Skiing in Sundance

Sundance Ski Area

At Sundance you’ll find just 450 acres (182 ha) of alpine skiing and snowboarding, 14 miles (22 km) of cross-country trails and six miles (10 km) of dedicated snowshoeing trails. If you’re looking for tons of variety, this might not be the best place to come.

At Sundance you’ll find just 450 acres (182 ha) of alpine skiing and snowboarding, 14 miles (22 km) of cross-country trails and six miles (10 km) of dedicated snowshoeing trails. If you’re looking for tons of variety this might not be the best place to come, as the skiing acreage is far smaller than many U.S. ski resorts, a number of which have over 2,000 acres of skiable terrain. Sundance does cater to skiers and snowboarders of all levels, however, and it is particularly good for familes, as one lift accesses beginner, intermediate and advanced/expert terrain. Intermediate and advanced skiers could probably satisfy themselves in one day, so Sundance is not ideal for mileage-hungry intermediates or advanced skiers.

Park City Resorts

Notable resorts nearby are those forming the Park City Resorts: Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley and The Canyons, about 40 minutes’ scenic drive from Sundance through the Heber Valley.

Sundance Beginner Skiing

The best area for beginners is to take the Theater handle tow near the village, then Center Aisle, a green trail. Once you’ve mastered this, take Stampede from midway up Ray’s Lift—another green trail—and then venture onto some of the blue trails from the summit of Ray’s Lift.

Beginners have around 20 percent of the mountain to cut their teeth on. The best area for beginners is to take the Theater handle tow near the village, then Center Aisle, a green trail. Once you’ve mastered this, take Stampede from midway up Ray’s Lift-another green trail-and then venture onto some of the blue trails from the summit of Ray’s Lift, such as Long Nose running into Flatnose, which then joins up with Center Aisle again.

Sundance Intermediate Skiing

Of the 40 percent of intermediate trails in Sundance, the most challenging is a black, Red Finger, a steep trail that gets narrower as you get further down.

For a good day out, take Ray’s Lift to the summit and ski Ray’s Ridge to Lone Pine and the base of Flathead lift. Get off Flathead and take Cassidy to Bear Claw and ski to the base of Arrowhead lift. Ride Arrowhead lift, get a warm drink or snack at Bear Claw’s Cabin at its summit, and take blue and black trails from the summit down to the base.

Sundance Expert Skiing

Forty percent of the trails in Sundance are for advanced and expert skiers and the best skiing is on the back mountain. Skiing outside the boundaries is not permitted, but there are some areas that you can hike to within the area boundaries that offer challenging terrain for the expert skier.

The best skiing for advanced and expert skiers is on the back mountain. Forty percent of the trails are for advanced and expert skiers. Take Arrowhead and Flathead lifts to Bishop’s Bowl and the Far East (which has limited access). The best terrain for moguls is Jamie’s, for steep trails it’s Red Finger and Far East, for deep snow it’s Far East, Bishop’s Bowl and Drop Out, and for powder it’s Far East. For a classic day, warm up on Bear Claw, then head for Bishop’s Bowl and Grizzly Bowl.

The best trails for experts are Far East, Red Finger, Drop Out, Upper Grizzly Bowl and Snow Stake. You don’t have to traverse all day to get to any of these trails, the powder lasts a long time and the gradient causes even the best to take a deep breath. Skiing outside the ski area boundaries is not permitted, but there are some areas that you can hike to within the area boundaries that offer challenging terrain for the expert skier.

Sundance Snowboarding

There are no dedicated areas for snowboarders in Sundance. The terrain makes it easy for boarders to access the whole mountain and only very few areas require a cat track for access.

There are no dedicated areas for boarders in Sundance. The terrain makes it easy for boarders to access the whole mountain and only very few areas require a cat track for access.

Sundance On Mountain Dining

There’s no shortage of healthy eating options in Sundance, with a number of places serving soups, sandwiches and organic delicatessen.

There are four lunch and snack restaurants in Sundance: one at the top, Bear Claw’s Cabin, and three in the village, plus two proper restaurants (see ). Bear Claw’s Cabin offers a rustic and comfortable mountaintop experience with soup, sandwiches and hot drinks, and-from the sundeck-fantastic views of the Utah Valley, Wasatch Peaks and the Uinta Mountains.

Creekside has soups, sandwiches, snacks and drinks, and an outdoor barbecue (weather permitting) plus a great deck for soaking up the rays. The Owl Bar is a great après-ski meeting place with a bar menu and full bar. The Sundance Deli, for those in a rush, dishes out sandwiches, soup, coffee, smoothies, ice-cream, gourmet packaged goods, room delivery, and organic products from Sundance’s farms.