The Canyons Ski Resort
add photos(From The Canyon's Website)
The Canyons offers ski school for kids 2 to14 in group or private lessons. Little Adventures Children's Center, located in The Canyons Grand Summit Hotel, provides state-licensed daycare for your little ones, as well as a variety of fun activities including gondola rides, sledding, indoor and outdoor activities.
9 Reviews for The Canyons Ski Resort
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'11, '12, '130 families found this helpful
"One of our favorite resorts in the US!"
Canyons is so easy to get to! Salt Lake City is a hub airport, and the drive from the city to Park City is only 25 minutes. We can fly from the west coast and be skiing the same day.
THE SLOPES:
If you're an intermediate or advanced skier or snowboarder, you will love this resort. We love all the gated tree skiing and glades, and there's plenty of steep groomers. The mountain is spread out, so you rarely get crowds, and because of the unique terrain, you can see all over the mountain quite easily; no wondering where the next chair is. This really gives you a feel for the mountain.
The new Orange Bubble Chair is fantastic...we're now spoiled for all other chairs. It's heated and covered, so you warm up on the way up. On nice days, keep the bubble off.
FIRST TRACKS
If you get a chance to participate in the Canyons First Tracks program (Tues and Saturday mornings), do so! You go out before the mountain opens, and ski the corduroy and trees before anyone else. Best of all, you do so with one of Canyon's Olympic Ambassadors. We had a blast, and it includes breakfast at the Red Pine Lodge. Eat, then get out on the lifts at the mid-mountain before anyone else!
ZIP LINE
The Canyons zip line is located at mid-mountain by Red Pine, which means you can ski a run, stop to zip, and head out skiing again. I did it in my ski boots! There are three lines (a training line, a shorter but fun line, then an awesome long line over the tree tops). The whole process takes about an hour, and is well worth it. The only hassle is hiking (only a little bit) in your ski boots. If you can have an extra pair of snow boots at the lodge, all the better! Kids 8 and up can zip.
DINING
The dining on-mountain is quite good at Canyons. The Red Pine Lodge has very fresh, healthy options (the veggie chili is excellent) and if you don't want to hassle with trays and cafeteria-style dining, make a reservation at Lookout Cabin. This restaurant is casual (but more expensive) and offers sit-down service so you can relax at lunch.
Disclaimer: my tickets were comped as part of a media stay at The Canyons, for the purpose of review.
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0 families found this helpful
"Good Snow, nice trams"
We like taking our family to the Canyons Ski Resort at least once a year. Parking is down at the base of the mountain and you take a short tram up to the lift ticket offices. Tickets are expensive, like every other Ski resort in Utah. My kids love riding the trams. Once you buy your ticket or rent gear, you hop on another enclosed tram to the base of the ski lifts. The snow is decent. The lodges are fun. We love it there.
0 families found this helpful
"Destination resort in any season"
As a lifelong Utah resident, I recall skiing the former “Park West Resort” in college; cheap skiing with little amenities offered. Forget about the past, the former Park West Ski Resort, now Canyons Resort is Utah’s largest ski resort with amenities galore and outdoor recreation suitable for families in any season.
WINTER
My family visited Canyons resort in early September where we delighted in all of the wonderful summer activities. However, riding the lifts with kids ignited their desire to come back, ski the slopes and see the snow making equipment at work. We stayed at the Grand Summit which is just steps from Canyons Resort’s Red Pine Gondola and Orange Bubble Express high speed quad lift. I have not skied with kids, but can imagine convenience is crucial when handling little ones outfitted in awkward equipment. Furthermore, the Grand Summit offers year round in-house child care that includes activities such as gondola rides to sledding hills and ski lessons for kiddos as young as 2 years of age!
Canyons resort offers some very unique winter programs such as the First Tracks program which gives skiers early entrance to the mountain on certain days of the week. You may even be accompanied by some Olympic skiing celebrities!
Something that completely interests me, something I never knew existed, is an option to ride in one of Canyon Resort’s snow cats, grooming some of the resort’s 4,000 acres. I can already see my 10 year old son and his young at heart father salivating at the thought of riding in one of these state of the art machines.
If picturesque family friendly opportunities are your cup of tea, consider booking a horse drawn sleigh ride at the Grand Summit Hotel. I can already envision those picture perfect postcards that I could send to my flatlander relatives!
SUMMER:
Outdoor recreation at Canyons Resort doesn’t end when the approximate 355 inches of snow melts, it just transforms. Canyons Resort has recently undergone several capital improvements making this a destination resort for all seasons. These improvements include an extensive group of groomed trails, mountain bike park with different skill level trails, private reservoir for fishing and pedal boating, a Zip Tour Adventure for thrill-seeking travelers, and an 18-hole putting course.
We took our kids age 10, 7, and 2 to Canyons Resort in early September to check out some of the new additions to the resort. We rode the Red Pine Gondola to mid-mountain where we embarked on an adventurous journey. First stop, hiking the Red Pines Loop trail (see my detailed review on this hike) where we spotted a moose within 15 feet of the trail. Next we were amazed by the new mountain biking park with obstacles fit for Shawn White on wheels.
Later we explored the Canyons Resort private reservoir after a short hike from the High Meadow Lift where pedal boats and fishing equipment rentals were readily available. Finally we rounded out the day with 18 holes on the resorts beautiful putting course (see my review of the Canyons Resort putting course).
It was a lovely weekend exploring all of these new improvements. Our only disappointment occurred when we arrived at the Canyons Resort’s private reservoir to see Tiger Trout jumping, pedal boats begging for a ride, and fishing poles lined up, all surrounded by clouds and lightening closing in. We were instructed to immediately return to the Red Pine Lodge and wait for the storm to pass. Obviously we didn’t get to boat or fish that day, but I can attest to those fish ready to bite. Okay, so I’m dreaming of those fish waiting to bite; I’m one of those crazy Moms that love to fish. But I do appreciate the caution that Canyons Resort paid due to the storm. We were stranded at the Red Pines Lodge for 40 minutes, a good warning to be prepared for anything at this high elevation. Luckily, I had a stocked backpack with snacks and drinks and the lodge served complimentary hot coffee. We visited the resort a week before the Zip Tour Adventure was to open but I can attest to the awesome venue amid this high alpine paradise. Future visitors who experience the Zip Tour Adventure, please come back and report.
One of my family’s favorite summer activities at Canyons Resort was biking. We discovered that you don’t have to be an extreme bike park obstacle junkie to enjoy the trails. Canyons Resort has groomed trails appropriate for beginning bikers to wild trails suitable for the bold mountain biking crowd sporting complete face-covering helmets and neck braces. With a little one in training wheels and another better suited for a bike trailer, my family found our own adventure on the valley floor of Park City. Canyons Resort and the Grand Summit Hotel are within steps of the Cabriolet lift which dropped our family off, with bikes in tow to a gateway of never-ending bike paths (see my review of Nineteen Sports). These pathways aren’t just paved trails along a busy highway, these pathways lead explorers through trees, and bridge covered streams, expansive farmland and country adequate for video game animation. Every place we turned we found a new path imploring exploration. Unfortunately, “dairy air” issues (i.e. posterior pain) kept us from exploring beyond a few wonderful hours. We will return with gel seats and bike shorts in hand!
In summary, our visit to Canyons Resort can be summed up in a few words, “Park West….never heard of it”. Canyons Resort is a developed, full amenity luxury resort, perfect for families in any season. Bring your bike, bring your skis, or just bring a good book to read; this is destination recreation at its best.
Disclosure: Although I received complimentary gondola and lift tickets, my reviews are always my own opinions and are not influenced by staff or its affiliates.
0 families found this helpful
"Great family resort"
This is a great family resort. They have a great ski school for kids.
There is a "magic carpet" area for the kids to learn how to ski away from the other skiiers starting out. They also have color bibs for the kids to wear so I think it is safer. For lunch, the kids have their own lunch room even!
It gives mom and dad some time to explore the mountain and enjoy the resort knowing that the kids are well taken care of!
0 families found this helpful
"Perfect"
We love staying at The Canyons, they have the best ski hills! But even better then that the rooms are very nice, and have alot of room. We have never been so comfy in a hotel before, they have a really great pool and jacuzzi's that are ALWAYS hot. And we have never done this but they even have spa's you can go to, and the room service is very good.
1 family found this helpful
"Not for snowboarders"
We went with a bunch of friends. I was the only one who skiied, the rest were boarders. There was a lot of flat stretches and they got stuck a bunch of times on the flat. There was fresh powder which I loved and had a great time. My husband and his friends don't plan on going back due to the flat spots.
0 families found this helpful
"Nice resort, but expensive"
The Canyons is a great place to ski. It is very classy and has all the amenities you could ever need. It is also located close to Salt Lake. You could be there within an hour after departing the plane. However, it is an extremely expensive place to be. I would only come here if you have money to blow. I think there are actually better places to ski in Utah for a lot less money. I only come here when I get free passes. Don't get me wrong, it is a very nice resort, and you will have a great time here, but if you're looking to save some dough, go elsewhere. There's plenty out there.
0 families found this helpful
"Skiing fun"
The Canyons Ski Resort is such a beautiful resort. It's huge! My only advice would be if you are gonna go there make a whole day out of it. It's so big and takes a while just to get to the top and get going. It's worth the time just don't get lost. Definitely grab a map so you know where you are. This resort is not as kid friendly to me mostly because of it not being as accessible.
1 family found this helpful
"Everything you could want or need, at your fingertips."
We stayed at the Red Pine Condos at the Canyons Resort over Spring Break. My 4 year old daughter did ski school for the first time, which was a wonderful experience.
Just drop off your child in the center of the resort village at 8:30 am, and they take care of everything. The instructors fit the kids for boots and skis, they take them on the gondola, they feed them snacks and lunch, and all your have to do is pick your kids up at 3:30 in the afternoon!
The teachers are really on the ball. They make sure the kids wear sunglasses and sunscreen. They attach the kids hats to their jackets with plastic swift attachers (!!!!). They tape their street shoes together, write their names on them, and put them in personalized cubbies. No lost hats or boots! Awesome!
The ski school is located on a private and quiet little hill behind the Red Pine Lodge, a few steps away from the gondola. Parents can sit in the comfort of the clean and cozy lodge and watch the lessons, or just go and enjoy the day! The full day lesson with equipment was nearly $200, which is actually a good deal considering the kids spend 5 hours on the snow! My daughter only had 1 other little boy in her class, so she got lots of individual attention and she improved dramatically. (PLEASE NOTE that in order to pick up your child from Ski School, you will have to take the Gondola up to the Red Pine lodge. The Gondola costs $15 per adult, so make sure you include that when you figure out costs. )
The Canyons Resort reminds me a lot of Squaw at Lake Tahoe- super convenient village base with lots of good eats, lovely places to sit with a good book, shopping,, a nice spa- anything you could want.
We ate at the Sundial Cafe (quick coffee place), the Cabin Restaurant (good for huge breakfasts in a lovely setting), and Spruce (amazing, amazing, amazing restaurant that just opened. Very fancy. We didn't want to subject the diners to our noisy and tired kids, so we ordered "take out:" and ate in our condo :-).
Unlike other resort areas that we have visited, the Canyons is not isolated. There is a brand new shopping center about 5 minutes away with a beautiful Whole Foods Market, a Best Buy (in case you forget your ear buds for the iPod), a Massage Envy (for an awesome 60 minute massage for $60) , Staples, Wall Mart (for cheap plastic sleds and any sundries that you forgot). Pretty much anything you need. The Canyons is the most family friendly resort I have ever been to, bar none.
To be sure, the Canyons is expensive. It is a plush and pampered experience and you pay for it. The restaurants are expensive, the ski school is pricey, and you pay for all the extras like the Gondola Ride. But, it is convenient, beautiful, and relaxing. I can't think of any other resort that caters to families as well as Canyons.
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