Park City, Utah Winter Activities and Attractions for All Ages!

Utah Ski Vacations for Large Families, Corporate Retreats, Churches, and Clubs

Park City, Utah is located in the scenic Wasatch mountains, just 32 miles (48 km) southeast of downtown Salt Lake City. A beautiful 38-mile drive from the Salt Lake City Airport, you can expect to arrive in a little over half an hour.

Park City boasts some of the best snow and skiing facilities in the US. The city has three major ski resorts: Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort, and The Canyons Resort. In fact, the Park City and Deer Valley Resorts were the major locations for the ski and snowboarding events of the 2002 Winter Olympics. In nearby Olympic Park, the 2002 Olympic bobsled/skeleton/luge track is open to the public for tours and rides (see more information below). Park City is also home of the United States Ski Team, and training center for members of the Australian Freestyle Ski Team.

Park City, a scenic and historic town, is the vacation resort town of choice for groups, families and clubs of all sizes from around the world, both for its accessibility, its impressive array of all-season activities, and the excellent quality of its dining, shopping, and entertainment facilities. Come stay at Mountain Trail Lodge, a vacation rental by owner, where your group can luxuriate in a premier, private lodge experience, within easy walking (or skiing!) distance of all of Park City’s diverse attractions.

Park City Winter Fun Activities

Park City Skiing:

Park City offers vacationers three local Ski Resorts, and five more within easy driving distance.

Park City Mountain Resort
Park City Mountain Resort is named one of the top 10 family ski resorts in North America. With over 3,300 acres of snowy wonderland to explore while skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and other family-fun activities, this resort has adventures for all ages and abilities. It is located within a 10 minute drive from Mountain Trail Lodge. Visit parkcitymountain.com for more information or call (800) 222-PARK.

Deer Valley
Deer Valley has the distinction of being rated one of the top 3 ski resorts in North America for three years in a row—2008-2010 (in a poll of SKI magazine’s readers). It has earned these awards for superior customer service and exquisite snow play experiences you’ll never forget. Deer Valley offers skiing and snowboarding for every level of skill, whether beginner or advanced. Six mountains feature runs that will thrill, challenge, excite or simply delight any age or ability. Located within a short easily accessible 6-minute drive from Mountain Trail Lodge, Deer Valley is an excellent choice for your skiing or other snow adventures. For more information, visit www.deervalley.com or call (800) 424-DEER.

The Canyons Resort
The Canyons Resort is the largest of the three ski resorts near Park City, offering vacationers 3,700 acres of gorgeous scenery, featuring 163 trails and 17 lifts. You’ll find adventures here for every interest, from skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing, to snow-mobiling, cross-country skiing, and dog-sledding. From Mountain Trail Lodge, it is a short 15-minute ride to the resort. Check out their website at www.thecanyons.com or call (888) CANYONS.

These three ski resorts will quite likely satisfy most groups that stay at our lodge—after all, you won’t want to stray too far from the warm cozy luxury of your home-away-from-home! But for those who love to explore and are curious to see more of the country around Park City, there’s plenty to see and do. Five additional Ski Resorts are within a half hour or less from your accomodation at Mountain Trail Lodge.

Photo © Mark Maziarz Photography LLC

Alta Ski Reort
Alta Ski Reort is a skiiers-only mountain, a local favorite, with a reputation for some of the finest light, dry snow. Located in Cottonwood Canyon, which is known world-wide for its uniquely powdery snow, Alta is one of three ski resorts in this canyon. See their website at www.alta.com or call (801) 359-1078.

Snowbird Ski Resort
Snowbird Ski Resort, located one mile down Cottonwood Canyon from Alta, is yet another ski resort that tempts vacationers with its varied menu of lifts, runs, snow-tubing lanes for all abilities, and other snow adventures. See their website at www.snowbird.com or call (800) 232-9542.

Brighton Ski Resort
Brighton Ski Resort is popular with teens and snowboaders and is known for its well-designed terrain parks. It was voted #1 for family-friendly terrain, and also voted best value by a local Parenting Magazine. Brighton offers night skiing, an acclaimed ski and snowboard school, and a wide variety of other snow-play activities. Check out www.brightonresort.com or call (800) 873-5512.

Snowbasin Ski Resort
Snowbasin Ski Resort is known for its rocky outcrops and the Needle Spires, which add spectacular emphasis to the snowy scenery. Snowbasin hosted six events for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Now skiiers can experience for themselves the courses made famous by the Olympic games. Three of the lifts boast the greatest vertical rise of any lift in Utah. Please see their website www.snowbasin.com for more details, or call (888) 437-5488.

Powder Mountain
Powder Mountain offers enormous variety with over 7,000 acres of trails exploring three mountains. There is no artificial snow at Powder Mountain, since this resort averages about 500 feet of light dry snow each season. Activities include skiing, snowboarding, kite skiing, alpine skiing, helicopter skiing, and a variety of events at the Terrain Parks. Their website www.powdermountain.com has details and directions, or call (801) 745-3772.

Back to top

Other Park City Winter Sports and Activities

Photo © Mark Maziarz Photography LLC

All the Ski Resorts listed above offer vacationers premier skiing, snowboarding, and a variety of other snow-sports. While the resorts compete with each other for unique adventure opportunities, each one presents its own special niche for a particular activity, depending on its terrain conditions. For example, Powder Mountain is the only ski resort with all-natural snow; Snowbasin delights those who love dramatic, startling scenery; the Canyons, Deer Valley, and Park City are world-class resorts that cater to every need. Listed below are the favorite activities available to your group, all easily accessible from your accomodation at Mountain Trail Lodge.

Park City Snowmobiling

Several companies offer snowmobiling adventures, either with a guide or without. Bring your own machine or rent one for a day. You and your friends will enjoy thrilling riding on the many wonderful scenic trails available; all are groomed and will take you to secluded mountain vistas, through pristine forests, and across remote open mountain slopes. Listed below are two companies we can recommend and others you can find at this website: www.utah.com/snowmobile. Try this company first:

Daytrips Snowmobiling, www.daytrips.com, (888) 654-8294
There are 14 companies in Park City alone that will outfit you and your group for snowmobiling, but a thorough check of what they offer is a good policy. This is one company that checks out as top-notch: www.thousandpeaks.com. They are also minutes away from Mountain Trail Lodge. Call them at (888) 304-SNOW.

Sleigh Rides

Imagine enjoying the pristine winter scenery around Park City while riding in an authentic old-fashioned sleigh, pulled by horses! This is an adventure your group will treasure, whether you are gathering for a family reunion or a business conference. Enjoy an evening under brilliant stars, letting the quiet slow pace relax and refresh you. Sleigh rides are available from several companies. Check out www.allseasonsadventures.com/sleigh_rides or call (888) 649-9619. Snowed Inn Sleigh Company offers rides with or without dinner: call (866) 647-3310 or check their website at www.snowedinnsleigh.com.

Back to top

Hot Air Ballooning in Park City, Utah

Another unique and slower-paced adventure for your group, Hot Air Ballooning is a popular sport here in Park City. The views of this majestic mountain paradise are truly unforgettable from 2000 feet up in the air, floating quietly in a balloon! Group rates are available. Check out www.pcballoonadventures.com or call (800) 396-UPUP (8787).

Snow Tubing

Snow tubing has become a popular sport for families. Plus, it’s a great way to give your legs a break from all that skiing or snowboarding! Fun for all ages, tubing is sure to put plenty of giggle into your day and give you and your friends something to smile about as you remember your trip. Gorgoza Park is the best equipped tubing area. Check them out at Gorgoza Park Tubing, www.gorgozapark.com, (800) 317-7636.

Dog-Sledding

Talk about an adventure that you won’t soon forget! Dog-sledding is a favorite activity for families, but is enjoyable for any group that appreciates dogs and is looking for something unique to experience. You will learn about mushing, meet the handsome well-trained huskies and Alaskan malamutes, including the young pups in training for next year, as you sled into a remote mountain yurt. Contact www.allseasonsadventures.com/dog_sledding for more information or call (888) 649-9619.

Snow-Shoeing

Perhaps what you and your group is looking for is a way to access pristine mountain country where skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobiles can’t go, where you can be truly isolated and have the winter sights unspoiled by any footprints except your own! Snowshoeing is the way to get there. Tours can be tailored to your specific needs. Contact www.allseasonsadventures.com/snowshoeing for details or call (888) 649-9619.

Park City, Utah Cross Country Skiing

Another way to see the more remote and peaceful countryside around Park City is to take your group cross-country skiing. This sport, like snowshoeing, is a healthy, active way to get your exercise and have some excellent fun too. For the photographers among you, this is also an exceptional opportunity to capture unusual photographs. For more information, contact www.whitepinetouring.com or call (888) 649-8710.

Back to top

Ice-Skating

Something different, anyone? Had enough of the snow for one day? Bring the kids or your whole group and try some open-air ice-skating! It’s fun, it’s romantic, it’s a Park City winter tradition. See www.parkcitymountain.com/winter/activities/more_activities/#iceskating for more information.

Ski-Jumping and Bobsled Rides in Park City, Utah

Another great diversion for those looking for an activity that’s different (and just a little on the daredevil side), Bobsled rides and ski-jumping are offered at Olympic Park. See www.parkcityinfo.com for more details.

Sundance Film Festival

One of Park City’s major tourist attractions and a draw to thousands of locals as well is the yearly Sundance Film Festival. From its inception in 1981 by Robert Redford (one of Utah’s resident celebrities), the mission of the festival is to feature independent films that are inspiring or thought-provoking. This year the Sundance Film Festival runs from January 21-31, 2010. Book your group at Mountain Trail Lodge and enjoy powder by day and an array of unusual and rare films by night! Check out www.sundance.org for a great interactive website about the Sundance Festival.

Mirror Lake Byway

One day, tired from skiing, snowshoeing, or other athletic activities, you might decide a nice quiet drive through the country is just what you need. Hop in your car or take your group in a shuttle and enjoy the Mirror Lake Byway, one of Utah’s most famous scenic roads. Starting at Kamas, about 15 miles from Park City, this road allows visitors to experience breath-taking alpine scenery complete with shining clear lakes and cold rushing streams. See and photograph for yourself some of Nature’s most vivid and striking scenery. For pictures and details visit www.utah.com/byways/mirror_lake.

Winter Fest 2010

This annual 10-day festival gets going in early February with the Freestyle World Cup action at Deer Valley Resort, and continues throughout the week with fireworks, live music, moonlight snowshoeing, and the annual celebration commemorating the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics. This is another excellent time to book your group into Mountain Trail Lodge, a convenient location to enjoy both day-time and night-time festivities! See www.resortquestparkcity.com/ParkCityWinterfest for more details on this festival.

Photo © Mark Maziarz Photography LLC

Quick Facts about Park City, Utah

Park City in just under 7,000’ elevation, which is a perfect altitude for perfect snow. The annual snowfall averages 300 inches. Average winter highs are 25-34 degrees F., while lows are in the teens. These temperatures, while chilly, allow for the snow to maintain its famous “champagne powder” dryness. You won’t find a winter playground with more ideal conditions for skiing, or any other type of snow play. Come stay at Mountain Trail Lodge, where you and your friends can relax in top-rated accommodation, while enjoying some of the world’s best winter recreation, fine dining, entertainment, and unique, quality shopping. Park City has it all, and Mountain Trail Lodge is centrally located to give you the best accessibility to all the attractions.

Back to top

Park City Weather Grid, Average Temperatures and Precips.

Mountain Trail Lodge: A Park City, Utah Winter and Ski Vacation Rental By Owner

Reservations CALL: Toll Free (888) 754-7540 or Local (435) 655-8785 Utah, USA

Copright 2009-2010 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED • Park City SEO Web Design by Charlotte Howard