Utah’s Deer Valley Ski Resort has been consistently ranked among the top ski resorts in the United States and is one of the best ski resorts for beginners. I’ve been a concierge in Deer Valley Utah for four years, so I thought it was time to share everything I know about Deer Valley Resort, including where to stay, when to visit, and where to eat in Deer Valley. If you want to go snowboarding in Utah, you’ll have to go across town to Park City Mountain Resort. Deer Valley is a SKI-ONLY resort; one of just three ski resorts in the United States that don’t allow snowboarding. Which means you also won’t find terrain parks at Deer Valley.

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Deer Valley offers impeccable grooming, upscale amenities, and steep lift ticket prices. In this case, you do get what you pay for. In fact, Deer Valley founder Edgar Stern was known for saying, “If you don’t go first class, don’t make the trip.” Deer Valley is definitely worth the trip. If you want a traditional ski resort, Deer Valley is perfect.

Follow these altitude tips to prepare for Deer Valley’s elevation, which starts at 6,570′!

Winter in Deer Valley

Of course, skiing is the main winter activity in Deer Valley. I moved to Park City after a ten-year hiatus from skiing. Luckily, Deer Valley has amazing instructors and a world-renowned ski school, so I was able to catch on pretty quickly. You don’t forget how to ski, but you do lose some of the fearlessness of youth! Even if you just stick to green runs like me, you’ll have plenty of terrain to explore at Deer Valley. I like to start with a few laps between Silver Lake and Snow Park, before moving up to some of the peaks above Silver Lake.

Deer Valley Ski Tips

• Deer Valley is part of the Ikon Pass, which is a season pass that includes over 50 ski resorts worldwide. Make sure you read the fine print, as some season passes have blackout dates or a limited number of ski days at Deer Valley.
• There are trail maps all over the mountain, so it would be pretty hard to get lost. You can also grab your own map at the ticket window.
• Book everything ahead of time!
  • Ski school goes on sale in mid-July, and peak weeks sell out super fast! You can get on a waitlist, but that’s super stressful, as most local lodging has pretty strict cancellation policies. I have seen more than one family upset because they can’t get their kids into ski school, but they also can’t cancel their hotel without penalty!
  • Lift tickets can also sell out. Deer Valley does an excellent job of maintaining the skier experience by limiting the number of lift tickets each day. Again, peak periods, like Christmas to New Year’s, MLK weekend, President’s Week, and most of March, can and do sell out, so don’t expect to buy tickets at the ticket window. Check the website before your trip to see what dates are still available.
  • Restaurants will typically open their books 60 – 90 days in advance. This is where having a Park City concierge can be really useful, as they will book spots for you as they open up!
  • Lodging will open a year in advance, and peak periods fill up quickly!
• If you’re a more casual skier, Deer Valley does open up 1/2 day lift tickets if they have not hit their capacity for the day. You can’t pre-purchase a half-day ticket, but if you’re flexible or have an afternoon arrival, this can be an option to save money!

Unless you’re a die-hard skier, you might want some other activities to break up your ski days. Or maybe you’re not a skier, but you just want to experience the winter wonderland of ski season at Deer Valley. There are tons of great winter activities in Park City, and several are in Deer Valley.

• The Jordanelle Gondola is open for foot traffic (i.e. non-skiers) in the winter, and you’ll get fantastic views of the area, including some of Utah’s most expensive real estate. At the top of the gondola, you can grab a cup of chowder at Rime Raw Bar before heading back down on the gondola. You’ll still need a lift ticket, but you won’t pay the full price.
• Broken Arrow offers sleigh rides in Deer Valley. There are four daily departures from Silver Lake Lodge, starting at 5 pm, and each ride lasts 30 minutes. I recommend aiming for the sunset departure as the views are spectacular!
• Snowshoe tours are another great way to experience winter in Deer Valley. I highly recommend a guided tour, as the local guides will have the latest information on avalanche conditions.

Summer in Deer Valley

Summer in Deer Valley typically runs from mid-June through mid-September, depending on the snow levels and how quickly everything melts off and dries up. Hiking and mountain biking are the main summer activities at Deer Valley, although there are typically a ton of events scheduled as well. Deer Valley operates three chairlifts in the summer months for hikers and mountain bikers. You need a lift ticket to go up, but coming down is always free. I love incorporating the chairlifts into my hikes!

Boulder Mountain Ranch operates horseback rides in Deer Valley. They offer 1-hour and 90-minute rides Monday through Saturday. It’s a great way to see the mountain in summer!

Deer Valley Resort also offers a wide range of activities, including mountain bike clinics, guided hikes, yoga, paddleboarding, and summer camp for kids. The base of Deer Valley sits at 6,750 feet of elevation, so it’s often 10 to 20 degrees cooler than Salt Lake City. Aside from a few hot days, summer in Park City is pretty amazing!

Deer Valley Events

Deer Valley hosted several ski events during the 2002 Winter Olympics, so they are well-equipped to throw events throughout the year. From World Cup races to the Summer Concert Series, there are always fun events happening at Deer Valley.

• January brings the Sundance Film Festival to Park City and that usually translates to busy hotels and restaurants, but near-empty slopes. It’s a good time to ski if you can stomach the high lodging prices!
• In February, the International Ski World Cup hosts their mogul and aerial competitions on the slopes above Snow Park Lodge. Super cool to watch!
• March is typically full of spring break families, but it’s also when Red, White & Snow comes to Deer Valley. This annual fundraiser for the National Ability Center is always a blast.
• The popular Deer Valley Music Festival typically kicks off in late June, with weekly shows on the lawn above Snow Park Lodge.
• Mountaintop Brews & Tunes takes place every Saturday from July through September at the peak of Bald Mountain. You’ll need to purchase a lift ticket or hike up.
• The Deer Valley Mountain Beer Festival is another fun event at Silver Lake Village. Tickets start at $15 for non-drinkers and include a scenic lift ride, food options, yard games, and family activities. Some of the Deer Valley lodging properties offer a room package that includes tickets.
• Deer Valley also hosts a ton of culinary events throughout the year, with visiting chefs from around the world.

Getting Around Deer Valley

Getting to Deer Valley is pretty easy. It’s just 45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. Most hotels in Deer Valley offer shuttle services to get you around town, so it’s not necessary to rent a car in the winter. In the summer, I recommend renting a car because a lot of Park City summer activities are scattered around the Heber Valley area and scenic drives are one of the best things to do in this area.

Once you are here, getting around Deer Valley is super easy. Think of Deer Valley as a neighborhood within Park City Utah. Main Street is less than ten minutes from the base. Within Deer Valley, there are three, soon to be four, main base areas where you’ll find lodging, retail, and restaurants. Public transportation in Park City is free and easy to use, so even if you don’t stay in Deer Valley, you can still get there pretty easily.

Snow Park Lodge

Snow Park Lodge is located at the bottom of Deer Valley, and it is the main base area. It includes ski school, daycare, rentals, retail, and a few dining options. It’s also the location of the summer concert series. Lodging in the area includes the St. Regis Deer Valley and many Deer Valley-owned properties.

This is the best place to find free parking at Deer Valley in 2025. The 25/26 ski season will be the last of the Snow Park parking lots. This area, like Deer Valley’s East Village, will be a new hub for visitors to Deer Valley, with additional lodging, dining and retail opportunities.

Silver Lake Village

Silver Lake Village is the mid-mountain area of Deer Valley at an elevation of 8,100 feet. There are many hotels in this area, including the Stein Eriksen Lodge and Goldener Hirsch. Silver Lake has my favorite ski beach and is very centrally located on the mountain. There are several dining options here as well. The only drawback to staying in this area is limited or expensive parking, and it can take quite a bit longer to get to Main Street, especially in bad weather.

Empire Canyon

Higher up the mountain is the Empire Pass area, at an elevation of 8,300 feet. This is where the Montage Deer Valley is located. For ski-in ski-out access, this is a great location, but access can be tricky in the winter. Access to Main Street can take 30 minutes or more as there’s just one winding road in and out. There’s no village here, but Montage has several restaurants, and Deer Valley operates Fireside Dining at Empire Lodge. I think this is the best option in winter if you’ve already experienced Park City and aren’t planning a lot of excursions besides skiing.

Deer Valley East Village

On the “back side” of Deer Valley, a new ski resort is under construction. Originally called the Mayflower Resort, this new expansion will now be incorporated as the East Village of Deer Valley, doubling the size of Deer Valley! An entire village is planned, and the first confirmed hotel is the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley.

Deer Valley Dining

As one of North America’s most bougie ski resorts, you know the food is going to be amazing. While some of the best places to eat in Park City are on Main Street, you can’t go wrong with any of the restaurants in Deer Valley. I recommend a mix of the two, perhaps alternating nights. For Deer Valley ski-in ski-out lunch options, the Deer Valley app is super helpful, as you can filter the restaurants based on what is currently open or closed. Here are some of the top places to eat in Deer Valley.

• Montage Deer Valley has Yama Sushi, Daly’s Pub and Apex, which is their fine-dining option
• Stein Eriksen’s Glitretind has a skier’s lunch buffet that is super difficult to get into unless you are staying on property. If you’re visiting during a slow week, see if you can get a reservation or walk in just before 11:00!
• Goldener Hirsch Inn is best known for its fondue appetizer and dessert. Main entrees have an Austrian Alps influence.
• St. Regis Deer Valley has Rime Seafood & Steak, La Stellina Italian, and St. Regis Bar & Brasserie 7452. Best lobster rolls in town!
• Deer Valley’s Brass Tag has great Italian food and wood-fired pizzas. It’s a nice option if you don’t feel like leaving the Snow Park area for dinner.
• Fireside Dining is a popular winter-only dinner outlet, with a prix fixe menu that includes Swiss raclette. There is an option to add a 15-minute sleigh ride before, during, or after your dinner reservation. This is a popular one, so get reservations early! If you miss out, there are other sleigh rides in Park City!
• For on-mountain lunch options, Deer Valley Resort offers Snow Park Restaurant, Royal Street Cafe, and Silver Lake Lodge at Silver Lake Village, and Empire Grill at Empire Pass. The hotels mentioned above each offer lunch options.

If you want to save money on dining and don’t mind driving 15 minutes, there are some great restaurants in Kimball Junction!

Deer Valley Lodging

Deciding where to stay in Park City really just comes down to your budget. If you want Deer Valley Ski-In Ski-Out lodging, you will pay a premium, but it’s probably worth it, especially if you are traveling with kids! There are hundreds of lodging options in Deer Valley, all of which are centered around the 3 main areas listed above. The main luxury properties of Deer Valley are the Montage Deer Valley, the Stein Eriksen Lodge, and the St. Regis Deer Valley. You can expect to pay $1200 or more per night at these Deer Valley hotels in ski season! If you can afford it, the amenities and service levels are totally worth it.

Best Time to Visit Deer Valley

Deciding when to visit Deer Valley is going to depend on what you want to do. Obviously, skiers will visit Deer Valley in winter, and hikers and mountain bikers will visit Deer Valley in the summer. But what if you’re neither of those, and you just want to experience Deer Valley? That opens up some more options for you!

Spring is probably the worst time to visit Deer Valley. In early April, the snow is getting slushy and the workers are tired and ready for a break. In late April, a lot of the town shuts down, including many restaurants and some hotels. It’s too late for snow activities and too early for summer activities. In fact, the photo below was taken at the end of May 2021, which was not even a big snow year. If you want to just come and relax and enjoy super low lodging rates, then spring in Deer Valley is perfect for you!

Autumn is pretty much my favorite season almost anywhere, but it’s not the best season to visit Deer Valley. We typically do get some nice fall colors in the aspen trees, and we usually get our first snow sometime in October. In 2020, it first snowed on Labor Day; in 2022 the ski resorts all opened early because of massive November snowstorms. Moral of the story: never trust the weather in the Wasatch Mountains and always be prepared for any kind of weather.

Are you ready to plan your trip to Deer Valley Utah? I offer concierge services to take all of the planning and guesswork out of travel!