Utah Family Ski Vacations

Previously rated the No. 1 ski resort in North America, Deer Valley Resort offers skiing and boarding enthusiasts the best snow experience imaginable. From powdery slopes to impeccably groomed trails and first class service, Deer Valley is the perfect place for your next Utah family ski vacation.

This massive ski resort expands over six mountains, with more than 2,000 acres of skiable area. Experience Utah's light dry powder as you carve down any of the 100 trails available ranging from beginner to intermediate and expert terrains. Families will love the luxurious amenities offered at Deer Valley including ski valets, lesson and rental packages, on site childcare facilities and an award winning ski and snowboarding school. The Children's Ski School starts for ages 3 and up and offers a low student to instructor ratio for the best learning experience possible.

For families looking to get away from the slopes, the ski resort offers a wide range of other activities including sleigh rides, snowshoeing and hot air ballooning. Families can also visit the historic Park City area, which is full of theaters, shopping, art galleries, dining and more.

If you are looking for a place to stay, Deer Valley offers it all. From private homes to hotel-style lodges and spacious condominiums there is something for everyone. With the wide range of accommodation styles, sizes and amenities at Deer Valley, you can easily find the right place to fit your family's needs.

Spread over eight peaks and with more than 3,300 acres of skiable area, the Park City Mountain Resort is not small to say the least. This skiing Mecca provides guests with immaculately groomed terrain, more than 100 powder-covered trails, stunning mountain views and award winning terrain parks -- giving your family plenty to explore. Best of all, the resort offers great children's ski and snowboarding programs with smaller class sizes, so kids can get the most out of their lesson. Classes start for kids three and up with full and multiple day lessons available.

When the lifts stop rotating, or you're just looking for a day away from the slopes, there are plenty of things for families to do in Park City. Zip down and around the mountain on the Alpine Coaster, grab a tube and get ready to speed down the snow-covered hill at Gorgoza Park, enjoy the local scenery by a traditional horse-drawn sleigh or bundle up and head to the resort's ice skating rink.

For overnight accommodations, guests can choose from a wide range of hotels, condos, private homes and luxury ski-in/ski-out properties. Check out our Park City Family Resorts and Kid Friendly Hotels page for more information on lodging and accommodations.

Named for the Ute Indian dance, yet founded by actor and philanthropist Robert Redford, Sundance Mountain Resort is a picturesque area that has stayed true to its natural beauty. Redford worked to preserve the resort's roots and to keep it from becoming so developed and commercial. The area promotes nature and the environment, as well as creativity, adventure and companionship. Families can find activities year-round and will enjoy the many cultural events and theater performances in the area.

Ski, slide and ride in Sundance at Utah Olympic Park and create at the Art Shack Studio. Enjoy rustic accommodations with cozy fireplaces at the Sundance Resort during the winter, or stay at the Zermatt Resort & Spa for a ride on the European-style carousel in the spring. The resorts are often housing directors and camera men looking to use the landscape as the backdrop to the next great film.

Visit during the famous Sundance Film Festival in January if you can get a room, or wait until the ski season dies down and venture to the area in the spring or fall for the best rates. Either way, families will always find something to do in the Sundance area. And if you're lucky, you might find yourself an extra in a film with some of Hollywood's finest!

With lots of light, dry snow -- about 560 inches per year -- Alta has ideal conditions for both beginner and expert skiers and snowboarders. Located less than an hour from Salt Lake City, Alta is geared toward skiers, but snowboarders can find trails and slopes to their liking at other mountains in the area, such as the Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort. The Alta community is simple and historic, but what do you really need to have a good time other than authentic snow and the slopes?

When you've had enough downhill runs, check out the Cottonwood Canyon Snowshoe Tour, which takes guests to remote spots in the mountains. The free, guided tours are educational and will teach families about wildlife in the region and how animals prepare for hibernation.

After a long day, head back to your home-away-from-home. The lodges and hotels in the area offer nightly movies, game rooms and more. Look into staying at the Alta Peruvian Lodge or the Goldminer's Daughter Lodge.

With well over 500 inches of average snowfall each year, this intimate Utah ski resort features more than 1,200 acres of skiable terrain for all riding levels. Beginner and intermediate trails make up 70 percent of the resorts terrain with the other 30 percent on advanced and expert trails. The Solitude terrain park is ideal for all skiers and snowboarders looking to have some fun and take on new thrills. Most features in the family-friendly terrain park are snow-based and low to the ground, so it's easier for all riders to enjoy.

The Solitude's Snowsports Academy offers private and group lessons for adults, as well as group lessons for children. Supervised activities are available for children 5 and under including storytelling, coloring, snow play and more. Children's play-and-ski packages are also available with semi-private ski lessons during the day.

The charming European-style village at Solitude offers great dining experiences, family activities and cozy accommodations. The resort offers families convenient lodging right on the mountain. The Inn at Solitude is a luxurious full-service hotel, with a perfect ski-in/ski-out location in the heart of the village. The Powderhorn Lodge, Eagle Springs Lodges and Creekside Condos offer one-, two- and three-bedroom units with fully equipped kitchens and gas fireplaces. If you are looking for a little extra room for the family, the Crossings feature spacious townhomes, or there are several luxury homes just steps from the slopes and village.

With a total of 4,000 acres of skiable terrain, the Canyons in Park City is nowhere near small. It is the largest ski and snowboarding resort in Utah, and is one of largest in the United States. Stretched over nine mountain peaks, the resort features more than 180 trails, 19 lifts and a terrain park. There is plenty of terrain for riders of all skill levels to take on, with beginner to intermediate and expert trails. Intermediate trails make up 50 percent of the resort's terrain, with expert black diamond trails taking over 40 percent.

Whether you're just starting out, trying to build your individual strengths on the mountain or looking to take on new skills, the resort offers a ski and snowboarding school for all ability levels. The school offers specialty clinics and private and group lessons for adults, as well as full- and half-day lessons, private lessons and a full-day daycare for children. For families looking to explore the area, take a scenic horse-drawn sleigh ride or go dog sledding through the meadows.

With convenient slopeside accommodations, the Canyons offers families the perfect winter getaway. Featuring six hotels conveniently placed on the mountains, families can enjoy comfortable accommodations in the heart of it all. The Canyons Grand Summit Hotel offers an outstanding ski-in/ski-out location, featuring standard hotel rooms, studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. Families can also choose from the mountainside all suite Escala Lodges, the intimate Sundial Lodge, the luxurious Silverado Lodge or the elegant Vintage on the Strand, with spacious townhomes in a perfect ski-in/ski-out location. Located at the base of The Canyons, the Waldorf Astoria Park City offers families elegant and luxurious accommodations with standard guest rooms, deluxe guest rooms and one- and two-bedroom suites.