Perfectly situated off of the Mirror Lake Highway, and perched near the tranquil waters of…read moreButterfly Lake, this campground is probably my favorite designated camping area along this great stretch of scenic road. Winning that distinction is no small feat, as there are so many spots to stay along Utah's most prominent scenic byway, but it's just got so much going for it. First, it's at about 10,300ft in elevation, which means that in the blazing heat of summer, you may just kiss the '70s, spend most of the day in the '60s, and have those incredible nights in the tent in the '40s where you thank your lucky stars that you have someone who will go up the Mirror Lake Highway with you and hike by day, and snuggle up in a sleeping-bag-for-two by night. I've not actually had that last experience, but it's on my list. At any rate, the elevation is just what you need in summer, and is not to be messed with in cooler temps. The Highway actually closes during winter, so this campground typically doesn't open until around Memorial Day each spring. The namesake lake is delightful, and planted with willing trout. There are no monster fish lurking in the deep, but the kids will get a kick out of drowning a worm beneath a bobber. I also like that the lake is far enough away from the campsites that you're not constantly worrying about little ones wandering off to play in the water. The further up the road in the campground, the more true this is. If you're looking to launch off for adventure, there are hikes on hikes on hikes. My favorite ever lackadaisical hike I've ever had was on the MLH, but you can find your own. The western terminus of the Highline Trail is just a few hundred feet away down the road, so check that out for a starting point, or grab one of the other many trailheads at your disposal-Ruth Lake, Mirror Lake, Fehr Lake-those are all bodies of waters and names of nearby trailheads. I typically stay in dispersed campsites, but having a few resources, restrooms, parking, and a picnic table is nice sometimes too. I dream of staying here in the height of summer, of making overly-complicated camp meals, of wandering the creeks, of homemade marshmallow s'mores, hand-churned ice cream, and that warm sleeping bag at night.

Aspen (not to be confused with Aspen Grove) Campground is a beautiful spot WAAAYYYYYY out in the…read moremiddle of nature! The campground consists of 31 regular sites (some doubles) and a group site, with no hook-ups. When I visited (Memorial Day weekend), there were hardly any people there, so it felt like we had the entire beautiful place to ourselves! Site 24 was beautiful, private, and had easy access to the river behind. There were multiple people fishing in the river and some kids with inner tubes, but the water felt really cold and seemed too shallow for any kind of swimming. But it would be great for kids wanting to splash around a bit in the summer! Since the campground is so far up in the mountains, the weather is cool when it's too hot for camping in the valley. Nighttime temps got to around 40 when we were there, which was fine for us in our camper trailer. The grounds were kept clean, and while we didn't see the camp host(s), we had no need for assistance during our trip. The drive to the campground from SLC was tough on our vehicle, which is an older SUV hauling a 17' vintage trailer. Even after getting up Parley's Canyon, there were additional significant stretches of incline and then about a mile on a dirt road before getting to the site. I do love being in the middle of nowhere, so this was fine, but I would take this into consideration the next time we are wanting to visit.

This is a really nice place to camp. Close to silver lake, a river (not much fish in the river)…read more Matter in fact we didn't even get a bite. The camp sites are clean and trails well worn. The bathrooms in the men's side could be cleaner but I guess with lots of young boy campers, they just don't keep the seats clean. At least the toilets are not the standard hole in the ground. It's nice to have plumbing and no flies. The only things is didn't like were the pricing. We had 3 parking stalls and they charged $78 per night.

They need to maintain their Flag better if they are going to fly it... despicable. You cannot have…read morethe American flag mangled in trees in an international tourist destination..... fix it

We had a great dinner with great service. I don't recommend going there for dinner and drinks if…read moreyou plan on getting a ride home even if it's 5 miles away "Promontory". They don't have service to get you back and a cab or Uber will take over and hour. We learned the hard way.

My girlfriends and I wanted to try something new and fun for our girls trip this year, and Blue Sky…read moreRanch definitely delivered! We stayed in their Yurt for one night, and it was AMAZING! It comes fully loaded, with warm bedding, firewood, plates, napkins, water, the whole shebang! We brought up turkey burgers to grill (on the grill they provide) and then marshmallows to roast on the fire we made on the outdoor fire pit. All in all we had a lovely stay, and talked about doing it again before we had even left on Saturday morning. I would recommend to anyone looking for a fun get away, without a lot of everyday distractions (although you do still have cell reception). I am already trying to plan a time I can take my boyfriend back for a romantic weekend. Would be fun for a family trip as well, although maybe bring some games along if you have kids to help keep them entertained. The only downside is the outhouse, but it was kind of a fun adventure trekking out to the potty with your flashlight at night!

Brighton's a pretty resilient ski resort, still snowing here in mid to late April, despite Solitude…read moreright next to it getting rain instead and having to end their season much sooner. Brighton's so deep in the mountains, it was getting even more snow than Alta or Snowbird late season. Nonetheless, most of the skiable area was closed from late April on, and they had some really sticky slush near the bottom. I went here on the week of April 20th (the stoner holiday) not thinking anything of it, and have never seen such a high concentration of intoxicated, degenerate, drug-obsessed college kids and degenerate behavior. These kids were consuming alcohol on the runs, making fun of, laughing at and humiliating beginners, and couldn't stop chairlift blabbing about jumping people, buying alcohol underaged, and "whippets" or however you spell it, their apparent drug of choice. Having an Ikon Pass and going to Alta that same week, I wanted to find the explanatory factor for the extreme disparity in guests between here and Alta that particular week. I looked online and saw Brighton was selling day passes for only $49, and marketing their late season as an event, "The Meltdown", geared toward younger people looking to party. Most of the staff here were nice and professional, with one exception. This attractive blonde girl working here was rude and standoffish when I asked what time they close, as they kept changing the closing time, seemingly on a daily basis, and nobody seemed to know. Different websites said different times and their closing time varies by day of the week, time of the season, weather, even by lift or section of the mountain, so it was like a Scooby-Doo mystery trying to figure it out. Then to get an attitude like "What... what time do we close?! You're hitting on me?!! You can't think of a better pickup line than that?! You know how many pickup lines I hear a day??" Probably not the right person to be working in hospitality. On the upside, the night skiing and tree skiing were exceptional here when I went earlier in the season, and the girl I took said this was her favorite resort. When I tried taking her to Snowbird she had a panic attack, saying it was too steep, and had to have ski patrol take her down in the basket, so Brighton's probably more beginner friendly.

you will make it to the Brighton Resort after 40 minutes up the Cottonwood Canyon; the best part is…read morethe snow you slowly see as you drive up once you hit the Resort, you will be directed to park (you can reserve parking online), and make your way to the Resort, where you can ski, play in the snow or enjoy the Restaurant aftwewards

This place is terrible, the worst service ever. I cost a fortune and the return on you money isn't…read morethere. The staff is unfriendly especially the front desk manager. spend your money elsewhere this place isn't worth the crap out of your ass.

Overall, I had an exceptional time at Goldminer's Daughter Lodge. The rates were very competitive,…read morethe room was clean and comfortable, the breakfast and dinners were delicious & plentiful, and most of the employees were kind and helpful. I wish I could have given this stay 5 stars (it deserves it), but I must provide honest feedback about my grievances regarding EDDIE, the manager of this establishment. Although he remained professional throughout the interaction, he was uninterested in helping me with my blight of having an SUV stuck in 20 inches of fresh snow. His only solution was to tell me to "take a shovel and deal with it yourself. We're busy. If you don't finish, you can continue working on it after you get back from skiing at 4 PM." His response was very dismissive, rushed, and condescending. He didn't even extend the courtesy of asking someone from his team to help. After shoveling snow for 20 minutes, I see him sitting at reception, doing nothing. This is an absolutely UNACCEPTABLE attitude towards guests. However, as a saving grace, the other employees at Goldminer's Daughter Lodge were PHENOMENAL. Two different employees noticed me struggling to shovel snow and immediately got a shovel and helped me. If not for these kind folks, I would have missed my flight.

We rented paddle boards from Dave. He was so kind and was easy to get a hold of! It was such an…read moreeasy and convenient way for us to enjoy some recreation at the lake. Reasonable price too! Definitely recommend Oakley Rentals to others.

Comparing great ski resorts is a little like comparing luxury cars. They are all exceptional for…read moredifferent reasons, and declaring one objectively superior can become a fool's errand. Deer Valley belongs firmly in the luxury family skiing category, with incredible grooming, excellent service, and an atmosphere that makes an already extravagant sport feel even more special. What I remember most is how easy and pleasurable the entire experience felt. The mountain was accessible, the lift lines were manageable, and the trails never seemed oppressively crowded. Every piece of infrastructure appeared to work as intended, allowing us to spend the day skiing rather than navigating logistical headaches. The grooming was especially memorable, with wide stretches of perfect corduroy that made it incredibly satisfying to settle into a rhythm and carve. One morning, I skied the glades with a friend who was far more advanced than I was. I spent much of that session right at the edge of my comfort zone, following him through terrain I probably would not have attempted alone. We made it through, had a great time, and then spent the rest of the day bombing groomers with considerably less anxiety. That combination of technical tree skiing and beautifully maintained cruisers captures what I love about Deer Valley. During these trips, we generally rented a house in Park City and drove to whichever mountain we wanted to ski that day. Deer Valley, Park City, and Alta are all remarkably close, yet each has a completely different personality and style of terrain. That proximity is one of the great advantages of skiing in Utah, especially when Salt Lake City International Airport is so much easier to reach from the mountains than Denver is from many of Colorado's comparable resorts. With a rental car and a little flexibility, you can experience several distinct versions of world-class skiing during a single trip. Part of Deer Valley's mystique comes from the hotels, even though I have never stayed at any of them. The Montage, Stein Eriksen Lodge, and St. Regis all look almost absurdly comfortable, and I can only imagine the convenience of waking up in one of those properties and walking directly into a ski day. I do have a particular fondness for the Bloody Marys on the St. Regis patio and the funicular that connects the hotel with the ski area. Even stopping there for a drink makes the resort feel like a full experience rather than simply a mountain with lifts. Someday, I would love to bring my children here and watch them experience skiing in a place that handles families so thoughtfully. Skiing is an extraordinarily expensive activity and a genuine privilege. Still, it is also one of the most exhilarating workouts imaginable and an incredible way to spend a day outside with people you love. Deer Valley combines that physical intensity with an unusual degree of comfort, polish, and hospitality. It has been a while since my last visit, but I remember the experience warmly, hope to return, and highly recommend it.

Still one of our very favorite resorts - total princess treatment with the friendliest staff and…read moreambassadors anywhere, free overnight ski check, super nice facilities, and best of all, tons of great runs, lifts and skiing. As an added bonus - no snow boarders! Restaurants are really good, too. This year, they added 10 lifts and gondolas, 100 runs and double the terrain. But the snow this week was better on the traditional ones. You can check your gear overnight for $20 either in a multiple day locker or basket check. Finishing 6th day here. Love this place!