The Canyons Resort, 4000 The Canyons Resort Dr., Park City, UT 84098 (tel. 888/226-9667 or 435/649-5400; www.thecanyons.com), America's fifth-largest ski area, offers a wide variety of terrain on eight distinct mountains, with an excellent people-moving system to get you to the ski runs quickly and efficiently. In the past few years, intermediate and expert terrains have been greatly expanded. The large beginners' area offers gentle slopes and grand views.

The resort has 146 runs on more than 3,700 skiable acres, serviced by two high-speed gondolas, one high-speed 6-pack, four high-speed quad chairs, five fixed-grip quad chairs, one triple chair, one double chair, one eight-person Cabriolet, and two surface lifts. It receives an average of 355 inches of snow a year, and has snow-making on 400 acres. The vertical drop serviced by lifts is 3,190 feet, from a base elevation of 6,800 feet. The summit elevation is 9,990 feet. Runs are rated 10% beginner, 44% intermediate, and 46% advanced. The season usually runs from late November to mid-April, with lifts operating daily from 8:45am to 4pm.

The resort offers ski and snowboard rentals and a day-care center.

Getting There -- The Canyons is on the west side of Utah 224 a few miles south of I-80.

Lift Tickets -- Adult lift tickets cost $81 for a full day; children 7 to 12 and seniors pay $56. Kids 6 and under ride the lifts free. Deals are available for those who book online or multiple days; holiday prices are a bit higher.

Lessons & Programs -- The ski school (tel. 877/472-6306) offers lessons for both skiing and snowboarding, starting at $75 for a 2 1/2-hour group clinic. Private lessons start at about $350 for 3 hours.

Where to Stay & Dine on the Mountain -- You'll find a nice range of lodging options at the resort proper, including the Grand Summit, Sundial, and Escala lodges. The ski-season rates range from $340 for a double room at Sundial to $1,758 for a 4-bedroom suite at Escala. Among the ski area's restaurants are the Red Pine Lodge, featuring lunches of pizza, fresh grilled entrees, hearty soups, and a salad bar; Smokies Bar and Grill, which offers burgers and beer in an informal setting for lunch and dinner; the Viking Yurt, an on-mountain fine-dining spot accessible by sleigh or snow cat; and the Cabin, an upscale restaurant offering regional dishes with Southwestern ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.