It’s still hovering around triple-digits in the valley, but Park City Mountain is turning its attention to winter. It has even set a date for when it expects its 2023-24 ski season to begin:
Nov. 17.
That date applies to both the Canyons and Mountain Village sides of the resort and is consistent with Park City Mountain’s estimated opener from years past. Still, it is anything but certain. Last year the resort opened two days earlier than planned, getting a jump on what would become the snowiest season in resort history. In 2021, however, Park City Mountain had to push its opening date back a week because of lack of snow.
Park City Mountain holds the record for the earliest opening date in Utah history. In 1996-97 it opened on Oct. 26, which records state was the second-earliest it had ever opened. Last year, Brian Head Resort recorded what is believed to be the state’s fourth-earliest opening ski date when it began operations Nov. 4.
This season, Park City Mountain will have a complete set of new cabins on the Red Pine Gondola, which services the Canyons Village side of the resort. The Red Pine is one of 42 lifts at Park City Mountain, which is the largest ski area in the United States by lift-served acreage with more than 300 runs and six terrain parks and beginner areas.
Carpool and paid parking reservations in Mountain Village lots, which were instituted last season, will continue in 2023-24. Free parking can be found at the Canyons in the Cabriolet lot on a first-come, first-served basis. Paid parking without reservations will be available at Canyons in the Upper Village and Pendry lots.
Prices on Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass, which services Park City Mountain, and season passes for most other ski areas go up after Labor Day.
Is it too early to think about winter?
Last week, a photographer in Wyoming captured snow atop Fremont Peak. It is about 280 miles northeast of Park City and has an elevation of 13,751 feet.
Follow @julie_jag