The Local Scoop on Canyons Village

What is Canyons Village? Canyons Village is the second base area of Park City Mountain, a typical resort village consisting mostly hotels, restaurants and apres options. Most of the buildings and properties are newer, giving the whole area a fresh, polished vibe mirrored by the high energy found in the village during popular travel seasons. Almost all the buildings in the area are focused entirely around the activity in the village, whether that means lodging, food, rentals, or other services. While not as secluded as Deer Valley, there are fewer ancillary activities and attractions in Canyons Village itself, and you may find yourself taking trips into the downtown or Kimball Junction areas to round out your stay. Located about 3-4 miles from Old Town and Main Street, Canyons Village is technically located in the area of town known as Snyderville. Almost any property you choose will be fairly recently constructed and on the upper side of quality.

Lodging

Other than the proximity to excellent skiing, staying in Canyons Village comes with the additional benefit of being a bit more cost-effective than staying right in town. If you want a newer, high-quality accommodation for less, while staying close to the slopes, Canyons Village is the place for you.

There are three ski-in/ski-out properties, in particular, that stand out as excellent experiences at a great value. Sundial Lodge is a comfortable, high-quality lodge with excellent amenities right on the plaza, and is a perfect choice for those wanting a taste of luxury at a reasonable price. For the relaxation-minded traveler, the Grand Summit Hotel is an excellent choice. Between the pool, spa, health club, and childcare, the Grand Summit is guaranteed to ease your mind and refresh your body. Hyatt Centric Park City sticks with the relaxation, putting robes and slippers into your bathroom even, and also manages to cater to the guest on the go with flexible on-site options for meals and refreshments. For more on these properties and all of our favorite ski-in/ski-out hotels, be sure to visit our best ski-in/ski-out hotels page.

There are other options outside of that little list, but you certainly can’t go wrong with any of them. For outright luxury, we love the Waldorf Astoria, our staff pic for best Design, Pool, and Pet Friendly. It’s billed as ski-in/ski-out, but that’s a bit of a stretch. You have to take a gondola to the base, which doesn’t quite qualify in our book. Nevertheless, it is easy and quick access, so we give them a pass. The price may be high, but it is definitely right. You get everything you pay for and more, but the sticker shock is real.

Hyatt Place Park City and Silverado Lodge are ski-in/ski-out, but are both quality properties priced much lower than their slightly more convenient counterparts. If you don’t mind hiking an extra hundred yards to the slopes, the savings are well worth the effort.

The Slopes

Canyons Village is one of two base areas serving Park City Mountain. The unified resort is the result of the merging of the former Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, resulting in the single largest resort in the country. Canyons Village Base Area enjoys several benefits as a result of this unification. The foremost of these is that Canyons Village is less crowded than the downtown base area. You are likely to spend less time waiting around and more time enjoying the less-crowded slopes. There are caveats, however. Between 10 a.m. — noon on most weekdays and a significant portion of the weekend, the lifts are packed. The bottlenecking gets very serious, and you may have to deal with some grumpy customers. It is better to avoid the “rush hour” if you can, though it won’t destroy your trip if you happen into a busy period or two. The central area of the slopes stays crowded: Tombstone Express, Saddleback Express, and the beginner chair High Meadow. Avoid these areas by heading left or right for excellent conditions and no lift lines.

If you get hungry on the slopes, we suggest taking advantage of the delicious Cloud Dine, our pick for best On-Mountain Dining, and Lookout Cabin. The former can be subject to lunchtime crowding, so plan accordingly. You should try both while you visit, if at all possible.

The Atmosphere

Canyons Village feels like a resort, which isn’t a bad thing. It puts travelers in mind of the beautiful landscapes, amazing skiing, and relaxing leisure to be enjoyed during each stay. Hitting the slopes, walking around the plaza, sampling restaurants and shops, and taking advantage of relaxing amenities all contribute to the feeling of being away from it all. Having the best apres ski scene in Park City certainly doesn’t hurt anything, nor does the live music performed in the plaza during the warmer months.

The Final Word

Less crowded and more affordable than its cousin, Park City Base Area, Canyons Village makes a great destination for those wanting to take advantage of the largest ski resort in the United States without having to deal with the hassle and expense of staying downtown. With plenty of newer, nicer properties, you won’t be disappointed with the many convenient options surrounding the plaza at the heart of the village, even if you find yourself having to walk a few yards to get there. There is plenty to do, but the rest of Park City is only five minutes away whenever you feel like heading out on an adventure.