Deer Valley Resort has been working hard this summer to prepare for the winter season, with most projects centered around the resort’s east side.

New lifts and snow guns have been installed at Deer Valley since terrain expansions began in 2024, and construction has started in the East Village area, which will feature luxury hotels, retail and dining.

Garret Lang, senior director of mountain operations, said there isn’t one project he’s most excited about, but instead a large number of small improvements across the resort. 

“(There are) little perfections from last winter,” Lang said. 

Lang called the tasks a “punch list” that they’ve been working through all summer. On that list is adjusting the grade of certain runs around the mountain, moving trees and managing erosion. 

“The punch list is going to make operating so much easier and make things better for our guests,” he said. 

The mountain operations team has made significant improvements to the Redemption run this summer. Snow guns were moved for better placement and to optimize snowmaking conditions. The run has been widened, too. 

Lang said Deer Valley added two new snowcats this year, bringing the resort total to 33.

“(This will help) keep up the groomed terrain Deer Valley is known for,” he said.

The Hail Peak Express will be installed mid-September and will be operational at the start of the 2026-27 season. Hail Peak will add seven new runs and 200 acres to the resort’s total 4,500 acres this season. With this addition, the resort will now have a total of 32 lifts and the capacity for 932 acres of snowmaking.

After the initial 2024 expansion, the Hail Peak area was one of the first to have ski runs cut into the mountain, so Lang is looking forward to the area being skiable this year. 

Construction on the Park Peak and Deer Valley East Village Lodges has been moving quickly this summer, too. Both lodges are planned to open for the 2027-28 season. 

Each lodge is being designed with gondola storage space underground. The cabins will be detached from the lift for temporary storage overnight or during large storms. This will also allow easier access for cabin maintenance. Lang said this system was inspired by European standards for gondola storage. Special gondola cabins are designed for food transport to the Park Peak Lodge, as well as freight loading areas near the regular gondola access points.

The goal is to have each building “dried in” before winter, Lang said, meaning the external work will be completed to the point where no plastic or temporary coverings are needed around the buildings. Construction will continue through the winter on the interiors of the buildings. 

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Park City Mountain has released its plan for 2026-27 season parking, and early access season passes for the Canyons Village and Mountain Village garages are available now for those who had 2025-26 parking passes and an active Epic Pass. Passes will be available for general public sale on Sept. 1.

The 2026-27 plan includes free and paid parking options. Passes will only be available for Epic Pass holders who have Park City Mountain included in their pass. 

The pricing structure is largely the same as last year, combining free and paid options, according to resort officials. Season passes are $825 for each garage. Individual day parking passes are available at the surface lots in the Canyons Village and Mountain Village areas. Day passes are $29 before noon or free after noon. For carpool groups, parking is free all day. 

Before noon, reservations will be required for everyone at Mountain Village, including season pass holders. At Canyons Village, reservations will be requested for pass holders but not required for anyone. 

According to the resort website, purchasing passes doesn’t guarantee availability through reservations, though it says “inventory will be monitored and additional reservations may be released as capacity changes.”

The Canyons Village garage has been under construction since March 2025. The five-story structure is expected to be completed early in December. Last season, the first two levels were open for use. This year the garage will be closed until all construction is finalized. 

Parking in the surrounding surface lots will still be available until then, which will be free for season pass holders. The Canyons Village garage and Skyway gondola stand in place of the old Cabriolet lot and lift. While garage construction remains ongoing, the gondola is set to begin operations on opening day. 

On Aug. 18, the resort announced Nov. 20 as its target opening day for this season. Passes for the 2026-27 season range from $829-$1,119 for adults, depending on resort access.

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The Utah Avalanche Center’s 33rd annual Backcountry Benefit is just around the corner. Ticket prices for the fundraising event will start increasing Aug. 1 until the event on Sept. 10.

The first Backcountry Benefit was held in 1993 after the death of skier Roman Latta. A few months after Latta, a young Black Diamond employee, was killed in an avalanche there was a funding cut to the Utah Avalanche Center. Black Diamond Equipment had recently moved their headquarters to Salt Lake City and they quickly worked to support fundraising efforts.

In the three decades since then, Black Diamond has continued to sponsor the annual Backcountry Benefit as it’s evolved into a large source of funding for the Utah Avalanche Center. The benefit has become known throughout the community as a way to come together and celebrate the start of the season, while supporting the center and its lifesaving work. 

This year, the Utah Avalanche Center wants to bring the focus of the Backcountry Benefit back to the original “why.”

The unusual 2025-26 winter season brought extreme avalanche danger. Four fatalities occurred in one week. The Utah Avalanche Center is working hard going into this season to raise awareness for safety measures. Part of that, organizers say, is strengthening the winter sport community.

Laurel Vincent, communications lead for the Utah Avalanche Center, said the 2026 Backcountry Benefit will still be a party, but with an added emphasis on building up life-saving community bonds. Something as simple as knowing where your party is on the mountain can save someone’s life, she said.

“[The Backcountry Benefit] is a homegrown effort,” Vincent said. “It’s community built and driven.” 

As always, the community can connect with nonprofits, industry representatives and education initiatives, but this year the benefit is promised to be “sport-agnostic.” The backcountry is just as dangerous whether you’re on skis or a snowmobile, so the center wants to emphasize that this event and this community isn’t just for skiers and snowboarders.

The money raised through the Backcountry Benefit keeps every part of the Utah Avalanche Center running. Forecasters employed by the U.S. Forest Service and the essential staff that keep the nonprofit on track are all supported by the benefit. The website and hotline used to share the forecasts and awareness initiatives wouldn’t be possible without community donations, either. 

In addition to supporting the Utah Avalanche Center, this year’s Backcountry Benefit will also support the National Ability Center. Attendees can bring used gear to the event which will be collected and donated to the National Ability Center. Tickets for the Backcountry Benefit can be purchased through the Utah Avalanche Center’s website. For more information on Roman Latta’s story and the history of the Backcountry Benefit, visit here. 

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Under softening spring snow and a bluebird Easter sky, skiers and riders stretched six lifts and 13 open trails into a full day at Park City Mountain, filling Canyons Village with bunny ears, clown wigs and short sleeves for the final turns of the season.

Music from Pixie and the Partygrass Boys carried across the base area at the Canyons Village free concert, soundtracking the final laps as riders slushed through turns and linked what runs remained. Kids sprinted across the base area searching for hidden Easter eggs.

A 6-inch April Fools’ Day storm had briefly brought the mountain back to life, but a quick return to warm temperatures erased any chance of a late season push. By Friday, the resort announced it would close on Sunday.

Evie Eastman and Beth Limerick spent the afternoon skiing together and closing out another season on the snow. Between them, they bring nearly a century of skiing experience, and closing day offered one last chance to be out there doing what they love.

“We’re getting outside,” Eastman said, “celebrating Easter at the church of the up and down.”

For both, the winter still delivered, even if it looked different from what was expected. Park City Mountain recorded 171 total inches of snow this season, well below its 277-inch average and last year’s 279-inch total, according to OnTheSnow.

“I don’t think I got on snow as much as I wanted,” Limerick said. “But it was a pretty satisfying winter nonetheless, even with the marginal snow conditions.”

Even with limited terrain, they said what remained was enough to carry through the day. The snow softened through the afternoon but continued to hold together across the open runs.

“I can hardly think of a better way to spend a winter day than skiing,” Eastman said.

 Limerick added: “It’s fun, it’s freedom, it’s floating and flying and everything good.”

They plan to keep skiing beyond Park City Mountain’s closure, shifting to higher elevation terrain in the cottonwoods for as long as they can. 

At the base, skis and boards were stacked in the sun as people moved between the Red Pine Gondola and the concert and paused to take in the scene. 

Sherry and David, a couple, were visiting from Ohio without realizing it would be the final weekend and learned about the closure after the announcement on Friday. They adjusted their plans and focused on making the most of the time they had.

“We’re just here for the weekend,” Sherry said. “We’re here to get outside, enjoy God’s earth and get some exercise.”

Despite the early end to the season, the couple was excited to take advantage of the opportunity to ski at all. They said it ended up working in their favor.

“We’re really glad to have made it in time,” Sherry said. “It’s been great.”

Michigander Lisa Bjork’s dedication to skiing rivals even some of the most diehard Park City locals. She committed to skiing every single weekend in the Upper Peninsula, rain or shine. 

“We weren’t able to cancel our reservation for the week, so we said, ‘Well, we’re coming and making the most of it anyway,’” Bjork said.

This was Bjork’s first time in Park City, and, having driven from Michigan, she took a few stops at Colorado resorts along the way, hoping to maximize her ski time on her trip out West. 

“This is our first time ever at Park City, so we’re a little bummed that we didn’t get the skiing we had hoped for. But it’s so sunny and beautiful, and it’s just a gorgeous view anywhere you look here,” she said. “We don’t have this in Michigan.”

Bjork, who has been skiing since she was 13, said she was grateful to get a day on skis at Canyons Village and is using the rest of the trip to spend more time exploring town.

“Any day on skis is still a day on skis,” she said. “We’re really enjoying it. We’ll definitely be back, hoping for a bit better snow.” 

For Emil Harry, skiing on closing day isn’t optional. He’s attended every year since he was 6 years old, when he first learned to ski in Boise, Idaho — a streak that now stretches more than three decades.

“I have to ski closing day, no matter how bad conditions are,” he said. “I’m really superstitious. If I don’t make closing day, it weighs on me,” he said.

This winter, he shifted a lot of his skiing energy to work on skills in the park, spending much of his time at Woodward Park City as conditions changed. 

“Woodward was a godsend,” he said. “So I skied park pretty much all season.”

He said in a low snow year, park skiing offered the most consistency and made for a successful season, even as big mountain terrain remained limited.

Closing day, though, is exactly his kind of skiing. He said spring conditions are his favorite, making the final day less of an obligation and more of something he genuinely looks forward to. 

Deirdra Walsh, vice president and COO of Park City Mountain, said the day reflected the tireless effort of resort teams and the guests who continued to show up through a challenging season.

“It has been a season of creativity, commitment, dedication in ways that I don’t think anybody has had to do in a long time here,” Walsh said. “I’m so incredibly proud of every team member who made this possible.”

She pointed to both employees and guests as central to the experience, describing how people responded to the conditions by continuing to show up and make the most of each day.

“The best antidote in a season like this is to actually go out and ski and have chairlift conversations where people are making the most of it,” she said. “Having fun and great times with their friends and family — that’s just, at the end of the day, what it’s all about.”

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Winter is coming to Park City. 

Park City Mountain announced Wednesday it’s targeting a Nov. 21 opening day, kicking off the ski season almost a week before Thanksgiving.

“The Friday before Thanksgiving is historically our target. For as long as most of us can remember, that has been our goal,” said Vice President of Mountain Operations Mike Lewis. “Our experience tells us that by that time, snowmaking and natural snowfall typically allow us to deliver a reliable, high-quality early season experience for our guests.”

Opening day is the product of year-round planning. It’s a careful balance of snowmaking, lift readiness, staffing and weather, said Lewis.

“Mother Nature always plays a role, and when she cooperates, we take full advantage by getting our snowmaking going as early as possible,” Lewis said. “Snowmaking is critical not only for opening day but also for building a strong base all the way through to closing day. From the very beginning, we are already thinking about how to deliver a long and memorable season.”

From the first blast of the snow guns, the Park City Mountains operations team is already thinking months ahead, laying down a base built to last through the spring and planning terrain rollouts that will keep the mountain expanding steadily through the holidays. Priority goes to beginner terrain, like First Time Lift area, as well as critical mountain-wide connector trails, such as Homerun, along with key lifts like Saddleback and Tombstone that anchor early-season skiing.

“Our snowmaking team is strategic about where to start. We think about the mountain from top to bottom, side to side and across terrain types to make sure the right pieces come together,” Lewis said. 

Another early-season goal is to connect the resort’s Canyons Village and Mountain Village terrain by Christmas, a process that relies heavily on targeted snowmaking to ensure consistent coverage across critical terrain. Sometimes, that strategy means being patient. Lewis said the team will occasionally hold off opening a lift by a day if conditions are lining up to add an extra run and create a better overall experience.

“It’s a balance, especially at the largest resort in the country, and our team is incredible at managing the changing dynamics and putting out a strong product,” he said.

Park City Mountain operates the largest snowmaking system in Utah, according to Lewis. That technology has allowed for a consistent opening window regardless of natural snowfall, making it a critical component to a successful start to the ski season each year.

“Snowmaking plays a huge role in making sure we are ready to deliver an amazing opening day,” said Lewis. “That means when temperatures and conditions line up, we can create high-quality snow surfaces even if natural snowfall has been light.”

The resort replaced almost 1,400 feet and added 700 new feet of snowmaking pipe this summer. Crews also did substantial work in the 3 Kings Terrain Park by building in the base for certain features with dirt, reducing the need for snowmaking there and freeing up resources for other parts of the mountain.

“The reality is that the puzzle pieces that get us ready for opening day start being assembled almost as soon as the lifts stop turning from the previous season,” said Lewis.

This year’s work included cable splices on four lifts, a full haul rope replacement on the Quicksilver Gondola, bullwheel bearing replacements and safety testing across the resort’s 41 lift fleet. 

Park City Mountain will debut the Sunrise Gondola, offering another point of access to the upper mountain from Canyons Village this year. 

“It may still feel like summer in Park City right now, but our team is dialed in and focused on creating a fun, exciting and memorable winter,” Lewis said. “Every detail we take care of in the summer and fall, and the critical days once snowmaking becomes feasible, means that when the first chair leaves the base, our guests are stepping into a season that is set up for success from day one.”

Only two other Utah resorts have announced opening dates so far, with the early-season rivalry for Utah’s longest ski season once again coming down to Brian Head and Solitude. Brian Head is targeting Nov. 7 this year, while Solitude plans to open on Nov. 14.

That competition has become something of a tradition. Last season, both resorts opened on November 8, though Solitude squeaked ahead into the record books by spinning its lifts at 9 a.m., an hour ahead of Brian Head, technically claiming the title of Utah’s first resort to open for the 2024-25 ski season.

Deer Valley Resort has not yet announced its official opening date for this winter. 

“We’ve historically always opened the first Saturday in December. However, the last two seasons, we pushed the date up by a week or so and announced the change in early/mid November based on early-season conditions, natural snowfall and snowmaking progress. At this time, our opening date is not set for the 25-26 season,” said Emily Summers, director of communications at Deer Valley. 

The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center is currently forecasting neutral ENSO conditions this fall, with a weak La Niña possibly forming in early winter before fading back to neutral in the spring. Neutral or weak La Niña winters in Utah have brought mixed outcomes in years past, with some seeing abundant snowfall, while others rolled in with lean starts.

“We are always analyzing weather trends, including snowmaking windows, so we can be out front in knowing when each piece needs to be put into place,” said Lewis. “Our goal for opening is to ignite excitement for a new season full of boundless skiing and riding opportunities and to ensure that everyone who comes to Park City Mountain has an experience where they feel like they belong.”

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Park City Mountain resort hosted the 21st annual pond skimming event mid-mountain near the Red Pine Lodge on the Canyons side Saturday and Sunday, April 15th and 16th. The event spanned two days due to a tear in the pond’s tarp, causing the pond to drain. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

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The National Ability Center held their annual Snow Challenge event at Park City Mountain on C.B.’s Run Saturday, April 1, 2017. Participants formed groups to race in and dressed in costume. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

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The Town Race Series slalomed on C.B.’s Run at Park City Moutnain Resort Monday afternoon, March 13, 2017. Locals were able to sign up and participate in the event. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

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Skiers and snowboarders from at least three different states convened at Park City Mountain Resort to participate in the USASA Big Mountain West Series Championship halfpipe and slopestyle courses. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

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The National Ability Center holds their annual Huntsman Cup event at Park City Mountain Resort Tuesday – Friday, Feb. 7th-10th. The IPCAS-sanctioned, alpine ski racing event is geared toward athletes focused on building technical skills in racing and lowering their points to quality for more upper level competition. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

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