A noted travel magazine calls Sundance "One of the most beautiful places on Earth." This is an
understatement. Sundance is spectacular. You don't even have to walk to be bowled over by
Sundance. Just get out of your car in the parking lot and look up.
Actor Robert Redford bought several thousand acres in steep narrow high mountain valley of
outstanding natural beauty. He built Sundance on one side of the road, its buildings well hidden
in the trees. His house is atop the ridge on the other side of the road. Redford locked up 800
acres in a conservation trust. A stroll around the landscaped grounds along the mountain brook is
always in order. In the summer, glass blowers work behind the main building turning trash beer
and wine bottles into art and glasses for the Sundance restaurants, part of Sundance's recycling
program. You can buy the glasses and glass art at the gift shop and at the art center.
Sundance is on UT Rt 92, "The Alpine Loop", one of the best mountain drives anywhere in the
world. Fall, early September trough mid-October, is especially spectacular, a time when the
bright red and yellow leaves of the Wild Mountain Maples and Aspens splash across the lower
slopes beneath the often snow covered rocky crests of Mt Timpanogos.
Before we moved from the East Coast to a house in Utah looking at Sundance across a broad
high mountain valley, we made a point of always including a day at Sundance on our ski trips to
Utah. Sundance is a small ski mountain, but well worth a visit for good snow, great skiing, and
the spectacular views.
Depending on the season, Sundance offers indoor and outdoor concerts and movies; fine food;
hiking trails; downhill and cross country skiing; snow boarding; horseback rides; scenic drives;
fishing; summer children’s program
Close by (within an hour’s drive), are parasailing at Point of the Mountain and at the end of
Squaw Peak Road; Deer Creek Lake with fishing, boating, ice fishing, the busiest beach in Utah,
and wind surfing; glider flights, small aircraft sightseeing, and hot air balloon trips at the Heber
Airport; rock and ice wall climbing, depending on the season; golf; and year round swimming
and scuba diving inside a volcano in 90 degree water at the unique Homestead Crater. In the fall,
see the salmon run at Strawberry Reservoir. ${QuickSuggestions} Sundance has two year-round restaurants in one building. The Foundry Grill(breakfast, lunch,
dinner), Zagat food rating = 25, average cost ; and The Tree Room(dinner), food rating = 27,
cost . During ski season, there is also a much less expensive cafeteria in the building across
the base area where lift tickets are sold. The Foundry Grill also has a fine Sunday lunch buffet.
Utah’s booze laws are weird. Sundance’s restaurants serve wine and beer. The Owl Bar, the
short leg of the L-shaped main Lodge is almost like a real bar except no double shots, no drinks
with more than 1 oz. of hard liquor, and a paper work hassle to get in. The Owl Bar is real old
west bar, moved to Sundance from its original home in Wyoming. Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid drank at the rosewood bar.
If you want some wine or booze or real beer in your room, stock up at the State Liquor store in
Park City at the corner of Park Ave. (the park city exit from I-80) and Kearns Blvd. (the US 40
exit to Park City, coming from Heber/Sundance).
Celebrity spotting: best chance of seeing owner Robert Redford is at lunch in the Foundry Grill.
To see Redford’s house, ride Ray’s Lift. Look back over your right shoulder as you approach
the mid-mountain unloading station. His house is on top of the ridge across the valley.
Robert Redford also created the Sundance Film Festival (late January) which shows some of its
films at Sundance. The main activities are in nearby Park City.
Sundance lodging is behind and slightly uphill of the main lodge. Rooms are in serval buildings
ranging from 400 sq. ft. hotel style rooms to 700 sq. ft. suites with kitchen to a three bedroom
house.
Since it sounds farfetched, I’ll say it again: Do not miss the view from the parking lot!! ${BestWay} It’s about an hour drive from Salt Lake Airport to Sundance. Take I-80 east to I-15 south to 800
N St in Orem. Stay in the left lane on 800 North, which will dump you on US 189. After going
through the tunnel, turn left on Rt 92 at the sign for Sundance.
A car is not needed in winter if you spend your ski week at Sundance, but a car is really necessary
outside ski season so you can do the scenic drives. Rt 92, the most scenic, is closed by snow on
the road roughly between mid-November and June.
There is a Cabela’s store at the far end of Rt 92 at the junction with I-15. If you have never been
to Cabela’s, it is worth the trip to see the aquarium, wildlife dioramas, hunting trophy, and vast
selection of value priced outdoor gear.
RVs are not allowed on Rt 92 and you will find the smallest possible car to be a great advantage.
When stopping by Sundance, it is very pleasant to walk around the grounds. Just follow the
sidewalks. The Art Center (shop) and glass blowing are across the small parking lot behind the
main Lodge.
Although there is no golf course at Sundance, Heber Valley, about 40 scenic minutes away, is a
gofer’s paradise– five 18 hole courses with greens fees -50.
Fishermen take note: Sundance is six miles from the famed middle Provo River trout stream.
At 6,200 feet above sea level, expect to be slightly out of breath at Sundance, especially climbing
stairs. On the other hand, compared to most Western ski resorts, Sundance is low altitude and
the altitude is much less bothersome. Chances are you won’t even notice it.
Stewart’s Cascade is a good 2-3 hour round trip hike from Sundance. If you leave directly from
the resort, you have to climb several hundred feet more than on the essentially flat trial from the
small parking lot uphill from the resort. Ask for directions.
Park City, a major destination resort town with three major ski areas– Deer Valley, Park City
Mountain, and The Canyons, is 35 miles away. In summer, there is a scenic drive (unpaved) over
the mountians to Brighton/Solitude and Park City.
From journal One of the Most Beautiful Places on Earth