Part 1
I’ve been asked this question many times. “How does one properly ski Canyons Resort?” The answer is actually quite simple, don’t try and ski it all in one day. When arriving at The Canyons pretend you’ve arrived in a ski town with four unique ski resorts.
I like to break it down as follows:
North Zone: This includes skiing the Orange Bubble Express (OBX) and skiing everything to the North of this chair or to the right of it on your trail map. This section of the resort is quiet, no lift lines and no crowds. Most skiers and riders avoid this section of the mountain because of the low elevation, what most don’t realize is they are actually passing up on some of the steepest terrain on the mountain. If you’re visiting the resort and it’s dumping out, head right to runs like Diablo and Tower. The upper mountain is still being prepped for avalanche control so these runs will be ready to rock and roll and I promise you wont be disappointed with your decision.
While Ski Patrol gets more terrain open, venture over to Super Condor. Anything that faces north is once again steep, long, fun and empty. The reality of the matter is most folks wait up at Ninety-Nine 90 for the resort to open its highest chair lift. I hate to say it but this is pretty much an amateur move. The last time I checked standing in line isn’t skiing...
Now let’s pretend it hasn’t snowed and it’s a bluebird sunny day, a groomer day. Top picks for high speed groomers are Apex Ridge, BOA and Lookout Ridge. These trails get your heart pumping and your legs burning. In my opinion these are some of the fastest pitches in the Wasatch Back.
Central Zone: Now let’s get back to the powder day scenario. You’ve spent your morning enjoying the steep and deep off the OBX and Super Condor and it’s about 11 am. Now is the time to head over to Ninety-Nine 90 and Peak Five Express. Board Ninety-Nine 90, and ski the lines that feed back to Ninety-Nine 90 like Fright Gully, Lower East Face and Dutch Hollow. Once you’ve hammered these out now venture off a little further north into Red Pine Bowl and Magic Lines. The catch with these runs, you’re going to have ski or ride all the way back to Red Pine Lodge, from there you’ll have to drop all the way down to Tombstone Express. Here is where I recommend you grab some lunch at Ride Pine Lodge, give your legs a break and refuel.
In Part Two we will discuss the south side of the resort, apres ski and backcountry options. Check back soon!
