Key facts
| Family Score | 7.7 |
|---|---|
| Pass | Ikon Pass (7 days) or Ikon Base (3 days, new for 26/27) |
| Youngest group lesson age | 3-17 |
| Childcare | Children's Center 2 months to 12 years |
| Kids ski free | Kids Ski Free Week Dec 5-11, 2026 |
| Nearest airport | Salt Lake City (SLC), 40 minutes |
| Last checked | 2026-10-30 |
Last checked 2026-10-30 against deervalley.com. Ikon access checked 2026-11-09 against ikonpass.com and deervalley.com.
Quick answers
Does the Ikon Base Pass work at Deer Valley in 2026-27?
Yes, for the first time. For 26/27, Ikon Base holders get 3 days at Deer Valley and full Ikon Pass holders get 7. Ikon Base blackout dates apply (Dec 26 to 30, 2026; Jan 16 to 17, 2027; Feb 13 to 14, 2027), and every Ikon holder needs a lift reservation for each Deer Valley day, made in your Ikon Pass account.
How much is Deer Valley childcare for 2026-27?
The Children's Center lists 26/27 full-day rates of $220 / $230 / $235 for infants 2 to 11 months and $215 / $225 / $230 for 12 months to 12 years (Regular / High / Holiday). Rates may change.
What ages does the Deer Valley Children's Center take?
Non-skiing kids from 2 months to 12 years. It's a state-licensed center at Snow Park Lodge, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What age can kids start ski lessons at Deer Valley?
Group lessons run for ages 3 to 17, and private lessons are also available.
When is Deer Valley Kids Ski Free Week 2026?
December 5 to 11, 2026, for kids 12 and under, with 50% off Tot and Junior rental packages.
When does Deer Valley open for 2026-27?
Deer Valley is slated to open December 5, 2026, conditions permitting.
Last checked 2026-10-30 against deervalley.com (Children's Center, Kids Programs, Kids Ski Free Week and media room pages).
New for 26/27: Ikon Base gets 3 Deer Valley days
Until this season, Deer Valley was a full Ikon Pass mountain. Ikon and Deer Valley announced on Nov 9, 2026 that the Ikon Base Pass now includes 3 days here. That changes the math for a lot of Utah trips, because Base is the cheaper Ikon. It is still 3 days, not a week.
- Days: 3 on Ikon Base, 7 on the full Ikon Pass.
- Blackouts on Base: Dec 26 to 30, 2026; Jan 16 to 17, 2027; Feb 13 to 14, 2027.
- Reservations: required for every Ikon holder at Deer Valley this winter. Make, change or cancel them in your Ikon Pass account. Cancel by 11:00 a.m. Mountain time on the day to avoid a penalty.
- Friends and Family: Deer Valley says Ikon Base holders can share 25% off the window rate on 10 single-day lift tickets. Those tickets are bought online at least 24 hours ahead.
- 4th Night Free: Deer Valley's passholder lodging offer gives a fourth night free when you stay three, and the package includes 20% off Tot and Junior ski rentals. The package page lists blackouts of Dec 25, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, Feb 12 to 21, 2027 and Mar 12 to 27, 2027, so Presidents week is out. Confirm your pass type qualifies when you book.
- Opening: Deer Valley is slated to open Dec 5, 2026, conditions permitting. It is skier-only and limits daily skier numbers.
How we would use it: a Base family can put a little one in Deer Valley ski school for a long weekend and ski Solitude, which is unlimited on Base, the rest of the week. If Deer Valley is the whole week, or your only dates are a holiday, buy the full Ikon Pass.
Source: Ikon Pass and Deer Valley's Nov 9, 2026 announcement, plus the Deer Valley Ikon Base Pass and 4th Night Free pages and the Ikon Deer Valley page, checked 2026-11-09.
Family Score
Weighted, not paid · 25/20/15/15/10/10/5
Last updated: 2026-11-09 · Data verified: Resort-confirmed: Deer Valley's team, by email, 2026-09-15 (directed us to the official Kids Programs, Children's Center and Ski School pages and the Expanded Excellence release). Ages, hours, ratios, program caps and 26/27 published rates come from those pages. Other fields: published sources or Unverified, as marked.
- School 25% · 9/10
- Beginner 20% · 8/10
- Care 15% · 9/10
- Cost 15% · 2/10
- On-mountain 10% · 10/10
- Non-ski 10% · 7/10
- Travel 5% · 9/10
- Ski school 25%9/10
Group 4+ with age-banded caps (Bambi 2 / Reindeer 4 / Adventure 6). Private/Fawn from 3. 26/27 kids full-day windows published; lift + rental usually separate. Children's Center handles the rest.
- Beginner terrain 20%8/10
Some of the best true-green acreage in the West. Groomed, ski-only, calm.
- Childcare & kids programs 15%9/10
State-licensed Children's Center, non-skiing, 2 months–12 years, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at Snow Park. 26/27 last-published Regular/High/Holiday table — not the old $180–$260 range.
- Affordability 15%2/10
$1,300–$2,000+ a day. Deer Valley does not do value days. Cost stays 2/10.
- On-mountain 10%10/10
Ski valet culture, food that is the point, a mountain that is easy to regroup on. Tentative 26/27 family snow features on Pirate King / Humbug / McHenry — planned, not confirmed open.
- Non-ski 10%7/10
Park City town is 10 minutes for a burger. The resort itself is polished, not rowdy.
- Travel 5%9/10
Same easy I-80 as Park City. The logistical jackpot of American skiing, at the price.
Our take
Deer Valley is incredible, and unless you are willing to spend $300+ per person per day (or you already own an Ikon pass and can stomach the food), look at Brighton instead. New for 26/27, that includes Ikon Base, but only for 3 days, with holiday blackouts and a required reservation, so a Base family gets a long weekend here, not a week. I mean that as a friend. If ski school quality is the entire trip — a 4-year-old, first week, you want them to love this — pay it and stop looking. For our mixed-age crew on a normal week, Park City Mountain plus the Westgate unit still wins on logistics, and Brighton still wins on joy-per-dollar.
What's new in Utah for families this winter (2026-27)
Utah only? See our Wasatch opening day guide.
Perfect if
Who is Deer Valley perfect for?
Kids under 8 and a budget that can absorb it.
A ski-only family — snowboarders go to PCMR across the street.
Midweek January empty corduroy.
Skip if
Who should skip Deer Valley?
The budget is already tight. This mountain will not meet you halfway.
When is Deer Valley a bad idea for a family trip?
Teens hunting a park scene.
Snowboard kids as the primary riders.
Biggest tradeoffThe best ski school and care combination in Utah, at a price that is hard to overstate.
Ski school deep dive
Ski school is 25% of Family Score — the heaviest weight, on purpose. This mountain: 9/10. How we score.
If ski school is the reason you came, this is the mountain. Group 4+ (Bambi max 2 / Reindeer max 4 / Adventure max 6). Private/Fawn from 3. 26/27 kids full-day windows are published; lift + rental usually separate. Children's Center handles the rest. You will pay for all of it.
Researched from official pages and 2026 reporting. Fields marked unverified are unpublished by the resort — we will not invent an age, a class cap, or a price.
- Group min age
- 4+
- Private min age
- 3+
- Max group size
- Bambi 2 / Reindeer 4 / Adventure 6
- Certification
- PSIA, with a deep kids specialty bench.
- Formats
- Private/Fawn path from 3. Group from 4. Fawn Special (age 3): 1-hour 1:1 private + remainder in Children's Center, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Bambi Club (age 4): max 2 (2:1), 9 a.m.–4 p.m., lunch included. Reindeer Club (5–6): max 4 (4:1), 10 a.m.–3:45 p.m., lunch included. Adventure Club (7–12): max 6 (6:1), 10 a.m.–3:45 p.m. Teen Escape (13–17) on select dates.
- Group pricing
- Last-published 26/27 (may move — not a quote). Official program pages (resort-confirmed 2026-09-15). Fawn Special age 3: $385 / $430 / $460 Regular/High/Holiday; lift-ticket add-on $50; lift + rental not included — deervalley.com/plan-your-trip/ski-school/ski-lessons-child-special-ages-3 Bambi Club age 4: $385 / $430 / $460; lift add-on $50; lift + rental not included — …/ski-lessons-child-group-ages-4 Reindeer Club ages 5–6: $405 / $450 / $470; lift add-on $135; lift + rental not included — …/ski-lessons-child-group-ages-5-6 Adventure Club ages 7–12: $405 / $450 / $470 last-published on the Adventure Club page; lift add-on $135; 10 a.m.–3:45 p.m.
- Private pricing
- Fawn Special is the published age-3 private path (1-hour 1:1 + Children's Center remainder) at the 26/27 Fawn dollars above. Full-day private as a single daily number is not clearly published — existing researched range $900–$1,800+/day stays; not a 26/27 quote.
- Location
- Snow Park Lodge Children's Center for Fawn/Bambi/Reindeer drop-off. Adventure Club meets on snow at Snow Park (Wide West).
- Progression
- Groomers that actually groom. Easy blues that are easy.
- Specialized
- Children's Center is the ecosystem for 6-and-under: Fawn remainder, Bambi/Reindeer indoor time, lunch, licensed care. Group products start at 4.
- Booking
- Call Skier & Summer Services 888-754-8477 or 435-645-6648. Hub: deervalley.com/plan-your-trip/ski-school. Advance reservations essential; products may sell out. Peak dates book with lodging.
- Pickup / drop-off
- Fawn: Children's Center Fawn Room drop-off from 8:30 a.m., pick-up by 4:30 p.m. Bambi: Bambi Room, pick-up by 4 p.m. Adventure Club on-snow ~9:45–10 a.m. (optional early drop-off 8:30 a.m.). Still arrive early on holidays.
- Season programs
- Extensive local programs. Park City kids live here on weekdays.
Childcare
2 months to 12 years (state-licensed Children's Center, non-skiing). 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at Snow Park Lodge. Winter season only. Child–staff ratio 4:1–7:1. Full-day programs include lunch.. 26/27 last-published (may move): Infants 2–11 mo $220/$230/$235 Regular/High/Holiday; Little Tots 12–18 mo, Big Tots 19–23 mo, Little Kids 2 yrs, and Big Kids 3–12 yrs $215/$225/$230. Under-3 groups 4:1 or less; Big Kids 7:1 or less.. Licensed. State-licensed Children's Center for non-skiing children ages 2 months to 12 years (https://www.deervalley.com/things-to-do/activities/childrens-center; also https://www.deervalley.com/plan-your-trip/kids-programs). Book via Skier & Summer Services Contact Center 888-754-8477 or 435-645-6648 — advance reservations essential; products may sell out. Complete the Indemnity / Acknowledgement of Risks form before drop-off. Rates last-published for 26/27 and may move.
Visitor booking is the part that actually matters. Compare Deer Valley against the childcare table.
Beginner terrain
- Carpets: Multiple, well-staffed.
- Learning area: Separated, wide, immaculate.
- Greens: Some of the best true-green acreage in the West.
- Progression: The mountain is built for intermediates to feel like heroes.
On mountain
The best on-mountain food in Utah, and it is priced accordingly. Turkey chili is a personality test at these prices.
Multiple bases (Snow Park, Silver Lake, East Village as the mountain grows). Valet exists. So does a bus.
Not a rowdy town base — you're in Park City, so Main Street is a short drive. Tentative 26/27 family snow features (not confirmed open): Pirate King off Pioche Express (rollers, berms, mild ski-cross), Humbug flowy rollers, and a dedicated family-friendly area on McHenry — Expanded Excellence release 2026-06-29.
Non-ski
- Park City town
- Spa lodging
- Olympic Park
Kids programs
- Children's Center (2 months–12 years, licensed, Snow Park)
- Fawn Special (age 3) / Bambi Club (4) / Reindeer Club (5–6) / Adventure Club (7–12)
- Teen Escape (13–17, select dates)
- Pirate King family snow features — tentative / planned 26/27, not confirmed open
- Humbug rollers and McHenry family-friendly area — tentative / planned 26/27
Getting there
Salt Lake City (SLC). Transfer: 40 minutes. Same easy I-80 approach as Park City Mountain. This is the logistical jackpot of American skiing. Resort shuttles between villages. Uber works. We drive.
What a day costs
Everything below links straight to the merchant. No tracking IDs, no commission. Disclosure.
Typical 2025–26 / early 2026–27 ranges — not a quote. Flights not included.
- Adult window
- $200–$350+
- Child window
- $140–$250
- Child rental
- $50–$80
- Adult rental
- $70–$110
- Family of 4 / day (2 adults, 2 kids: lifts + rentals + 1 group lesson)
- $1,300–$2,000+
- Pass
- An Ikon pass is the only rational way in: 7 days on the full Ikon Pass, or 3 days on Ikon Base (new for 26/27, blackouts apply, reservation required). Even then, lunch will humble you.
Last checked 2026-10-30 against Deer Valley.
What six days on snow costs
Family of four: window tickets × 6, rentals × 6, one 3-day kids' lesson block. Not a week — lodging isn't in our data, so it isn't in this number.
- Adult lift tickets × 2 × 6Window tickets × days. A 6-day product is usually cheaper if they publish one — we don't have that number, so this is a ceiling.
- $2,400 – $4,200
- Child lift tickets × 2 × 6
- $1,680 – $3,000
- Adult rentals × 2 × 6
- $840 – $1,320
- Child rentals × 2 × 6
- $600 – $960
- One 3-day kids' lesson block × 2 (3× the published daily group rate — a ceiling, not a package)We don't have a published multi-day block. This is 3× the daily group rate, not six consecutive lesson days.
- $2,310 – $2,580
- Lodging, 7 nightsNot a number on this page. We will not invent a nightly rate.
- —
- FoodNot a number on this page.
- —
- FlightsExcluded. Always.
- —
- Six days on snow, before lodging, food, and flights
- $7,830 – $12,060
Season at a glance
December–April for families. Holiday weeks are when most of us can actually go.
Dec
Fair
Holiday surcharge.
Jan
Great
Empty corduroy is the product.
Feb
Good
Still excellent; busier.
Mar
Good
Sun, still groomed.
Apr
Fair
Spring.