shuttle bus to Park City where the historic Main Street comes alive after dark.
The most popular night spot in Park City is The Sidecar, located in Main Street, they are open late every night with dancing, DJs and live bands. They have theme nights throughout the season and serve food until late.
The Hungry Moose Pub is a sports bar, in Main Street, it has huge satellite and cable TVs broadcasting the latest sporting news and events and a full service bar.
The Bacchus Wine Bar, in Main Street, has over 100 wines available by the glass and is open until midnight every night and 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Wasatch Brew Pub, in Main Street, has 7 home brews and a hearty dinner menu to suit all tastes.
Utah, Deer Valley and Park City Liquor Laws
By law full service bars in Utah must be called private clubs; this means to enter membership is required. At Park City guests need to purchase membership before they can enter a bar or club. The memberships cost $4 each and are valid for three weeks. Memberships need to be purchased for every bar or club you wish to enter. Each member can have up to seven guests at the one time in one bar or club.
Low strength beer can be purchased at grocery stores; only State Liquor Stores can sell full strength beer, wine and spirits. There are three State Liquor Stores in the town of Park City.
New for 2008/2009 at Deer Valley
Snowmaking facilities continued to be improved for the 2008/2009 winter season at Deer Valley with five new snowcats added to the grooming fleet tol be used to prepare for the World Cup Skier Cross course in January and in the TNT terrain park.
More About Deer Valley
Your Deer Valley Ski Resort Reviews
Annie K, CO. April 2006 I always said I would not go to a resort that did not allow snowboarders purely out of principle, however when I was offered a few days free accommodation with a friend I changed my mind! I know that's terrible but the snow was great! It turned out to be a nice resort, actually a lovely resort, it isn't big by any means but there is more than enough terrain to keep you busy for a few days. There is no 'hard core' terrain but bumps and steeps can be found around Empire Canyon in the chutes area as well as Bald Mt around the Mayflower chairlift. I can see how the 'older' wealthy Americans love Deer valley, no loud snowboarders, silver service all the way and gentle slopes. I did enjoy my visit but unless it was another free trip I would not return by choice, I'll stick to Steamboat for the moment
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