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June, 2025

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Is Deer Valley really that nice?

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Colingarnes
Posts: 610 - Karma: 2,646
So I'm doing a trip with my family and another up to Big Sky for a week in mid January and will also be stopping by Salt Lake on the way there or back to either ski Alta/Snowbird or Deer Valley for a few days. I know it's super uppity and expensive but we have a friend with a cabin up there so lodging won't be an issue and our Ikonpass will cover either resort...

Was just wondering if we should stay near it and ski Deer Valley or just get a place in SLC and ski Alta and Snowbird.

Any Utah locals wanna give this socal guy some insight? Don't care about park (obviously with these resorts). Just want some quality all mountain skiing.
7 years ago
2 0
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LivingDaLife
Posts: 352 - Karma: 1,349
Haven't skied Deer Valley, but just from looking at the terrain there from Park City, it's nothing special. Alta/Snowbird is way better terrain.

Also I got kicked out of Deer Valley for hitting urban there, so yeah, they suck.
7 years ago
8 0
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Trefin
Posts: 113 - Karma: 257
Since youd be coming in mid jan, if conditions are shit DV if decent to great alta/bird. But id recommend staying in the cabin since there is way more to do in PC than in the SLC suburbs if any non skiers are coming with and stranded with no car.

Hes right the DV terrain isnt anything special, however the Daly chutes and bowl are decently steep and fun, but have nothing on alta/bird. Plus dv has free rossi demos by the Empire lodge which is tight when conditions are horrible since you can demo some race skis and rip groomers.
7 years ago
6 0
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Colingarnes
Posts: 610 - Karma: 2,646
TrefinSince youd be coming in mid jan, if conditions are shit DV if decent to great alta/bird. But id recommend staying in the cabin since there is way more to do in PC than in the SLC suburbs if any non skiers are coming with and stranded with no car.

Hes right the DV terrain isnt anything special, however the Daly chutes and bowl are decently steep and fun, but have nothing on alta/bird. Plus dv has free rossi demos by the Empire lodge which is tight when conditions are horrible since you can demo some race skis and rip groomers.


We will be driving. Also we will have 3 kids under 3 on this trip so it's gonna be more low-key
7 years ago
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5474 - Karma: 12,431
If you REALLY like riding chairlifts go to Beer Valley.
If you REALLY like skiing go to Alta/Snowbird.
7 years ago
7 0
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seanahue.
Posts: 2142 - Karma: 3,374
lady morgan has some of the most fun terrain in park city proper (between pcmr, canyons, and dv), and the good shit hardly gets skied there because its about 98% rich kooks who can barely keep it together off piste.

is it a “cool” place to ski? no. is it a good place to ski? yes, fuck the haters
7 years ago
3 1
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,844
Deer Valley is the best resort (note here, resort) in Utah, but the best skiing is at Alta/Snowbird.
7 years ago
9 0
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Done_and_done
Posts: 181 - Karma: 649
No Deer Valley doesn't have Baldy, HIgh Rustler or any of the terrain that makes Alta famous
.
However when it dumps, going off piste at Deer Valley is a treat.
The powder panic is so bad in Little Cottonwood Canyon that my best days have been at DV, Powder Mountain and Snowbasin.
Anywhere in Utah (when it actually snows) is pretty awesome my advice is to track conditions and make a last minute decision if possible.
7 years ago
3 0
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Lyricsylvan
Posts: 104 - Karma: 1,111
just stay on collins and wildcat
7 years ago
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5474 - Karma: 12,431
Lyricsylvanjust stay on collins and wildcat


There's so much more to Alta than Collins and Wildcat.
7 years ago
2 0
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Done_and_done
Posts: 181 - Karma: 649
SkibumsmithThere's so much more to Alta than Collins and Wildcat.


Truth!
7 years ago
1 0
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
Alta and Snowbird absolutely destroy Deer Valley terrain wise. Deer Valley has great groomers, if that is your thing. The food is also excellent.
7 years ago
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skierman
Posts: 8610 - Karma: 9,584
If you want the best powder day of your life, go to Deer Valley. It will be un-tracked all day and you don't have to deal with massive crowds/lines like at Alta/Snowbird. If you want the best food at good prices, I'm shitting you not, Deer Valley is the best for that. If you want the best customer service, Deer Valley. They're so wealthy that they don't give a shit about petty, poor people stuff like lodge food or comping a free lift ticket.
7 years ago
5 0
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J_Christoph
Posts: 2519 - Karma: 8,755
eheathDeer Valley is the best resort (note here, resort) in Utah, but the best skiing is at Alta/Snowbird.

.
7 years ago
1 0
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bleevus
Posts: 1308 - Karma: 2,049
of course its nice bro they have an aerials jump
7 years ago
1 0
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lurking
Posts: 2227 - Karma: 6,876
Most people at DV can ski that well so all the fun stuff is always untouched!
7 years ago
1 0
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Swandog7
Posts: 4957 - Karma: 9,033
If its dumping out, DV will be be a ghost town. Limited on fun chutes and bowls but there are a few spots that are pretty fun. Kinda reminds me of mobbing down to get to the park that doesn't exist. Look for the right spots to ski and its great for a day or two.

If there is decent snow but no real pow, Alta will be less crowded and has obviously better terrain. Alta is more crowded with more terrain. Pick and choose.
7 years ago
1 0
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38215 - Karma: 131,187
Biased as fuck cuz I skied/worked there for the past 3 years or so. I will say that its mostly a "Destination resort" that just so happens to be placed at a ski area. Its totally guest-orientated and caters to that specific traveler and their families so the accomodations are pretty damn good no matter where you go. Dining is plenty and tons of stuff for kids to do.

In terms of skiing, its pretty average. I loved hauling ass down groomers though on some days, and actually banked a ton of pow days there though its not entirely spectacular. The good thing is about most of their guests is that not a lot of people ski off the trails, so you can bank tons of full days skiing nothing but fresh snow. A lot of the stuff thats worth skiing (Daly Chutes, Lady Morgan Chair, Some of the bowls off towards jordanelle side) is kinda short but fun, and there is some pretty fun hidden little gems and aspen tree skiing. Its honestly the most ideal place for families and skiing. Definitely check out the cottonwoods because its totally worth skiing there if you can swing it.
7 years ago
1 0
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38215 - Karma: 131,187
and if you wanna talk sleeper days, if you luck out and get a storm with good SW flow, I live near sundance resort and that place is actually really fucking fun to ski.
7 years ago
1 0
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FostaFreeze
Posts: 10 - Karma: 158
The only thing Deer Valley is good for is screwing around with pretentious assholes. The food is great but you gotta sell your kidney first to afford it

**This post was edited on Jul 2nd 2018 at 2:24:58pm
7 years ago
0 0
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skierman
Posts: 8610 - Karma: 9,584
FostaFreezeThe only thing Deer Valley is good for is screwing around with pretentious assholes. The food is great but you gotta sell your kidney first to afford it

**This post was edited on Jul 2nd 2018 at 2:24:58pm


LOL go to PCMR, Canyons, Snowbird, etc. and its a bargain.
7 years ago
0 0
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,844
FostaFreezeThe only thing Deer Valley is good for is screwing around with pretentious assholes. The food is great but you gotta sell your kidney first to afford it

**This post was edited on Jul 2nd 2018 at 2:24:58pm


Yeah their food costs just as much as any other resort and its 10x better.
7 years ago
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