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
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	23
Terrain parks	2
Snowfall	355 in. - (902 cm)
Snowmaking	yes
Night skiing	none
Web site	The Canyons

Canyons Resort is one of three alpine ski resorts located in Park City, Utah. With 19 chairlifts and over 4000 acres (14 km²) of skiable terrain, Canyons is the largest ski 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 made a number of upgrades designed to 'transform' the resort. A 20-million-US-gallon (76,000 m³) snowmaking pond was installed, and the base terminal of the gondola was relocated. Two new high speed quads were installed, one of which replaced the Golden Eagle double. The other opened 300 acres of new terrain on Iron Mountain.

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.

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: 23 total:
  • Red Pine Gondola (formerly known as "Flight of the Canyons" prior to summer 2010 base relocation)
  • Cabriolet (open air gondola - parking lot to resort village transport)
  • Frostwood Gondola (access lift for the Waldorf Astoria and Miners Club hotels)
  • Saddleback Express
  • Tombstone Express
    

    

    The Short Cut triple chairlift
  • Ninety-Nine 90 Express
  • Sun Peak Express
  • Super Condor Express
  • Orange Bubble Express (new for 2010-11, replaced Golden Eagle double)
  • Iron Mountain Express (new for 2010-11)
  • 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 Handle Tow
  • Rip Cord Handle Tow (previously known as 'Towin'; relocated for access to Orange Bubble Express)
  • Rip-a-roo Handle Tow (ski/snowboard school only)
  • Magic Carpet (ski/snowboard school only)
• 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)

Lodging

• Grand Summit hotel
• Sundial Lodge
• Vintage On The Strand
• Hyatt Escala Lodges (Wasatch, Uinta, White Pine)
• Waldorf Astoria
• The Silverado

Dining

• Alpine House
• The Farm
• Umbrella Bar
• Red Tail Grill
• First Tracks Cafe
• Red Pine Lodge
• Lookout Cabin
• Sun Lodge
• Tombstone Grill
• Cloud Dine
• Dreamscapes Grill

New for 2011/2012

• Red Pine Gondola; (relocation of the base of Flight of Canyons Gondola; replaced cabins; installation of angle station)
• Orange Bubble Express (a high speed quad with a mid-station at the top of Short Cut Chair; heated seats, orange plexiglass weatherproof bubble)
• Iron Mountain Express (high speed quad/ access to the newly skiable terrain on Iron Mountain, which is now officially part of Canyons)

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 will offer three wide trails with smooth, gravity-focused riding for all abilities that complement the existing network of cross-country trails throughout the resort.)
• Zip Line Circuit; (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. With two zip lines that stretch more than 2,100 feet with a 10 percent grade and 800 feet with an 8 percent grade, the first phase of development for the new zip line circuit is an exciting addition to Canyons’ summer programming)
• Boating; (Also located a brief walk from the Red Pine Adventure Area is the 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 will be transformed into a fun-filled miniature golf course. This 18-hole mountain-themed course will extend throughout the Resort Village where parents can join the action or watch the game while dining alfresco at nearby world-class restaurants)

Backcountry Access

Canyons Resort offers its guests access to the 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 The 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 The Canyons Resort.

External links

• Canyons Resort - official site
• Snowboarding at the Canyons - Photo
• U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association - official site
• Deseret News.com - The Canyons - 03-Feb-2005
• Canyons Ski Resort - snow report, lift ticket info, webcam, trail map
• Utah Avalanche Center - Avalanche Awareness and Information for backcountry travelers