A winning combination of beautifully groomed slopes and unparalleled service standards, Deer Valley might just be the perfect destination for the 2023/24 season

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Nestled in the heart of the Wasatch Mountain Range and Utah’s cowboy land, the Deer Valley Ski Resort experience is unlike any other. Exquisite service, high-end ski-in ski-out lodges and superior on-mountain culinary options are signature staples, to be sure. However as one looks beyond the creature comforts, Deer Valley reveals a flawlessly groomed, well-balanced network of diversified runs – challenging blues, mogul-rich blacks and leisurely greens spread across 6 peaks, 101 runs and 25 chairlifts. Deer Valley is a perfect family destination, but with its wide variety of on- and off-the-snow adventure, complemented by tranquil Rocky Mountains views at every step, even a level 9 advanced skier could easily spend a week here and still never have to repeat the same run twice. Throw in ski breaks sampling blueberry cocktails and Bison Burgers and soaking in the rays at the Adirondack-lined ski beach while checking out the 2002 Winter Olympic skiing site, and you’ve got yourself one unforgettable ski vacation in the making.

At Deer Valley, it all starts with the impressive level of service: it is evident throughout all guest interactions from the moment one steps into Silver Lake Lodge. The ski shops, restaurant, information booth – everyone is attentive, patient, and eager to please. Stepping right outside the lodge, the ski beach is a popular mid-mountain base camp, offering a neatly arranged grid of comfy Adirondack chairs perfectly positioned to soak up the afternoon sun. The lodge is positioned at the base of Bald Mountain, funneling in skiers from the Silver Lake Express, Sterling Express and Homestake Express runs. 

At Deer Valley, it all starts with the impressive level of service: it is evident throughout all guest interactions… everyone is attentive, patient, and eager to please.

What else gives Deer Valley its unique flavor? Firstly, it’s a non-snowboarding affair, so you can downhill ski to your heart’s content without the fear of an overzealous boarding novice crashing into your heels. Secondly, and rarely for US resorts, they limit tickets sales, and will not sell more than 7,500 passes on even the most hectic holiday (Presidents Weekend and Christmas are their busiest ones.) Flying in from NYC we were particularly surprised to realize the resort is a mere 45 minute drive from Salt Lake City, a major hub – so one can realistically fly in from the coast, and be on the slopes by 11 AM. On the adventure front, although Deer Valley features three 5-star hotels onsite – from the Omnipresent St. Regis to the sophisticated Montage, and on to Stein Eriksen Lodge (named after its eponymous founder, legendary Olympic Champion and Park City luminary) – the skiing isn’t all tranquil and civilized groomers. Alongside picturesque trails like the off-the-beaten-path, curvy Jordanelle run, powder hounds can enjoy fresh tracks throughout the season at the Daly Chutes, offering untracked, adrenaline-filled drops off the Empire Canyon lift.

Whether you’re into airtime and steep, rock lined chutes, or scenic, sunny, wavy lines, Deer Valley’s layout and infrastructure is extremely guest friendly, guaranteed to transport you effortlessly across the resort with long queues being a rare occurrence. Summertime here brings out the hiking and climbing enthusiasts, who come to enjoy world class rock climbing and canyon mountaineering, as well as horse-back riding in the great basin, and camping and waterskiing at the nearby Jordanelle Reservoir, a vast man-made lake in the near vicinity.

Deer Valley’s layout and infrastructure is extremely guest friendly, guaranteed to transport you effortlessly across the resort with long queues being a rare occurrence…

Beyond Park City, the wider area boasts several other great resorts within an hour’s drive, so one could do Alta, Sundance or Solitude on the same long weekend if they really wanted to, while staying in the same strategically located hotel in Midway or Heber City, for instance. But the real experience lies in dedicating your vacation to Deer Valley fully. The resort’s vision was the brainchild of San Francisco developer Edgar Stern, who set out to create new brand of ski resort, where skiers feel like guests in a luxury hotel even out on the slopes, waiting for a lift or looking for a snack mid-rides. In their continued quest for excellence in service, Deer Valley runs customer satisfaction surveys regularly, putting out suggestion boxes, focusing on staff training and offering comps like overnight skis storage, overall paying very close attention to the voice of the skier.

And then there’s the food. The aforementioned Blueberry Mojito, apart for being a reliable source of antioxidants and packing a punch that will reinvigorate even the weariest of skiers, has repeatedly won ‘Best Cocktail in Park City’ accolades. It is hardly the only item on-mountain restaurant Royal Street Cafe does well, though, with excellent fish tacos, salads and the fabled Deer Valley chocolate chip cookies all staples on their menu. The bison chili has achieved cult status across the state as well, and deservedly so.

On our last day in Park City, we got a quick snippet of Deer Valley history courtesy of our intrepid guide, Heidi Voelker. A New England native, Heidi moved to Park City after her ski racing career, and never looked back. A former three-time Olympic Skier and national champion, she recalls how the late great Stein Eriksen, pioneer of modern skiing and famous Deer Valley resident, used to come out every Sunday at noon, and to the enjoyment of the gathered crowds perform his trademark forward somersault, a harbinger of today’s freestyle aerials. It seemed like the perfect metaphor for a place that combines style and action, intercontinental flair and uncompromising adventure.

(All images by Motto Mag / courtesy of Deer Valley Resort)