Utah resorts account for 2 of the 3 most expensive ski trips in the U.S.

If it feels like skiing in Utah has gotten expensive, it has — at least in Park City, according to a recent study.

Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain rank among the three most expensive ski area experiences in the United States, according to research commissioned by casino.org. At both, the estimated cost of a lift ticket, a half-day lesson, ski rentals, lunch with a beer and a night’s accommodations on Dec. 27 would set a guest back more than $2,500.

“Hearing that a day of skiing can cost over $1,000 is surprising,” Tomás Aguerre, the research specialist who compiled the data, said in an email to the Tribune, “but it makes sense when you break it down. Between lift tickets, equipment rentals, lessons, meals, and accommodation — especially at luxury resorts during peak season — the expenses add up quickly.”

A day at Deer Valley, which has cultivated an image of opulence and luxury, would cost $2,664 — the second-most in the U.S. — per the study. The ski-only resort had the priciest rental package ($125) and the second-most costly single-day lift ticket rate ($299) of those examined. The study looked only at the 20 U.S. resorts that rated the highest in On the Snow’s 2024 Visitor Choice Awards.

Meanwhile, at Park City Mountain, the study found the same experience would cost $2,538. That would make it the third most expensive resort experience in the country. At $1,788, the next most expensive resort, Colorado’s Beaver Creek, is $750 cheaper.

Only Aspen-Snowmass in Colorado is more pricey than the Park City resorts, the study found. It registered a total cost of $2,932 per person per day.

A day at Snowbird, the only other Utah resort in the study, would costs $999 for a day. That places it at No. 11. Meanwhile, of the 20 assessed resorts, skiers and snowboarders got the best bargain at Purgatory Resort near Durango, Colo. It came in at $485 for a day.

Aguerre pointed out that the costs are not fixed and that there are plenty of ways to curb them. For example, the most expensive part of a ski day at both Deer Valley and Park City Mountain according to the study, is the lodging. By averaging the cheapest, mid-range and most expensive options within a half mile of each resort, the study found staying overnight near Park City’s Mountain Village costs $1,863. Guests would pay slightly more — $1,879 — to stay near Deer Valley. Sharing a space, though, could trim that expense dramatically.

“The actual cost can vary greatly depending on how you plan your trip,” Aguerre wrote. “Using season passes like the Epic or Ikon can significantly reduce costs, as can opting for budget-friendly accommodations or bringing your own gear instead of renting. If you choose smaller or less famous resorts, the expenses can be much lower.

“While $1,000 might be a fair estimate for high-end destinations, it’s not a universal figure — it really depends on your choices and priorities.”

Park City Mountain spokesperson Emily McDonald agreed that a day at the resort doesn’t have to be so exorbitant.

She pointed out that skiers and snowboarders who commit early to visiting the mountain can save hundreds of dollars a day. For example, an Epic Day Pass purchased prior to the start of the season would grant a guest access to the mountain on a peak day for $123, or a little more than a third of the $328 walk-up price. Even just purchasing a few days in advance brings the ticket price down to $289.

Epic Local Pass holders, on the other hand, can get a full season’s worth of skiing and riding — minus peak days in most cases — for about the same as the cost of three peak-day lift tickets purchased online. Plus, both the Epic Pass and the Epic Local Pass give pass holders discounts on food, lodging, lessons and rentals.

“It is important for us,” McDonald said in an email, “to make Park City Mountain accessible and affordable for everyone who wants to visit our mountain.”

At Deer Valley, however, spokesperson Emily Summers said skiers get what they pay for.

“The cost of our rentals reflects the value we place on providing the highest quality equipment and service,” Summers wrote. “This aligns with Deer Valley’s commitment to offering an exceptional and seamless ski experience from start to finish. Our day ticket price reflects our premium differentiated experience including world-class slope grooming, limited skier capacity, ski-only policy and exceptional guest service.”

Those qualities have garnered Deer Valley numerous accolades. Ski Magazine readers voted it the top resort for dining, grooming, guest services, lodging and weekend escapes in the publication’s 2024 Best of the West survey. Additionally, this year the World Ski Awards named it the No. 1 U.S. ski resort for the 12th straight year.

But even $2,500 won’t get a skier on the slopes at Deer Valley after Dec. 27 this year.

Likely in anticipation that the resort might open the first phase of the new East Village expansion over the holidays, the resort announced Tuesday that it had reached its cap on both single lift-ticket sales and Ikon Pass reservations from Dec. 28-31. Now the only way onto the mountain during those dates is to purchase a season pass. And at $3,990 for an adult, Deer Valley has the most expensive ones of those in the state as well.