Mountain Review: Park City, Utah

[@arjunski]

I like this extended review format. The scores at the end are a nice touch!

[@PeakRankings]

Thanks-glad you like it!

[@ArcFixer]

I've been a Park City ski bum since 1983. The Canyons side was a separate resort, Park West. The Locals called it "Park Worst". But we loved it. It was our only legal access to the back country. And at Park City there was a gondola from the base to the Summit House. It was awesome. We were horrified when they removed it. Instead of a comfy ride to the top, now you ride two lifts and stand in two lift lines with a traverse in between to get there. Pure insanity. And the crazy keeps coming. In general, your assessment is spot on. Kudos for being legit. I chose Park City for a variety of reasons. Mainly the town and its proximity to the resort. But I regarded the scenery as second rate. And while we didn't get as much snow as the Cottonwood Canyons (not mountains, they're in the Wasatch Mountains), at Park City we still got more than our share of powder days, and hardly enough skiers around to ski it up. I love Park City, but am appalled at what's happened to it. Newbies seem the think its great. Good for them. To bad the world doesn't stand still for ski bums. :)

[@rt-uh6mt]

I was trying to remember what mountain I skied at when I took a trip to Utah years ago and none of the resorts rang a bell. Then I see your post, aha, Park West. I had a blast there. I think I might still have a Park west trail map buried in a box somewhere. Need to get back to Utah soon! Even if it's not what it used to be.

[@Rockwood1407]

Lol PCMR has become infamous as a Jerry trap. So many downsides, so few upsides. I think that's exactly who is drawn to it now. If you're a serious skier, get out now. It's only gonna get worse.

[@Brosef336]

@@Rockwood1407I’m still a high schooler and I LOVE skiing and I always hit the local hill. But my family always takes one trip out west and my parents chose park city. Never been but I kinda already knew park city wasn’t where it was at and I kinda wanted to go to snowbird but honestly I could care less, it’s better than my local hill were we only get 70 in of snow a year and just as much rain😢

[@Rockwood1407]

@@Brosef336 no worries, I'm glad you had fun! I'm coming at it from a lifelong western skier and comparing it to the cottonwoods and Snowbasin. I'm sure it's freakin awesome to experience if youre from the east, I hope you had a blast! But... if you ever get the chance to influence your parents in where to got for a ski trip.... go to interior BC in Canada or the inland NW like Schweitzer and Whitefish or Big Sky . The pow chasers of the west, like me, know how and where to go. Get off the beaten path for a more unique, once in a lifetime trip! But if your parents still decide to go to Breck/Keystone/Park City, you're still gonna have a great time. Enjoy the experience with a family who knows what a good time really is.

[@trevorglodowski4887]

This comment is a year old... But am making my first trip out to Park City should I stay on the city side or the canyon side? Want something I can walk to the lift from easily on a Friday even if it's a parking lot

[@TradeFav444]

I love the unbiased facts it makes booking a trip much easier

[@Rockwood1407]

Well it's pretty easy... PCMR blows. It's one of the worst resort experiences in the west. It's the disney-fied, bland, lame, bottom of the barrel skiing. The only real draw to experienced skiers are the parks. Everything else has been catered to the lowest common denominator. If that's you, you'll love it. If it's not... Look to visit elsewhere.

[@Puzzoozoo]

More like it makes not wanting to go there much easier. What an appalling layout design for a ski resort.

[@KENTOSI]

Great extensive review of Park City. I can't wait to go next year! Thank you.

[@glowinqlu]

I love this! Park city is one of my favorite places to ski!

[@jackfenton2271]

The Canyons side base village is broken. Only two lifts out of the village. They get 45 minute lines to start the day. And they are often shut down due to their exposure to wind holds. I've stood in line for hours waiting for them to open. More options to start the day on the Park City side. (41 year local)

[@marknacua7549]

Loving these videos! Great website too btw!

[@PeakRankings]

Thank you! New written and video reviews both coming out this weekend!

[@mrepix8287]

I disagree, I find skiing through mansion properties a charming novelty, and the bridges you ski over make the runs more interesting and essentially serve as manmade rollers

[@PeakRankings]

Entirely fair assessment. In our view, there's a balance-and if the roads and condos get built up too high on the resort, it can detract from the isolation.

[@mrepix8287]

@@PeakRankings It’s really just confined to one pod of the mountain so I think it’s fine. And the blues in that region are totally epic, winding cruisers

[@ArcFixer]

It makes me want to puke.

[@Rockwood1407]

Boooooooo

[@Rockwood1407]

@@ArcFixer thank you. Flatlanders- keep your trashy suburban vinyl fence aesthetic at home.

[@quisp1492]

I just visited Park City on 3/16-3/17 2024. The lift tickets with a buddy pass were $280 per day.

[@kayakutah]

I agree with Thunder Rabbit. I moved here in 1989 (yep, Park West, Wolf Mountain, Canyons) and then Park City was a great value for local families. Many Utah resorts were free or very cheap for kids. Those days are gone, of course. Some new info this year. PC, in town will now be paid parking and reservations. It was inevitable. Parking at The Canyons will still be free AFAIK. There is a bus stop at the Cabriolet base and you can jump on a bus from there if you just have to get into town - if you don't want to start at the Canyons and ski over. I mountain bike the area and it looked like there was extensive tree removal to create tree skiing above the Town Lift. It looks like it will be very nice. I give PC a 1 on crowd control, not because they don't try, but because I haven't been to a place this crowded (post Vail purchase) since I skied Hunter Mountain in the 1960's! I think the Canyons is much better in this regard. Check webcams at Canyons, PC and Deer Valley in the morning. There are days, depending on where the storm is coming from (NW, W or S) that can result in 14" at The Canyons and 6" at Deer Valley or vice versa. They all do about the same over the course of the season, but with individual storms it can vary. I usually ski DV, but when I go to The Canyons, one of the lifts I like is Dreamcatcher - but only on a cold day! It drops to a low enough level that, if it's a warm storm, the bottom half will have much worse quality than the top half. That's a flaw of much of the Wasatch Back. The bottoms are at around 7000' and the really good snow is close to 8000' up, unless it's a cold storm.

[@sivayamsiva9343]

Thanks for sharing park city video and useful information 👌👌👌

[@renrosenberg3713]

I can confirm the tombstone lift note on really busy days, but on average days I’ve found it to have short lines. It really depends

[@Idk-sx3ym]

I disagree about the inconvenience of the quicksilver gondola. I’ve been skiing at park city for years. It takes one lift right by the parking lot and a green run down to get to the gondola. It really isn’t hard

[@KirbeyAlt]

I saw another comment about this - but I'd just like to say that some of the skiing through the condo areas was actually really fun and interesting going over and under the bridges, specifically off one of the runs of Peak 5, (dont remember which lol) and yeah there is a bit much around some areas but its a nice aesthetic for just a small pod in the overall resort.

[@PeakRankings]

Appreciate the critique! I think the point we're going for isn't necessarily that the bridges and roads are inherently a negative, but that guests should be prepared for one of the most seemingly remote parts of the resort to have all that build up. Perhaps we should have framed a bit better.

[@Rockwood1407]

@@PeakRankings nah... Those of us who love mountains and live in them hate seeing the condo farms. It's a real factor for me in avoiding places. It's also often a tell of overall resort focus. If I'm seeing 10k ft² mcmansions at 9,000 ft, I'm probably about to spend a day in lift lines. Please keep calling out crappy developments and their plastic aesthetic.

[@SchleyerZed]

Im a PC Local and you nailed pretty much everything. Definitely need to think of the place as 2 different mountains. Spend your day on one side. Tbh I'd give the lift/crowd flow score a 1 XD. But if you're looking for a terrain park experience check out woodward, its 10 mins down the road. PC is probably one of the best places to learn, no matter the skill level. (Mainly because you can skip the silverlode line if you're in a lesson :P)

[@ethanhcomposer]

This place is stunning. By far it’s my favorite ski destination, and I’ve been to Killington, Vail, and Stowe. None can beat this place

[@willprunty3102]

vail is still really nice tho. i loved it

[@BDonpwrlifter]

Maybe I need to give it another shot. Only went once, last year, but it was by far my least favorite between Solitude, Brighton, Alta, Snowbird, Snowbasin, and Deer Valley.

[@ethanhcomposer]

really just depends on demographic, i was an intermediate when i went there, runs were fun. i’ll see about my experience next time

[@finerbiner]

For years we would come and stay in Sandy and ski mostly in Cottonwoods. Then do a day in Canyons or Snowbasin (or both) usually skipping Park City. But Town Lift is awesome,

[@BDonpwrlifter]

I've been living in Salt Lake for the last year and don't know anyone who skis PC. Seems like mostly tourists or locals that actually live in PC. Went once and my impression was meh. Def prefer the Cottonwoods. Deer Valley is fun, though.

[@sc100ott]

It’s been a while since I was there, but on-mountain service was notoriously bad. Cheeseburger and fries, served with an attitude. Has that changed at all?

[@jimkirkpatrick7269]

The Salt lake area resides in the Wasatch mountain range, not the Rocky mountains.

[@christophersorel6056]

Wasatch are part of the Rockies. And this is why we shouldn’t have government run Schools.

[@MeAMuse]

I will be heading to Park City again at the end of March.... quite excited. As you can probably tell I have been checking out your reviews of mountains I ski often to see if you are on point.... and mostly... I would say you are. Any tips on best runs for the most advanced skiers? I believe last time I was there I spent a lot of time on the McConkeys Express and in the Tombstone Express areas. It was a while ago... I am sure I spent time on the Ninty Nine 90 express also... but am struggling to remember the runs there.

[@PeakRankings]

Enjoy! 9990, Peak 5, and Jupiter offer great expert terrain. If you're into steep groomers, many of the blacks near the Park City base are solid options.

[@MeAMuse]

@@PeakRankings Thanks buddy! Hopefully wont be skiing too many groomers :)

[@kayakutah]

Timing is important, but if we have the snow, and it's cold, the south facing runs off of Super Condor are fun. But many have extensive runouts. I think the runs on the north side of 9990 are great, but if you go too far down or over to Red Pines and Charlie Brown, you could end up down at Tombstone or Red Pine Lodge, anyway. From the top of Tombstone, I like Deschutes, but it can be variable as well. I don't get up to Jupiter much anymore. If it's a powder day, you're throwing elbows to get onto a slow double chair. It's worth a trip up to ski Portuguese Gap, I think, or 6 Bells on the other side if you like it even narrower, as I recall.

[@vvdd903]

great guide. thanks

[@basssquadfishing7251]

Loved going thorough the mansions and on the bridges

[@YourboyBrennan]

6:28 that pizza😂

[@TheSalinski]

What's going on at Park City? The recent reviews on TripAdvisor for January and February 2022 are brutal. Mostly complaints about lifts and runs being closed and also staffing issues. I have to drive to San Fransisco and thought I'd stop to snowboard. I'll only have one full day. Should I go somewhere else?

[@PeakRankings]

They have been struggling to open lifts amid staffing shortages this season, and are clearly behind their Utah competitors in terms of open terrain. Most of their major lifts are open at this point. If you want to go when it's 100% open, it could be worth waiting until next year-but if you only have one day, the amount of open terrain will likely be enough.

[@TheSalinski]

@@PeakRankings Thanks! I'm also considering staying in SLC and boarding at Snowbird instead. It's going to be a long drive for me from Minneapolis and Park City seems at first like it would be less hassle since it's right off I-80.

[@giggsmiller1]

Really interesting - going there in 2024 so good to get a steer on the resort - one thing I will say (as a European) the lift ticket prices are quite simply insane - $1550 for 6 days, the Val’disere ski area (which is massive and amazing) is $415!!! If you are taking a family of 4 that is a massive difference - how are these prices justified?!

[@fandam801]

Yeah it’s the ultra capitalist ski business model here, you must buy a season pass or suffer greatly with window ticket prices. Vail owns this place and they pioneered this business model in the mid 00’s and now the entire industry is going to this business model. I hate it personally.

[@CoasterCoat]

$1550? Just buy the epic pass....it costs half that

[@zacharydemetro7770]

Any insight on going late January 2023? Reddit and trip advisor were saying lines were crazy in January 2022.

[@PeakRankings]

Really depends on whether the resort can fix its staffing issues! Hopefully, wage increases help them fill needed operational jobs. But if you're there on a weekend, you're likely in for at least modest waits on numerous lifts-regardless of the staffing situation.

[@brandonwilliam2618]

At park City you can always find a lift with less lines. You just have to know where you’re going. But If you don’t go often it’d be harder navy

[@brandonwilliam2618]

Navigate*

[@CoolKidHalter]

Worst Ski Resort Layouts Ranked 10. Steamboat 9. Northstar 8. Beaver Creek 7. Deer Valley 6. Banff Sunshine Village 5. Any ski resort parking lot 4. Breckenridge 3. Park City 2. Vail 1. Heavenly

[@mrepix8287]

As someone who grew up skiing Heavenly I always internally chuckle whenever seeing people get confused over the layout of the mountain

[@CoolKidHalter]

@@mrepix8287 not so much confusing just too many flat parts

[@glowinqlu]

Park city is pretty confusing. I haven’t been there in 2 years and I already forgot the layout😅

[@SkiDaBird]

Totally going to disagree on Sunshine. I’ve found it to be a pretty easy mountain to get around. It’s just always Wolverine or Jackrabbit to switch between the upper mountain and Goats Eye. The runout from Delirium is brutal, but given the terrain, I don’t really care.

[@CoolKidHalter]

@@SkiDaBird once you're on the mountain, it isn't too bad. The gondola bottleneck at the parking lot in the morning alone puts it on the list.

[@peekymonget98]

Bro do u remember me I was one of ur first subscribers

[@PeakRankings]

Always remember our day ones 🙏

[@jessewarnken4851]

fan boy andy

[@Rockwood1407]

One of the worst vacation experiences I've ever had. Visited this year. It was blown away by Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Powder Mtn, and Snowbasin. The town and resorts felt completely cheap, plastic, and packed to the gils. If you ski less than 3 times a year and mostly stick to greens and blues, or if you're a committed park rat, you'll have a fine time. But there are still better destination experiences for those looking for a good, safe ski trip. See; Mammoth, Breck/Vail/Summit County, Tahoe... While they might all have their flaws, they don't all have ALL THE FLAWS AT ONCE ALWAYS. Think outside the box. Don't go to the same resort everyone else is because you don't want to have to consider anything other than airfare and road access. For advanced-expert skiers... Absolute garbage tier experience. Lift closures. Insane parking traffic. Insane lift lines, exacerbated by the closures. Limited terrain beyond groomers. You won't get many laps, and there will be an absolute circus around you on those trails. AltaBird might be crowded, but the juice is worth the squeeze. At PCMR it is not.

[@yaagunna]

225 lift ticket

[@TheHuntercamper]

over priced is the coined all around phrase

[@williamtell5365]

If you are an expert skier, this resort is not for you. Trust me.

[@elaboratelymcc9038]

Its definitely not the best, but there are some very hard lines if you know where to look. Also the terrain parks are great. Overall snowbird better for experts though

[@adriansorin9291]

I always said that skiing in the US is a joke compared with what we have in Europe...

[@rt-uh6mt]

Such a stupid comment

[@davidbuckley3109]

Park City. Utah. Is not in the Rocky MOUNTAINS. WASATCH

[@PeakRankings]

The Wasatch Range is part of the Rockies.

[@ArcFixer]

@@PeakRankings True. But it would more informative to more specific. The Rocky Mountains stretch 3000 miles from New Mexico to deep into Canada. The Wasatch Range is only 160 miles long and is almost all in Utah. The powder in Utah's Wasatch is legendary. The Powder in the Colorado Rockies is not.* The distinction is worth making and costs nothing. *Except for Wolf Creek. I had my deepest lightest day ever there. A legit 42 inches and nobody around. :)

[@PeakRankings]

@@ArcFixer We will try to be more specific in future videos!