Canyons Resort
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Canyons Bike ParkCanyons Resort is one of three alpine ski resorts located in Park City, Utah. With 19 chairlifts, 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of skiable terrain and an average of 355 inches (9,000 mm) of snow each winter, 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.
In the summer of 2010, Canyons initiated sweeping upgrades designed to 'transform' the resort. 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. A 20-million-US-gallon (76,000 m3)snowmaking pond was installed, significantly enhancing the resort's snowmaking capacity and allowing for opening-day skiing to the resort village for the first time in 2011.
Contents
HistoryThe 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. The "the" was dropped in 2010 and the official name is now Canyons Resort.
Facts and figures
Saturday Spring Concert Series
Summer Programming
External links
In the summer of 2010, Canyons initiated sweeping upgrades designed to 'transform' the resort. 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. A 20-million-US-gallon (76,000 m3)snowmaking pond was installed, significantly enhancing the resort's snowmaking capacity and allowing for opening-day skiing to the resort village for the first time in 2011.
Contents
HistoryThe 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. The "the" was dropped in 2010 and the official name is now Canyons Resort.
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: 19 total, along with 2 tow ropes and a magic carpet:
- 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 (Hi-Speed Quad)
- Tombstone Express (Hi-Speed Six-Pack)
- Ninety-Nine 90 Express (Hi-Speed Quad) (expert terrain only)
- Sun Peak Express (Hi-Speed Quad)
- Super Condor Express (Hi-Speed Quad)
- Orange Bubble Express (Hi-Speed Quad) (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 (Hi-Speed Quad)
- Dreamscape Chair (Quad)
- Dreamcatcher Chair (Quad)
- High Meadow Chair (Quad)
- Timberline Chair (Quad) (two-way access lift between Tombstone and Iron Mountain lifts)
- Peak 5 Chair (Quad)
- Short Cut Chair (Triple)
- Day Break Chair (Triple)
- Sunrise Chair (Double)
- Flat Iron Chair (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)
- 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 Park City (Bear, Elk, Bison)
- 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
- Twist
- The Chocolate Bar
- 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.
- Serenity Spa is located inside of The Westgate Resort Park City and includes a heated pool and indoor hot tub.
- 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 BoDeans, Los Lobos, Little Feat and Martin Sexton.
Saturday Spring Concert Series
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.
- Trails
- White Rabbit: Easiest
- Flying Salmon: Less Difficult
- Wild Mouse: More Difficult
- Dark Hallow: More Difficult
- Rally Cat: Very Difficult
- Ricochet: Very Difficult
- Insurgent: Very Difficult
- Parks
- Red Pine Skills Park
- Resort Village Skills Park
- Lifts
- High Meadow Lift
- Short Cut Lift
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