A grand slopeside lodge at mid-mountain in Deer Valley, Park City — timber and stone above one of North America's most polished ski areas.
Montage Deer Valley is a ski-in, ski-out luxury resort high on Empire Pass in Utah, and Deer Valley is the most polished ski resort in North America: famous for immaculate grooming, exceptional service, limited ticket sales to keep slopes uncrowded, and a skiers-only policy. Built in 2010 at mid-mountain, the Montage is a grand lodge of timber and stone that matches the resort's reputation for doing everything beautifully. It offers true ski-in, ski-out access, the largest luxury spa in Utah and a wide choice of restaurants, rooms and residences.
Location: Utah, USA
The Montage sits at around 8,200 feet (2,500 metres) on Empire Pass, in the upper reaches of Deer Valley, overlooking Empire Canyon. The lifts are right outside the door. Below lies Park City, a former silver-mining town with a lively historic Main Street of restaurants, galleries and bars, around ten minutes away by the hotel's complimentary car service.
Salt Lake City International Airport is only around 40 minutes' drive away, making Deer Valley one of the most accessible major ski resorts in the world. Park City is also home to the Sundance Film Festival each January. Deer Valley hosted freestyle and slalom events at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and its slopes cover more than 2,000 acres.
Rooms and suites at Montage Deer Valley
The hotel has around 200 rooms, suites and residences. Guest rooms are generous, averaging around 600 square feet, each with a fireplace, a balcony or patio, and large five-fixture bathrooms. Every room has mountain or valley views, with categories ranging from Resort View to Vista View and Peak View; upper-floor rooms facing the mountains are the ones to request.
Suites range from around 1,000 to more than 3,000 square feet, and residences offer one to four bedrooms with kitchens and living areas, ideal for families. An innovative door system means rooms and suites can be connected to create private, family-sized apartments.
Facilities at Montage Deer Valley
Spa Montage is the largest luxury spa in Utah, at around 35,000 square feet. It has an indoor lap pool, an outdoor pool with a sundeck, hot tubs, hydrotherapy rooms, a relaxation area and dozens of treatment rooms offering treatments with botanical and herbal ingredients. There is also a fitness centre.
Dining is varied. Apex Steak is the signature restaurant, serving classic continental and American cuisine with local ingredients. Yama Sushi serves sushi and sashimi overlooking the Empire ski runs. Burgers & Bourbon offers gourmet burgers and a collection of more than 200 bourbons and whiskies, and Daly's Pub & Rec combines pub classics with vintage arcade games. The Vista Lounge & Terrace has views of the Wasatch and Uinta mountains, and Buzz sells coffee, pastries and chocolates.
Families are well looked after, with Paintbox, a children's programme for ages 5 to 12. Compass Sports, the in-house outfitter, handles ski rental and valet, and in summer the hotel offers hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and more.
The mountain moment
The defining Deer Valley experience is a morning on freshly groomed corduroy, with the light, dry Utah powder, often called "the greatest snow on Earth", underfoot and almost no queues at the lifts. From Empire Canyon, the views stretch across the Wasatch range.
At the end of the day, skiers glide back to the Montage's door, hand their skis to the valet, and head straight to the spa or to the terrace, where fire pits and views of the mountains await.
Why Montage Deer Valley is one of the best mountain hotels
Montage Deer Valley earns its place because it delivers the full luxury mountain resort experience at the highest level: ski-in, ski-out convenience at one of North America's finest resorts, an enormous spa, excellent dining and superb family facilities. It holds the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating.
It is large and grand rather than intimate, and its style is classic American mountain lodge rather than design-led. But for families and skiers who want everything in one place, delivered with impeccable service, it is outstanding.
When to go to Montage Deer Valley
Deer Valley's ski season usually runs from early December to mid-April. January and February tend to bring the most reliable snow and the lightest powder, while March offers sunshine and longer days on the slopes. Christmas, New Year and Presidents' Day weekend are the busiest and most expensive periods, and Park City is packed during the Sundance Film Festival in January, so book early if your dates overlap. Because Deer Valley limits lift ticket sales, buying ski passes in advance is wise. Summer, roughly June to September, brings hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, with cooler mountain air than the valley below and a calmer, more relaxed atmosphere at the hotel. Late September adds golden aspen colour on the hillsides.
Questions, answered
- Is Montage Deer Valley ski-in, ski-out?
- Yes. It sits mid-mountain on Empire Pass with the lifts right outside the door.
- How far is Montage Deer Valley from Salt Lake City airport?
- Around 40 minutes' drive, making it one of the most accessible major ski resorts in the world.
- Can snowboarders ski at Deer Valley?
- No. Deer Valley has a skiers-only policy.
