With 4,000 acres, 182 trails, 19 lifts, and three terrain parks, Canyons Resort in Park City is Utah’s largest single ski and snowboard resort. The place is huge and it has an insane amount of things to do. We could have spent our entire ski vacation at Canyons and still wouldn’t have had enough time to see it all.
Canyons Resort has undergone a face lift over the past few years, with a ton of upgrades across the property. After spending the day at Canyons, it was easy to see why the resort was voted one of the Top 10 ski resorts in North America by SKI Magazine. Our family loved many things at the resort, but here’s our short list of the top reasons why Canyons is an ideal winter destination for families.
1. Variety of Terrain
Canyons Resort is open to both skiing and snowboarding and offers an incredible amount of terrain to explore. About 10% of the slopes are beginner, 44% Intermediate, and 46% are Expert. I even saw a helicopter parked on the mountain for those brave enough to take a heli-ski tour.
Even with 182 trails, the resort felt manageable to navigate. There is plenty of signage and there are 19 lifts to get you around. Canyons even has a high tech app that can help you keep track of which runs you have tried. EpicMix uses a chip in your lift ticket to track things like your vertical feet skied, days spent on the mountain, and number of lift rides. It is a neat way to see how much of the resort you have seen and how much is still left for your next visit.
2. Zip Tour Adventure
I liked that Canyons Resort had a variety of family activities beyond skiing and snowboarding. The zip lines are some of the most thrilling adventures for families to take on. The first zip line stretches 800 feet through the Red Pine area. The second zip line is the longest in Utah and stretches nearly 2,000 feet across the canyon between Lookout Peak and Red Pine Lodge. The canyon floor is more than 200’ beneath you as you zip along the snow covered terrain.
3. Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides
The sleigh rides are a really neat experience. The driver provides you with some heavy blankets that keep you warm and dry during the trip. The sleigh rides take place in the evening after the ski lifts have closed, so it is very quiet as the horses pull you around the resort. We saw a few deer during the trip, including some bucks with giant antlers. It was a very peaceful experience that our family enjoyed.
4. Guided Snowshoe Tours
Canyons Resort has a unique network of snowshoe trails hidden among the ski slopes. You can arrange private or group snowshoeing tours for a chance to see some areas off the beaten path. The Family Tour is a low key experience designed for groups with children. During the tour, you’ll get time to play in the show so you can make snow angels, build a snow fort, or have an old fashioned snowball fight. The tour takes about two hours and is recommended for ages five and up.
The Alpine Lake tour takes you through the aspen and pine forest to the snow covered Alpine Lake, where you get to feed the tiger trout. This tour is a bit more strenuous, so it is recommended for ages twelve and above.
5. Resort Village
One of the most impressive things about Canyons Resort is how the shops and hotels form a central village. In the center of the village, they have a stage that is used for concerts during the spring and summer months. In the winter, the area is used for the Riglet snowboarding park. My son had a great time trying some of the kid friendly obstacles in the Riglet park.
The resort village is great because you don’t need to leave the property to find anything. All of the restaurants and shops are just a few steps away. This design is especially convenient if you are staying at one of the resort’s hotels. You literally can ski in and ski out, as the lifts are just outside your door.
6. Red Pine Gondola
The Red Pine Gondola is a lengthy ride that takes you up about 8,000 feet. It is the main way to get up to the beginner slopes and ski school area, but you can also buy a ticket to ride even if you are not planning to ski. You get some great views of the Wasatch Mountains during the trip. At the top, you’ll find the Red Pine Lodge which is a good place to grab a burger, pizza, or a bread bowl of soup.
7. The Orange Bubble Express
No visit to Canyons Resort is complete until you’ve taken a ride on the Orange Bubble Express, the first heated chair lift in North America. As you board the Orange Bubble, you pull down the orange shield which keeps you toasty warm. The seats can warm up to about 55 degrees, which is really nice after you have been out in the cold for a while.
8. Western Barbecue
The Canyons Western Barbecue is a family friendly option for a delicious dinner. It is buffet style, so you can get your fill of slow-cooked prime rib, BBQ ribs, and chicken. They also have a nice dessert buffet with apple and peach cobbler, in addition to a few kinds of ice cream. I was really impressed with the quality and variety of the food they offered.
The tables are appropriately covered in red and white checkered tablecloths and beverages are served in mason jars. A country-western band performs during dinner and children were encouraged to spend some time on the dance floor. It was neat to see the children having so much fun dancing to the live music.
One of the unique things about the Western Barbecue is that it is offered at the Red Pine Lodge, which means a ride on the Red Pine Gondola to get there. It was fun to take the ride up the mountain after the resort’s ski lifts had already closed for the day. While you are up there, you can see the grooming machines’ headlights as they work their magic on the mountain.
9. Ski and Snowboard School
I took a group ski lesson at Canyons and was impressed by the friendliness of all the instructors. My group of four had a great time learning from Yerko, our guide for the day, as we refined our technique on the beginner and intermediate slopes. I also saw several children taking part in the snowboarding school, which looked like it would be fun for my son to try on our next visit.
10. Waldorf Astoria Park City
Canyons Resort has several deluxe hotels on property, including the Grand Summit Hotel (AAA Four Diamond Award winner) and the recently renovated Sundial Lodge (with ski in and out access). The Waldorf Astoria Park City is the crown jewel in the lineup, with 175 rooms that range from deluxe to four bedroom suites. It received the Travel & Leisure “World’s Best” Award and is also home to the Waldorf Astoria Spa (where you can unwind after a day on the slopes).
If you stay at one of the resort’s hotels, you can usually find a good package on the Hot Deals page. For example, the current Family Adventure package comes with a $200 gift card that you can use on resort activities like the sleigh ride, zip line, or ski lessons.
Select photos via Canyons Resort and Flicker 1, 2, 3
