Located to the east of Salt Lake City, Utah’s largest ski and snowboard resort, Canyons, is voted as one of the best in the US. Formerly known as Wolf Mountain, Canyons is spread across eight mountain peaks, and has plenty of varied terrain, an excellent lift system and a reputable ski school with great children’s packages.

There is a ski shop and rentals store at the slopes, while nearby Park City is the resort centre. Venue of many events during the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City is reminiscent of a European resort town with its historic downtown area, sophisticated shops and galleries, and all essential services and facilities.

Accommodation-wise, Canyons has limited lodgings, which include the upmarket Grand Summit Resort Hotel, with its superb facilities and dining; while Park City is loaded with accommodation choices. Après-ski is limited at the Canyons base, but Park City has over a hundred bars and restaurants that make for a vibrant atmosphere.

Canyons ski resort gives intermediates lots of choice, although the runs are relatively short; while experts have some steep terrain, and beginners can enjoy plenty of learner areas. There are 134 runs altogether, the longest of which is four kilometres; the runs are served by 16 lift systems.

For alternative skiing, the nearby snowboard-free ski resort of Deer Valley is an upscale operation with a huge ski domain and a further 88 perfectly groomed slopes. Away from the slopes, the Park City Museum on Main street is worth a visit, and Salt Lake City is less than an hour’s drive away.

Canyons’ ski season runs from November to March, and the most convenient means of transport is to fly to Salt Lake City International Airport and transfer by shuttle bus or hire a car.