Canyons Resort
| Canyons | |
|---|---|
 The Grand Summit Hotel at Canyons Resort |
|
| Location | Park City, Utah, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°41′5.82″N 111°33′23.96″W / 40.68495°N 111.5566556°W |
| Vertical | 3190 ft - (972 m) |
| Top elevation | 9990 ft - (3045 m) |
| Base elevation | 6800 ft - (2073 m) |
| Skiable area | 4000 acres - (14 km²) |
| Lift system | 21 |
| Terrain parks | 2 |
| Snowfall | 355 in. - (902 cm) |
| Snowmaking | yes |
| Night skiing | none |
| Web site | Canyons Resort |
Canyons Resort is one of three alpine ski resorts located in Park City, Utah. With 19 chairlifts and 4,000 acres (14 km²) of skiable terrain, Canyons is the largest ski and snowboard resort in Utah. The base area is located 32 miles (51 km) from the Salt Lake City International Airport, accessed via Interstate 80, and is four miles (7 km) from Main Street in Park City, along State Route 224.
The ski area opened as Park City West in 1968, a sister resort to the nearby Park City Mountain Resort, opened five years earlier. It was renamed ParkWest in 1975 after a change in ownership, and the name was changed again in 1995 to Wolf Mountain for two seasons, then became "The Canyons" in 1997, after the acquisition by American Skiing Co. (The small ski area currently known as Wolf Mountain (since June 2005) is the former Nordic Valley near Ogden.) In 2007, American Skiing Company sold all of its assets and dissolved as an active corporation; however the sale of The Canyons to the Talisker Corporation went on hold due to litigation. The sale to Talisker Corp. was finalized in 2008.
In the summer of 2010, the new owners initiated sweeping upgrades designed to 'transform' the resort. A 20-million-US-gallon (76,000 m3) snowmaking pond was installed, and the base terminal of Red Pine Gondola was relocated to create a new gathering area called Ski Beach. Two new high speed quads were installed, including Orange Bubble Express, the first chairlift in North America with heated seats. The addition of Iron Mountain Express opened 300 acres of new terrain. A dozen dining venues were added or upgraded, including The Farm at Canyons which was named Best New Restaurant in Utah in 2012.
In addition to the addition of lifts and snowmaking upgrades, the resort also changed its name from "The Canyons Resort," to "Canyons Resort." Also, the resort changed its logo.
Contents |
[edit] Facts and figures
- Base elevation: 6800 ft (2073 m)
- Summit elevation: 9990 ft (3045 m)
- Vertical rise: 3190 ft (972 m)
- Total mountain peaks: 9
- Total skiable area: 4000 acres (14 km²)
- Lifts: 21 total:
- Red Pine Gondola (formerly known as "Flight of the Canyons")
- Canyons Cabriolet (open air gondola - parking lot to resort village transport)
- Waldorf Gondola (access lift for the Waldorf Astoria and Miners Club hotels)
- Saddleback Express
- Tombstone Express
The Short Cut triple chairlift
- Ninety-Nine 90 Express (expert terrain only)
- Sun Peak Express
- Super Condor Express
- Orange Bubble Express (the only chairlift in North America with heated seats; has orange fiberglass "bubble" that is pulled down and over the skier(s) while riding on the chairlift; replaced Golden Eagle double.)
- Iron Mountain Express
- Dreamscape Quad
- Dreamcatcher Quad
- High Meadow Quad
- Timberline Quad (two-way access lift between Tombstone and Iron Mountain lifts)
- Peak 5 Quad
- Short Cut Triple
- Day Break Triple
- Sunrise Double
- Flat Iron Double
- Sweet Pea (carpet)
- Rip Cord (Swiss Cord)
- Largest single ski and snowboard resort in Utah.
- Terrain:
- Beginner: 10% (Green Circle and Double Green Circle)
- Intermediate: 44% (Blue Square and Double Blue Square)
- Expert: 46% (Black Diamond and Double Black Diamond)
[edit] Lodging
- Grand Summit Hotel
- Waldorf Astoria Park City
- Sundial Lodge
- Silverado Lodge
- Vintage On The Strand
- Hyatt Escala Lodges (Wasatch, Uinta, White Pine)
- The Westgate Resort (Bear, Elk, Bison)
[edit] Dining
- The Farm at Canyons Resort features a menu sourced largely within 200 miles of Park City. The "farm-to-table" restaurant was named Best New Restaurant in Utah in 2012.
- Bistro at Canyons opened in December 2011. Inspired by Parisian neighborhood restaurants, Bistro serves modern American cuisine prepared to kosher standards. Bistro is the only restaurant at an American ski resort that prepares food kosher.
- Slopes by Talisker opened in December 2011 at Waldorf Astoria Park City. Adjacent to Golden Door Spa, Slopes infuses the "Living Well" mantra into its dishes.
- Alpine House serves small-plate food with impressive wine and cocktail list.
- Umbrella Bar offers burgers, beers and people-watching in the heart of the village.
- Red Tail Grill features southwestern food and has a popular outdoor deck.
- First Tracks Cafe
- Red Pine Lodge
- Lookout Cabin
- Sun Lodge
- Tombstone Grill
- Cloud Dine
- Dreamscape Grill
[edit] Spas
- Golden Door Spa is located inside Waldorf Astoria Park City. One of only five Golden Door Spas in the world.
- Grand Summit Spa is located inside Grand Summit Hotel and includes a heated pool.
[edit] Events
- Sprint Grand Prix; Canyons hosts the Grand Prix of Skicross and Snowboardcross. Canada's Dominique Maltais and Austria's Markus Schairer won the snowboardcross gold medals in 2012. The top American finishers were Faye Gulini and Nate Holland. Canada's Marielle Thompson and Chris Del Bosco won gold medals in skicross in 2012. The top American finishers were Langely McNeal and Joe Swensson.
- Spring Gruv; Ten days of concerts and special events including Pond-Skimming and Schlittentag.
- Concerts; Canyons hosts spring and summer concerts with artists such as [[1]], Los Lobos, Little Feat and Martin Sexton.
[edit] Summer Programming
- Mountain Biking: The Summer of 2011 marked the first phase of a new mountain bike park. Accessed off the High Meadow chair lift located at the Red Pine Mid-Mountain Adventure Area, the new park offers three wide trails with smooth, gravity-focused riding for all abilities that complement the existing network of cross-country trails throughout the resort.
- Hiking: Canyons will offer comprehensive hiking experiences beginning in Summer of 2012 with trained naturalists as guides.
- Zip Tour: Another high-speed adventure new to Canyons is the unique zip line circuit. This one-of-a-kind family experience features two thrilling zip lines, gondola and chair lift rides, and short hikes for a wide-ranging mountain adventure. One zip line cruises 800 feet with an 8 percent grade. The other stretches more than 2,100 feet - from Lookout Cabin to Red Pine Lodge area - with a 10 percent grade. Zip Tour is also open during winter, conditions permitting.
- Boating: Beneath the Orange Bubble Express is a 20 million-gallon reservoir that is transformed into a high alpine gathering area. Guests will be able to rent paddle boats or simply relax with a picnic lunch in a stunning mountain setting.
- Miniature Golf: The Resort Village area has a fun-filled miniature golf course. This 18-hole mountain-themed course is located near Ski Beach between Red Tail Grill and The Farm restaurants.
[edit] Backcountry Access
There is access to National Forest Service backcountry from the top of the Ninety-Nine 90 and Peak 5 lifts. Posted signs advise backcountry travelers to carry proper equipment including a beacon, a probe and a shovel. Once travelers go through the designated gates heading into the backcountry, Canyons Resort is no longer responsible for their safety. It is also advised to check the current avalanche conditions for the area: Utah Avalanche Center Accessing the backcountry by ducking ropes, or any way other than through the designated gates, will result in loss of ride privileges at Canyons Resort.
[edit] External links
- Canyons Resort - official site
- Snowboarding at the Canyons - Photo
- U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association - official site
- Utah Avalanche Center - Avalanche Awareness and Information for backcountry travelers
- "Reaching for the Sky in Utah" - New York Times story
