7 Utah Ski Resorts: Experience Some of the Greatest Snow on Earth

Under four miles south of Park City, Montage Deer Valley is a postcard-worthy mountain retreat providing ski-in-ski-out access right next to the lifts of Deer Valley. With mountain or valley views from every room, you can immerse yourself immediately in the alpine lifestyle. Imagine sinking into your deep-soaker tub before snuggling up in front of the gas fireplace while overlooking mountain trails and snow-capped treetops.

Come morning, wake up your muscles with a Morning Mountain Stretch or Vinyasa Yoga class at Spa Montage Deer Valley. The largest spa in Utah, it measures 35,000 square feet and draws in pamper-ready guests to unwind in the indoor mosaic swimming pool and private relaxation area with fireplaces, steam rooms, whirlpool tubs, and showers. If you’re visiting with your honey, book a treatment in the signature Serenity Couple’s Suite and share a luxurious soak in the two fireside copper tubs.

Continue the romance with an intimate meal at signature restaurant Apex, showcasing excellent cuts of meat from small family farms, sustainable seafood, and artisanal produce. Share a mighty Wagyu Tomahawk rib-eye, or swap bites of Maine lobster risotto with butternut squash, baby arugula, and parmesan. If you’re after something more casual, head over to Daly’s Pub for a handmade pizza cooked in the brick oven, or sample house favorites like a pastrami Reuben washed down with a Montage Mountain Ale. After dinner, you can challenge your partner or ski buddy to a game of shuffleboard or darts – there’s even an on-site bowling alley.

Sundance Mountain Resort, the 5,000 acres of wilderness at the base of Mount Timpanogos was once purchased by Robert Redford in 1969. Originally a conservation project, the resort now has a small village that offers a peaceful escape from city life. In your rustic room, curl up on a studded leather sofa before a roaring fire, or relax in the morning in your private patio set amid frost-kissed evergreens. If you’re with a big group, you can spread out in a mountain house or lodge with up to seven bedrooms.

Dinner is served in The Tree Room, a candlelit restaurant featuring Native American art from Robert Redford’s private collection. You’ll savor mountain fare like squab with blackberry confit and parsnip crumble, followed by a beefy duo of short rib and New York strip steak. Stay on for an acoustic music set that supports local musicians, or head to the on-site Owl Bar for a nightcap. Once frequented by Butch Cassidy’s Gang, the restored bar was moved from Wyoming to Sundance so you can sip on a craft beer or glass of wine without the extra trip.

Fill up on brunch at Foundry Grill before hitting the slopes, with everything from smoked trout hash with eggs and Brussels sprouts to maple syrup-topped buttermilk pancakes. You can get lift tickets and season passes right from the resort, as well as ski or snowboarding gear if you didn’t bring your own.

For an ultra-cool winter experience, zoom down snowy runs under a starlit sky or cross-country ski under the full moon with the resort’s famed night skiing programs. And when you want a low-key break? Visit the Art Studio for exhibits by local artists and live demonstrations on Saturdays.

Named after the Norwegian Olympic Gold Medalist, Stein Erikson Lodge is a European-style luxury resort in Deer Valley. Located mid-mountain, the lodge has ski-in-ski-out access and a cup of hot chocolate or cider waiting for you in the ski valet area. Choose from deluxe rooms or suites, decorated with natural wood and stone, many of which come with private balconies and fireplaces.

Wind down after a day on the slopes with a Candlelight Flow or Mindful Meditation class at Utah’s only five-star spa. Steam up in the sauna before plunging into ice-cold baths, or book a treatment like the Off the Grid, designed to help you disconnect from technology and reduce stress. Before dinner, chill out in the Troll Hallen Lounge with a Bloody Mary garnished with celery, olive, and pepperoncini. Alternatively, catch an evening movie or the big game in the new 56-seat cinema.

When tummies rumble, there’s the award-winning Glitretind Restaurant with seasonal menus featuring local and sustainable ingredients. Choose tasty bites like Spanish turbot with caviar couscous, spinach, and a saffron butter sauce, or Rocky Mountain elk tenderloin with truffle au-gratin sweet potato and Brussels sprouts. Chat to the sommelier to select an accompanying wine from the cellar of more than 10,000 bottles. You’ll want to return for Sunday Jazz Brunch, where you’ll be treated to decadent plates like banana foster crêpes, maple-glazed bacon and breakfast potatoes, and a seafood display with Norwegian smoked salmon, red trout, mussels, and eel.

The St. Regis Deer Valley takes ski-in ski-out luxury to the next level, with a butler service on offer if you book a suite. Leave them to unpack and press your clothes while you head to the two-story lobby to check out the après-ski scene and sip on a complimentary hot chocolate. Grab a seat in front of the fireplace at the St. Regis Bar, modeled after the King Cole Bar in New York, where the original Bloody Mary was created. Order the 7452 Mary, the bar’s signature drink, and marvel at the twist on a classic with wasabi and celery espuma, cayenne pepper, and black lava salt.

If it’s not too chilly, step out onto the Mountain Terrace overlooking both Deer Hollow Run and Deer Valley to see if the outdoor fire pit is ablaze. Gather at 5.30 p.m. to watch a bartender kick off the evening with a champagne sabrage, from which you’ll get a complimentary glass of bubbly. Follow the crowd back into J&G Grill to sample the menu’s hyper-creative dishes, such as basil-crusted barramundi with lentil and mushroom cassoulet or 30oz bone-in Tomahawk steak with blistered shishito peppers.

With your belly full and happy, you’ll want to look after the rest of your body, too. Check out the St. Regis Athletic Club for state-of-the-art fitness equipment and a spacious yoga/meditation studio. Or, follow the spiral staircase up to Remède Spa to trade your stresses for steam and perfume in the whirlpool and sauna facilities, plus private treatment rooms.

With a ski lift just 150 yards away, The Chateaux Deer Valley hugs the picture-perfect mountainside in Silver Lake Village. Head straight to Cena Lounge for a cup of hot buttered cider spiked with Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum, or a Snowball Hot Chocolate with peppermint schnapps. Grab a seat and gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows while you wait for your baked fontina fondue to arrive.

Choose from standard rooms to four-bedroom suites, all designed with comfort in mind – think stone gas fireplaces, cashmere throw blankets, plush robes, and Jacuzzi-style tubs. If you’re traveling with the family or a group of friends, you’ll want to check into a suite with a full kitchen, spacious living area and plenty of sleeping options so everyone has their space. Or for some “me” time, soothe your post-skiing feet with a Mountain “Heeling” treatment at Le Spa Chateaux. Imagine how relaxed you’ll feel after an exfoliating scrub, hot stone treatment, and a much-needed massage.

After a day in the snow, rally the troops for dinner at Cena Ristorante. Delight in rich Italian dishes like braised lamb shank with pancetta polenta cake, or Muscovy duck breast with parsnip risotto. Finish with the flourless chocolate cake with hazelnut and chocolate mousse or a glass of Frangelico or amaretto for a warming digestif.

In previous lives, this was a schoolhouse, a dance hall, and a bed and breakfast. Now, the Washington School House brings a taste of Paris to downtown Park City. Just two blocks from the town lift for Park City Mountain, you can park your car and be on the slopes in no time.

Enjoy après-ski in the house’s opulent living room, decked out with a roaring fireplace and 10-foot gilded mirror flown in from an opera house in the south of France. Or sit beside the open-air pool and toast marshmallows on the fire pit made from the steel torch of the 2002 Winter Olympics. On especially brisk days, head inside to the lounge area where you can sink into a leather sofa with a glass of whiskey under the watchful painted eye of America’s founding father and hotel namesake.

Each of the 12 guest suites are individually decorated with French antique furniture, crystal chandeliers, and marble bathrooms. Choose the Lofted King Suite with reclaimed oak barn wood floors, an iron spiral staircase, and nine-foot-tall original schoolhouse windows. After mastering the snowboard, pamper yourself with Molton Brown bathroom products and Habidecor towels before slipping underneath the Pratesi linens of your sumptuous bed.

Breakfast is served each morning in the living area, where you can indulge in fluffy pancakes with fresh fruit or heartier fare like eggs, sausages, and bacon. Chat to the executive chef about arranging a private dinner and co-design a menu for an evening made just for you.

In the heart of downtown Park City, Hotel Park City creates an old-world ski lodge vibe just minutes from the slopes. Housed in buildings more than 100 years old, the hotel features communal areas with high vaulted ceilings, epic stone fireplaces and soft leather sofas that you won’t be able to resist sinking into after a day’s activities.

For extra relaxation, wind down with a sauna and steam in an herb-infused room, or book a private treatment like the High Mountain Hydration’s strawberry rhubarb brightening exfoliation. Take a moment for yourself in the meditation room and set your intentions for the rest of your holiday. Or if you’d rather keep to your own space, head to your room to sit out on your private balcony or patio before diving into your jetted tub and pampering yourself with Body Bliss toiletries. Wrap up in a thick terrycloth robe and watch the crackling fire from your leather loveseat. Whatever suite you choose, you’ll get a full kitchen and dramatic views of the Wasatch mountain range.

When hunger strikes, satiate your appetite with a flavourful prime steak cooked to perfection at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Or channel the Big Easy with barbecue shrimp sautéed New Orleans style with reduced white wine, butter, and spices. In the morning, you’ll find a pre-ski fill-up at Bandannas Grill, with breakfast options like shrimp and avocado Benedict.