Park City, Utah is the base for one of North America largest ski resorts, comprising both Park City Mountain and Canyon Village. To avoid the crowds, we flew into Salt Lake City, Utah one week before Christmas and got back Christmas Eve. The flight is just about one hour if you are coming from Phoenix, Arizona. Unfortunately, there is no direct public transportation from the airport to Park City. So we took Lyft: it is about one hour drive, 40-50 dollars each way during no rush hours.

We booked an accommodation at The Prospector via Airbnb close to Park City Mountain where most of the lifts are. If you are looking for some nightlife, nice restaurants and bars, it might be better to stay in old town Park City close to Main Street. There is a free bus service that connects Park City Mountain, Old Town Park City and Canyon Village. While many people rent a car, we did not. We got around just fine thanks to the excellent bus service.

Skiing

Park City Mountain is part of Vail Resort, a company that owns several ski resorts all over the world. One can purchase an Epic Pass which gives access to several ski resorts in North American and beyond, including Park City Mountain. The ski pass costs about USD 100/day, during off peak days if it is purchased in advance. The price goes up significantly for peak days during the Christmas holidays. It can go up to USD 200/day or more.

We went skiing for a couple of days. The mountain offers several choices for skiing at all levels: a few double black diamond trails; several single black diamond trails; many blue trails; a few green trails for beginners. The snow conditions in late December 2022 were good. It snowed December 21, so there was powder on the slopes the next day.

The networks of lifts and ski trails is extensive, and very well marked. Plenty of people are available to give information about ski trails and snow conditions. Ski instructors seem well-prepared and caring. Overall, a great experience.

Snowshoeing

We wanted to do another winter activity besides skiing. So we thought about snowshoeing. We researched a few companies on-line who lead guided tours. We called White Pine Touring but there were all booked. So we went with another company, AllSeasonAdventures. We booked a morning snowshoeing tour for a couple of hours. The guide, Traci, picked us up and drove up to the trailhead for Rosi Hill. We were together with another participant. Traci was very knowledgeable, provided all the necessary equipment: snowshoes, waterproof coverings, poles. We snowshoed for about an hour on a very clearly marked track, mostly along the side of a hill overlooking a road and some houses below. Traci shared her extensive knowledge of the outdoors, but the snowshoeing trip was rather underwhelming. It was nothing more than a gentle stroll in the woods–and it did not even seem to require snowshoes. So we were disappointed.

In the afternoon, we went on a beautiful hike in the snow up the hill behind The Prospector where we stayed. The hike is called Lost Prospector loop and was easily accessible. We hiked with our trekking boots, but the snow was sufficiently compact to sustain our weight. The views from the top were calming and serene, and the setting provided us with the right amount of solitude and adventure. We then made it back home before sunset.

Fireworks and Christmas lights

The last day we took the bus to Canyon Village, a short ride from Park City old town. Once we got to the transit center, we took an old-style gondola lift called Cabriolet that brought us directly to the main square. The lift is free. It is an effective, and somewhat unconventional means of public transportation. The city organized public fireworks, music, ice sculpturing and free chocolate churros. The Christmas lights were magical!

Cost breakdown

Skiing can be very expensive. We tried to contain costs, but still ended up spending quite a bit. Here is a rough breakdown of how much we spent for just a few days on the slopes:

• ski rentals via Ski Butlers: 150/day for two people
• ski passes Epic Pass: 200/day for two people
• accommodation: 200/day for two people
• groceries at Fresh Market: 150
• dinner at Baan Thai: 80
• breakfast at Five5eeds: 50
• transportation to/from airport: 40 each way
• flight: 400 for two people