Park City Mountain is so huge that it takes much more than a day to explore it all — at least, if you’re going to eat.
Canyons Village guide
If you’re lucky enough to make it over to Cloud Dine in time for the fresh, hot-glazed doughnuts in the morning, go! Just know that timing is not an exact science, and the melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts are literally a hot commodity. Sometimes, they only last for about 10 minutes. Other times, they last up to about a half hour. Cloud Dine, located at the top of Dreamscape and Dreamcatcher, opens at 9:30 a.m., and doughnuts can come out anytime between then and about 10:30 a.m. Ask employees if you have time to take a quick run before a line forms.
For the quickest route to Cloud Dine, park at Mountain Village, take Crescent Express up, ski down Claimjumper to the Quicksilver Gondola, exit at mid-station, ski down Blaise’s Way to Snowonder and take Dreamcatcher lift up to Cloud Dine.
If you’re looking for free parking all day, park at Canyons Village and take the Cabriolet.
Red Pine Gondola sweeps all abilities up to plenty of terrain, but it’s especially convenient for beginners who want green runs off of the mid-mountain High Meadow Express or magic carpets.
With Red Pine Lodge and Saddleback Express both close to the entrance to High Meadow Express, keep an eye on any kiddos — or inexperienced adults — you have in tow. The area can get a little crowded as people mill between chairlifts and the lodge, and you wouldn’t want them to end up on Saddleback prematurely.
But, once they are ready, Saddleback sweeps them up through gorgeous aspen groves, and they can make their way down Snow Dancer’s intermediate learning terrain. Hint: Like any learning area, Snow Dancer tends to get crowded with all kinds of skiers and riders “dancing” to their own rhythms. So, go slow and go with the flow there. Other intermediate and black diamond runs on the opposite side of the chairlift are usually less crowded.
Back down at the base of Canyons Village, make sure you ride the Orange Bubble Express, as it’s one of the most unique chairlifts in the nation: Not only does it provide wind protection during a spring storm, on a bluebird day it’s just darn fun to play with the visual aspect of the orange bubble. Try taking a selfie with the orange tint behind you or bring the bubble down to act as a colored filter as you take photos of the mountain scenery. And don’t miss snapping a shot of your orangish shadow on the snow below as you ride up in the morning.
From the Orange Bubble Express, Sun Peak Express is a great place to start an early-morning groomer; the intermediate Eclipse run tends to be soft and smooth, with a mellow mogul option on the skier’s left side, so those with mixed abilities can enjoy the same run.
Wait until later in the morning to head to the Super Condor Express, as the runs require time to soften up. Once they do, they feature some fun terrain.
Blues and blacks abound off of Tombstone Express, and Tombstone BBQ is a great place to stop for lunch.
If you want to avoid the food line, don’t hit it at high noon; 11 a.m. or closer to 2 p.m. are your best bets. Outdoor picnic tables and rocking chairs make it one of the quintessential spring hangouts, particularly for tasty pulled pork, chicken and brisket barbecue sandwiches, which come with coleslaw. The mac ‘n’ cheese is some of the richest, creamiest around, and the crispy tater tots or chili pair well with the barbecue feast’s ample portions.
If you’re a double-diamond skier or rider, definitely head up Ninety-Nine 90 Express from the top of Tombstone Express. But know that ski patrol signs warn that the men and women in red jackets don’t give complimentary rides down just because you look at the terrain and freak out. So, choose wisely: This is steep, bumped terrain. That said, if that’s your style, you must head there. It holds some of the best wintery snow on the mountain, particularly anywhere around Magic Line (after all, it’s named that for a reason). Chutes are wide enough to provide some margin of error, as opposed to other narrow lines that aren’t so friendly.
To reach hiking terrain, take Peak 5, located near Ninety-Nine 90. However, before you expend a ton of energy to do so, take a hint: If all you see are beautiful, farmed tracks and it’s been warm and sunny for days, there’s a reason those faces aren’t skied up; chances are they’re sunbaked, and you missed the freshy boat. Just leave the artistic canvas alone.
Speaking of artistic sights, skiing and riding past the Colony’s luxury homes are quite breathtaking. From Dreamcatcher, Dreamscape or Day Break lifts, you can wind through both modern and more traditional architecture. And, the trio of chairlifts provides nice and soft groomers in the morning, as well.
Mountain Village guide
Live like a local and take Town Lift from historic Park City or make a reservation to park at Mountain Village. Reservations are free for vehicles with four or more people and are not required for anyone after 1 p.m. While some might say Town Lift is slow, particularly compared to the six-pack Payday Express, it’s really cool to see the vintage mining tram towers, which still parallel Town Lift.
Lower lifts like Payday and Crescent lap the lower part of the mountain, which, this time of the year, suffers most from the thaw-freeze cycle, so keep that in mind as you plan your route for both early morning and end-of-the-day turns.
Payday Express, as well as First Time and 3 Kings lifts, offers beginner terrain and learning areas, along with a halfpipe and a minipipe (off 3 Kings).
Payday Express and Town Lift lead to the base of Bonanza Express, the top of which accesses a majority of the Park City side of the resort. A short run near the top of Crescent Express will also take you to Bonanza.
From there, you have plenty of options.
Silverlode Express and Motherlode Express tend to be less crowded than King Con Express on many spring break weekends, and the groomers are typically full of soft snow. Mine Prospector for a groomed black diamond.
Or, from Summit House at the top of Bonanza, head toward Pioneer or McConkey’s Express lifts. These, like other lifts at the borders of most large ski resorts, tend to be nice, little hideouts on more crowded weekends. They offer a variety of terrain for intermediates and beyond. McConkey’s is especially suited to bump lovers, groomer groovers, tree huggers and steep adrenaline junkies.
McConkey’s Express and Jupiter provide double-diamond paradises.
Additionally, blue skiers can ride up the six-pack McConkey’s with their expert friends and take the easy Georgeanna groomer down. Meanwhile, experts can choose between steep tree chutes and more open, bumped bowls.
A short hike up the ridge from McConkey’s allows experts to drop into double-diamond chutes and wider bowl terrain filled in with a mix of wintery and soft spring snow. Just look before you leap: The cornice is massive in places, with relatively easy entrances sprinkled about. There’s even a “cheat,” in case you get in above your head. Though locals hate it when skiers and riders etch the diagonal trail more deeply across their steep and otherwise buff snowfield, one does exist. But try not to be that person.
Thaynes chairlift is a relaxing, old-school, two-person hideout, but watch out for hard bumps even in the middle of the day. Just be aware of each run’s orientation. Thaynes also offers nice groomed blues.
Park City’s rich mining history plays a predominant role on the mountain. You can’t miss the enormous structures, both wooden and metal. Signs inform people about places like Crescent Mine, Kearns-Keith Mill and Mid-Mountain Lodge. Stop off at the lodge, established in 1896, and enjoy a burger, tuna poke or a sesame soy crunch salad (with the option of adding rotisserie chicken) and kick back on its huge dining patio on a sunny day.
Of course, at the base, you’ll find Olympic memorabilia and the resort’s 60-year commemorative tribute.
Legends Bar & Grill is the perfect place for après ski drinks or dinner. For après, choose from a dozen different craft cocktails — both hot and cold — along with an extensive wine and beer list. Shareable plates include specialties like house-smoked trout dip, spinach artichoke dip or seared ahi nachos, along with selections such as cheese fries and hot wings. Here, fresh, crisp salads meet hearty beef chili. Entrees and sandwiches are filling, with half-pound burgers, Vietnamese Bahn Mi or steak sandwiches, rancher’s pie, pork chops, pasta or a beer brat.
For more guidance, free tours start at Canyons Village at the top of Red Pine Gondola at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Historic Mining Tours on the Park City side leave at 10 a.m. near the Eagle Statue and at 12:30 p.m. at the top of Bonanza Express.