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Deer Valley: 5,700 Acres of Expanded Ski Excellence

Deer Valley: 5,700 Acres of Expanded Ski Excellence

Written By Visit Utah

Deer Valley | Courtesy of Deer Valley

“If you don’t go first class, don’t make the trip.” Edgar Stern said it at the creation of Deer Valley, and that line still frames what skiing here is supposed to feel like. Opened in 1981, the resort has built its reputation on service, grooming and a ski-only experience, a commitment that has stayed true even as the rest of the industry has shifted.

Deer Valley is in the middle of one of the largest ski area expansions in North America, more than doubling its size by adding 3,700 acres of new terrain, including wide-open bowls and gladed tree-runs for all ability levels.

If you are a Deer Valley regular, you already know the feeling of perfect corduroy at opening bell. You point your skis downhill, trust the surface underfoot and go. That sense of ease is part of what defines the resort. Now imagine that same effortless start, but with a brand-new gateway that opens the mountain from an entirely different side.

The 25/26 ski season marks the next chapter in Deer Valley's expansion with 3,700 new acres of new terrain, including wide-open bowls and gladed tree-runs for all ability levels.

Photo: Sam Watson

The East Village expansion adds a true second portal on the resort’s Highway 40 side, giving skiers a new way onto the mountain and easing the morning traffic crunch. It connects to new peaks, widening the resort’s footprint and spreading people out so lift lines move faster and the skiing feels open.

When buildout is complete, the resort will encompass 5,700-plus skiable acres across 10 peaks, served by 37 lifts. Early phases are already complete, including the 10-passenger East Village Express gondola that sweeps skiers up toward Park Peak, immediately easing the pinch points that used to clog lift lines on busy mornings. More lifts and runs will come online through 2025 and 2026.

When buildout is complete, the resort will encompass 5,700-plus skiable acres across 10 peaks, served by 37 lifts.

Photo: Wayne Wong

What’s New at Deer Valley

The new Deer Valley East Village base area, accessed directly from U.S. Route 40, is a major infrastructure piece. Its 1,200 day-skier parking spaces allow visitors to bypass Park City traffic entirely. From the base, the Keetley Express six-person bubble chairlift connects the new East Village terrain to the main ski area. Two additional lifts, the Hoodoo Express and Aurora Express, serve new beginner and intermediate terrain.

The new highest point is Park Peak at 9,350 feet, offering breathtaking views of the Jordanelle Reservoir and the Heber Valley. The expanded area's lowest points drop to around 6,450 feet, giving skiers nearly 2,900 vertical feet of variety on certain runs, from sheer granite cliffs to more gradual, winding trails.

The new Village will be a full-service hub, complete with lodging, dining, retail and skier services. When fully complete, it will feature 800 hotel rooms, 1,600 residential units, a ski school, children's programs, an ice-skating rink, a large "ski beach" and a variety of dining and retail options.

With the Grand Hyatt now open and the Four Seasons on the way, enjoy a world-class, pedestrian-oriented village with hotels, dining and retail.

Photo: Courtesy of Deer Valley Ski Resort

Staying slope-side means visitors can walk to the gondola and add extra nights without adding hassle.

Photo: Courtesy of Deer Valley Ski Resort

Enjoy the local mountain lifestyle with slopeside ski access and stunning views of the Jordanelle Reservoir at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley.

Photo: Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Deer Valley

Elevated Experience & Why It Matters

Deer Valley has always promised a curated, ski-only experience, and the expansion is built to deliver that promise at scale. The new terrain caters to everyone: Intermediates can cruise groomed runs across multiple new peaks for days without repetition, experts will find steeper lines tucked into bowls and glades and families can relax in beginner zones designed to spread out crowds and keep learning safe. The sheer size of the new area creates opportunities for fresh powder runs long after a storm.

More terrain naturally means more time on the mountain. What used to be a two-day trip to the area can now easily stretch into three or four. You simply cannot ski 5,700 acres in a weekend. East Village lodging makes that choice easy. The Grand Hyatt Deer Valley is already open, and a Four Seasons and other properties are coming, featuring ski-in/ski-out access, private balconies and in-room fireplaces. Staying slope-side means visitors can walk to the gondola and add extra nights without adding hassle.

How does Deer Valley translate hotel luxury to the mountain? By treating guests like VIPs. Guest services ensure skis are stored, lessons are booked and meals are waiting. On the mountain, luxurious snowpack and meticulously curated slopes are the result of grooming crews working through the night to ensure perfect, consistent skiing conditions every morning.

Deer Valley has always promised a curated, ski-only experience, and the expansion is built to deliver, with new terrain caters to everyone.

Photo: Scott Markewitz

A Local’s Take

Brett Hawksford has been working at Deer Valley since 2003. He runs snowmaking, but he is also a skier who has watched the resort grow. “My perfect day is a bluebird day, fresh powder on top of corduroy. You can’t go wrong,” he says.

For Hawksford, the expansion is about continuity: giving visitors more opportunity to experience those perfect days. Hawksford calls the new system “one of the largest and most modern snowmaking systems in North America.” The expansion adds over 1,200 new snow guns, 350,000 feet of new pipe, three new pump houses and a 10-million-gallon snowmaking pond.

“Here at Deer Valley, we are known for our grooming, and snowmaking is in the background of that,” Hawksford said. “Without the snowmaking, the grooming won’t be able to do as good a job. We make sure we have enough snow so the groomers can give the guests the best possible product for the entire season.”

The full expansion nearly doubles the capacity of the snowmaking network. Because nearly 90 percent of the guns in the expansion are automated, operators can fire them remotely, adjust water flow from the office, shift nozzle angles and respond quickly when temperature or humidity changes.

Why the investment? Because pristine, sparkling white corduroy counts. A groomed slope, clean and consistent, is the experience many associate with Deer Valley. When snow is laid quickly and shaped perfectly by groomers, the surface holds up over many days, ensuring the consistent, predictable skiing that defines Deer Valley.

The goal is that your first runs feel fresh each morning. The snow should feel uniform, resilient and predictable across the new terrain. Because when everything’s done right, you get the feeling that the mountain is ready for you.

“I like to get out on the hill just as the sun’s rising so I can get a good view of all the production we’ve done overnight,” Hawksford said.

The expansion includes one of the largest and most modern snowmaking systems in North America.

Photo: Courtesy of Deer Valley Ski Resort

How to Best Enjoy the Expansion

To ski Deer Valley right, you need a plan. The expansion changes how people move, where they stay and what they book in advance.

Opening day for the 2025/26 season is set for December 7 (though early storms could move it forward). Circle that weekend. The East Village base, with 1,200 fresh parking spaces directly off Highway 40, is the simplest way onto the mountain. Its first three lifts are already spinning, and by next winter, nine more lifts and nearly a hundred new runs will join them.

Day passes now peak at around $299, with off-holiday and midweek windows closer to $199. The trick is to buy early and buy online; tickets often sell out on holidays and busy weekends. The Unlimited Pass remains the easiest way to ride every day with no blackout dates.

The Grand Hyatt Deer Valley now anchors the East Village, offering more than 400 rooms and suites built for mountain views and direct access to the lifts. Everything — restaurants, après spots and full ski services — sits under the same roof, so you can check in and know everything you need is only steps away.

Deer Valley is doubling its size, but the first-class service remains the same.

Photo: Scott Markewitz

For travelers seeking an alternative feel, the nearby Heber Valley offers another layer of choice. Just 10 miles south on Highway 40, you’ll find lodging that leans toward small-town charm with more flexible rates. Staying in Heber means quieter evenings and easy access to Main Street dining while keeping you close to the East Village portal.

Timing your trip matters. Midweek always skis better, with fewer crowds and lower ticket prices (Tuesday through Thursday). Shoulder season (late November to mid-December and late March through April) delivers deals and room to breathe. However, for the best combination of snow quality and full terrain, plan your visit between January and March. (Read: When Is the Best Time To Ski and Snowboard in Utah?)

Deer Valley is doubling its size, but the first-class service remains the same. With broader terrain and new hotels ready, now is the time to plan your trip and be among the first to enjoy this expanded excellence.

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