Planning a Park City vacation? We’re here to help!

The most glamorous town in Utah, Park City is known for both its incredible winter skiing conditions and its cooler-than-thou Sundance Film Festival (founded by Robert Redford). No matter whether you’re in town for the snow, the schmoozing, or both, there’s a lot to love about this former mining outpost.

The town started life as a mining camp in the 1860s when soldiers stationed in nearby Salt Lake City headed over the mountain in search of silver. The railroad arrived in 1870, followed by hundreds of hopeful folks looking to get rich quick. With very snowy winters, its no wonder that skiing caught on fast here from the 1960s onwards when a government grant allowed the first resort to open. Now the area boasts Deer Valley Resort, Park City (now incorporating Canyons), and Sundance Mountain resort (also founded by Redford), resulting in a staggering amount of choice when it comes to which patch of fresh powder snow to enjoy.

Just 45 minutes from Salt Lake City, with frequent flights to some 95 cities (including of course New York, Chicago, L.A., and Houston), Park City is one of the most readily accessible ski destinations in the whole of the USA. Ski season runs from November to April, while summer brings pleasant temperatures and a whole host of outdoor activities such as fishing, golf, horseback riding, mountain biking, and more.

Park City was always huge in terms of skiable area, but since the incorporation of Canyons resort a couple of years ago, it has become the largest ski resort in America, with over 300 trails. Utah lays claim to having the 'Greatest Snow on Earth' and it's true that amazing powder days are pretty frequent. It also has Olympic Pedigree, having hosted the Winter Games back in 2002. Much of the infrastructure built for the Games is still in existence, meaning visitors can try their hand at bobsledding and even ski jumping.  

The Town ski lift runs right from Main Street up to the slopes, making it easy to ski down for lunch before zipping back up to the top of the ski hill once you’ve paid the bill. From up top skiers are close to the Bonanza chair and a host of blue and black level runs. Experts may enjoy heading on further from Bonanza to McConkey’s Express lift to access the very tricky glades at Jupiter Peak.

If you’re just starting out, the Canyons side has plenty of nice long green runs that will enable you to find your ski legs. There are options for experts here too, including the Super Condor, which leads to some extremely challenging terrain. With over 7,000 acres of trails, you’ll never have to ski the same run twice.

Yes, Park City is famous as a winter haven, but in recent years summer activities have gone from strength to strength. One of the most popular is golf: the town has 7 public and 8 private courses to choose from. The Wasatch Mountain and Lake courses are among the most popular, offering panoramic views of the Wasatch Mountains along with plenty of challenging holes. At an elevation of 6,000 ft, temperatures here are pleasant even in high summer.

For mountain bikers, there are over 400 miles of trails to explore around Park City, so the challenge will be where to begin! There’s a great mixture of easy trails where you can enjoy the scenery, all the way up to mountain passes better suited to expert riders If you love your steep descents, you’ll be glad to know that you can access mountain bike trails from the ski lifts at Park City and Deer Valley resorts during the summer months. If you prefer not to travel with your equipment, Luxury Retreats can organize equipment rental for you.

You might not think it, but this corner of Utah even offers watersports – everything from kayaking, and paddleboarding to sailing and even white water rafting! The region’s Provo river is a favorite for kayaking and rafting tours. The river feeds into the Jordanelle Reservoir just a few miles from downtown Park City. The reservoir makes a great spot for a summer dip or a couple of hours’ paddleboarding. You can also try your hand at jet skiing or wakeboarding here.

Experience the luxury of our Park City vacation rentals

Summer or winter, Luxury Retreats has a wide variety of luxury accommodation in Park City, from slopeside homes to stylish apartments in the center of town.

If you’re planning a ski trip with kids in tow, take a look at our homes sleeping up from 10 to 28 people, ideal for an extended family vacation in Park City . With hot tubs, ski lockers, boot warmers and more, our chalets are set up and ready with everything you need, so all you have to do is grab your lift pass and hit the slopes. With some homes just one minute away from the ski lift, there’s nothing standing between you and some of that world-class powder skiing. Steam rooms and saunas at some properties go the extra mile to soothe tired muscles and help you get the most out of your trip.

If you and your loved one are both active types, there’s no better way to celebrate your new life together than a romantic ride in the Town Ski Lift to take your first run of the day as a married couple. Our cozy one-bedroom suites and homes will turn your dream of a honeymoon in Park City into reality. In the heart of downtown (some properties are right on Main Street) but cozy and secluded at the same time, you can combine days on the slopes with romantic candlelit dinners or movie marathons with a roaring fire in the background.