With 2,000 acres, six mountains, and 21 chairlifts, Deer Valley® offers an impressive amount of terrain to explore. It’s no wonder that newcomers to Deer Valley Resort may feel unsure of where to begin. And you wouldn’t want to blindly stumble around–not when there’s fun to be had. Every skier’s definition of fun varies–you may be a groomer-carver, a mellow beginner, an aspiring tree skier, a mogul master, or a swift-shredding powder hound.

The great news is, Deer Valley Resort offers a wide variety of terrain and plenty of worthy stop-offs for photos, breaks, food, and drinks. The trick is knowing where to go. So let this handy guide be a starting point, and never hesitate to ask the friendly staff and lift attendants for their recommendations. They’re always happy to share.

Bald Eagle Mountain: An Après Hotspot and Beginner-Friendly Ski Hub

Unless skiers are staying in mid-mountain lodging, most of them, including local day skiers, will start their day at Snow Park Lodge at the base of Bald Eagle Mountain. Here, you can find all the basics: parking; rentals; ski school; good lunch; and après-ski drinks on the deck.

You’ll also find the very-very-beginner runs off Snowflake and Burns chairlifts. And more advanced skiers can use this as a launching point to access the rest of the resort by hopping on the Carpenter Express or Silver Lake Express chairlifts. One trail worth noting is the Champion mogul run, which was the site of the mogul competition during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup events held annually.

Little Baldy Peak: Access from the Resort’s Jordanelle Lot

This unassuming little mountain offers a few fun runs of its own, and more importantly, it serves the homes and parking lot near the shores of the Jordanelle Reservoir. This quiet area feels like a bit of an outpost, and it is. But intermediate skiers can have fun cruising the Jordanelle run, while those more comfortable with a steep pitch can do laps down Dynamite and Cascade off the quiet Mountaineer Express chairlift, over and over.

Bald Mountain: Steep, Swift, and All Sorts of Fun

Rising 1,300 feet above the mid-mountain Silver Lake Lodge, beautiful Bald Mountain is home to a whole cluster of black diamond groomers and off-piste glades. Skiers who savor a quick lap down perfect corduroy can have no end of fun lapping the Mayflower and Sultan Express chairlifts. Of course, those interested in less of a white-knuckle thrill can ramble down the blue groomers of Wasatch Express and Sterling Express.

Bald Mountain offers one lovely amenity (besides sweeping summit views and a couple dozen excellent runs): a little cabin called Snowshoe Tommy’s sits at the mountain’s top. While it’s not a full-fledged restaurant, it has all the right stuff for a pick-me-up on a snowy day: cocoa, espresso drinks, sweets, and chili bowls.

You can enjoy a proper, hearty mid-day or après fuel-up at the Silver Lake Lodge, a mid-mountain wonder at the base of Bald Mountain, with multiple, excellent restaurants and the infamous “beach” where grownups sun themselves with pitchers of delicious beer while kids play in the snow.

Flagstaff Mountain: Something for Everyone

No two ways about it: Flagstaff is a special place. Situated at the very heart of the resort, this mountain is graced with runs of every difficulty level. You can access nearly every other part of the resort from here, or at least hop on a lift to it. And a snack is never too far off; Cushing’s Cabin at the top of Flagstaff is a great stop for a sweet treat and warm beverage. The views from the top of Flagstaff are among the resort’s finest. You’ll enjoy a 360-degree vantage point with the heart of the Wasatch Mountains in full view, as well as Heber Valley and Park City proper.

Empire Mountain: A Proper Challenge the Locals Love

Sure, there are some finer and fancier aspects of Empire Canyon, including—but not limited to—the famous Veuve Clicquot Champagne Yurt at Montage Deer Valley. (Hey, when in Rome ….) But the reason locals head up the Empire Express chairlift is to access the resort’s steepest steeps in Empire Bowl, Daly Bowl, and the Daly Chutes. There are multiple more moderate runs from the top of the lift, so those not willing to undertake the narrow, near-vertical descents of Daly can still partake in Empire Canyon’s beauty.

Lady Morgan: Tree-Glade Powder Turns in a Peaceful Setting

A tad off the beaten path, Lady Morgan sings her own tune. The mountain’s Lady Morgan Express is rather removed from the rest of the resort, with just a handful of mostly advanced runs gracing its slopes. Locals whisper of excellent tree skiing off this mountain’s north-facing and east-facing slopes, where the sun has less effect on powdery snow and the trees are spaced perfectly. And, we’ll tell you: The locals’ whisperings are correct.

Originally written by RootsRated Media for Deer Valley.