photo: Ross Downard | skier: Giray DadaliAcres: 2,026 | Vertical: 3,000 | Snowfall: 300 | Web: deervalley.com

"I ski at Deer Valley for their grooming, terrain, lack of crowds, and their food," says local Karl Jacobson. You may only know of Deer Valley's upscale reputation, but the hill is legendary for its customer service and focus on quality. They limit ticket sales and the grooming is simply unmatched in the West. Even the cafeteria turkey chili is renowned. It's not just the groomed terrain, though, that makes Deer Valley special. The ever-growing skier population in Utah has discovered DV's oft-overlooked powder skiing. "In Perseverance Bowl there are powder runs that tourists simply don't ski," says Jacobson. "Some people won't hike five minutes to ski un-cut powder at 2:30 in the afternoon." Worth watching: This winter, Deer Valley hosts a stop of the Freestyle World Cup. Notable: Deer Valley redesigned its beginner area with additional conveyor lifts.

From the Early Winter 2012 issue