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Ski Resorts Do Summer, Too.

Even when the snow is gone, Park City's resorts become a vibrant adventure hub with thrilling ziplines, scenic trails and mountain biking for all types of adventurers.

Written By Travis Reill

Deer Valley | Visit Park City

For years, I’ve always thought of Park City as a winter destination. Ski resorts such as Deer Valley, Park City Mountain and Woodward Park City draw visitors from around the globe winter after winter. But life doesn’t stop in Park City once the snow melts.

Summer activities such as mountain biking, hiking and fly fishing are abundant. The ski resorts transform, becoming bike parks with hundreds of miles of trails accessible from either a chairlift or a trailhead. (Read: A Classy Warm-Weather Weekend in Park City)

One thing’s for sure: don’t sleep on a ski resort summer.

Summer activities such as mountain biking, hiking and fly fishing are abundant in and around Park City.

Photo: Marc Piscotty

Mountain Biking at Park City Resorts

If I’m being frank, I was most looking forward to the days I would spend riding chairlifts. Nothing beats bike park laps, and Park City did not disappoint. Summer operations keep a few lifts spinning at places like Deer Valley and Park City Mountain, with world-class trails running through the lift shadows.

Deer Valley

Beginner Trails: “Ripple” and “Secret of my Success” are easy-going, flowy beginner trails that allow newer riders to gain a sense of bike park speed.
Intermediate Trail: “Regulator” steps things up a bit. This intermediate jump trail adds speed and incorporates several sizable tabletop jumps.
Advanced Trail: For a proper rocky and rooty singletrack, "Devo" is an advanced tech trail that will push your limits.

Deer Valley has something for everyone. “Regulator” was a hard trail to stop riding. As I rode the chairlift to the top after each lap, I found myself wanting to ride again and again, which I did several times. However, that doesn’t mean Deer Valley only has wide flow trails. After finally breaking away from that beautiful intermediate jump trail, I found myself tackling "Devo,” an advanced tech trail scratched into the side of the mountain. For those looking for a proper rocky and rooty singletrack that pushes the limits of what you thought a black trail was, “Devo” is your ticket.

Park City Mountain Resort

Advanced Trail: "John's Trail" is an advanced trail with steep, narrow, and off-camber skids.
Expert Trail: "Red Bull" is an expert trail that navigates over roots and around switchbacks.

While Deer Valley is a bit southeast of downtown Park City, Park City Mountain Resort is right in the heart of the city. From my condo in the main village, I could push my bike to one of the spinning chair lifts at Park City Mountain within a few minutes.

Miles of intermediate flow and tech trails provide options for riders coming off the chairlifts; however, beginner green trails are relatively scarce at Park City Mountain Resort. Regardless of the chosen trail, most funnel back down to the main village area, where it's easy to jump back on the lift for lap two.

With plentiful intermediate options, there are also a few advanced trails like “John’s Trail” and “Red Bull” to spice things up a bit. An advanced and expert trail, respectively, both cut steep, narrow and sometimes off-camber skids down the mountain, navigating over roots and around switchbacks.

Woodward Park City

Woodward Park City is another bike park option in the area. While it's the smallest of Park City’s bike parks, Woodward makes up for it by offering endless laps. With a variety of jump trails, opportunities for steady progression and even an indoor hub featuring foam pits to hone skills and practice tricks, Woodward is definitely the place to go to get your wheels off the ground. (Read: Woodward Is Fun For the Whole Family)

Park City is a true spiderweb of trails, with bike park trails seamlessly integrated into the city's broader trail system. Chairlifts are really just an optional luxury.

From beginner-friendly loops to thrilling descents, enjoy Deer Valley's stunning scenery and fresh mountain air on an adventure built for everyone.

Photo: Visit Park City

Woodward is the smallest of Park City’s bike parks, but it makes up for it with endless laps.

Park City Mountain Resort is right in the heart of the city.

Photo: Jay Dash

Trail Systems Beyond the Bike Parks

While it is hard to beat 1,000-plus feet of elevation gained by sitting on a lift, I was thoroughly impressed with Park City’s trail systems. The trails are well-built and well-maintained, with many designated as directional trails, meaning they are restricted for climbing only or descending only. This keeps trail conflict to a minimum, ensuring I didn’t crash into an ascending mountain biker as I ripped down.

Slate Creek

I had the opportunity to ride a newer trail system just outside of Park City called Slate Creek. Slate Creek is easily a trail system that riders of all skill levels can enjoy.

The Climb: The nearly five-mile climb was perfectly built, with a few punchy bits here and there but mostly a gradual 1,200-plus foot ascent.
The Descent: And down was spectacular. Fast and flowy where I wanted it, but chunky where it needed to be. Turns snuck up fast, and finding optional side hits or pulling for bigger gaps (or attempting to do so) spiced up the system from its intermediate rating.

While I had to take a shuttle to make it to Slate Creek, that seems to be the minority experience in Park City.

“I think there are a couple of things that make Park City special,” says Scott House, senior director of partner services at the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. “One of the big ones is that no matter where you stay, your garage is your trailhead. You can access a growing 450-mile-plus trail system from just about anywhere in town.”

And that is precisely what I experienced while staying in the central village area: mountain bikers making their way up to the “Mother Urban” climbing trail to find an exciting route back down. Others head over to trail systems like Round Valley, most of which are at the beginner to intermediate level. Many trails are designed to cater to all — inexperienced riders can take it easy, and more advanced riders can find opportunities to push their limits.

And while mountain biking will always be my first choice, mile after mile of Park City’s Rail Trail provides an alternative for gravel grinders or casual cruises. And the best part? You can pedal right to the trailhead, no cars needed.

A view of the Round Valley trail system.

Photo: Visit Park City

Other Summer Activities in Park City

It isn’t all mountain biking in Park City. Outdoor adventure and family fun await. “When the riding is done, you have access to lakes, rivers, fishing, hiking, dining, hot air balloons — you name it,” House told me.

Resort Activities:

Scenic lift rides and gondola tours at Park City Mountain.
Alpine slides and mountain coasters: For a bit more excitement, Park City Mountain also has 3,000-foot alpine slides and mile-long mountain coasters that reach speeds of up to 25 m.p.h.
Ziplines: Those who aren’t afraid of heights can try the ZipRider, one of Park City Mountain Resort’s ziplines towering over 110 feet above the mountain.

Calmer Options:

Hiking and trail running: Many of the trails in Park City are multi-use, meaning hikers and trail runners also share singletrack with mountain bikers.
Fly fishing
Disc golf
Park City Farmers Market

Soar through the sky at exhilarating speeds on Park City's ZipRider and take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the landscape below.

Park City makes summer hiking effortlessly accessible with stunning paths just minutes from downtown.

Photo: Park City Chamber

Dining on Park City’s Main Street

Park City’s historic Main Street was where I spent the majority of my evenings, although I could have probably spent an entire day there. For shopping, the street is lined with unique boutiques and fun local shops, with phenomenal art studios sprinkled in.

The food scene here is exceptional, ranging from casual cafes to fine dining. Park City Desserts & Coffee is an easy stop in the morning for great coffee and a quick bite. Restaurants like Shabu and Firewood serve up outstanding dishes, from Shabu’s renowned sushi to the seasonal food cooked over a wood flame at Firewood.

One thing’s for sure: I was never hungry.

Utah's first legal distillery since 1870, High West, began crafting spirits in Park City in 2007, where its flagship Saloon remains a unique ski-in experience.

Photo: Marc Piscotty

Park City's culinary scene shines with Firewood serving up outstanding seasonal dishes cooked entirely over a wood flame.

Photo: Austen Diamond

The food scene in Park City is exceptional, ranging from casual cafes to fine dining.

Photo: Marc Piscotty

How to Get to Park City

All of this mountain town adventure is happening less than an hour away from the Salt Lake City airport. Rental cars or shuttles (I took the latter) are straightforward to schedule to and from the airport. (Read: Traveling to Utah) Once in Park City, a car is not really needed.

Accessibility: I regularly walked from my condo to Main Street for evening dinner or drinks, and more trails than I could ride during my visit were within pedaling distance.
Free Public Transit: Park City has an excellent free bus system, with bus drivers often serving as pseudo-tour guides, happily answering questions and providing directions.

Whether mountain biking, hiking, or embarking on another outdoor adventure, summer in Park City, Utah, is a truly incredible experience. From a weekend getaway to an extended vacation, you’ll never run out of new things to do.

Not being much of a winter sports guy, I was somewhat skeptical of what my Park City experience would be like. But, I guess what they say is true: "come for the winter, stay for the summer.”

Summer in Park City

About the Author – Travis Reill

Travis Reill is an Oregon-based outdoor and mountain bike journalist who combines his passion for storytelling with the outdoors, often bringing his two kids along for the adventure. You can regularly find his work on the homepages of popular mountain bike publications like Singletracks and The Loam Wolf, with features in Freehub Magazine, Mountain Bike Action Magazine, Trail Builder Magazine and more.

Mountain Biking in Utah

For many, Utah mountain biking conjures visions of Moab's fabled trails, Slickrock, Porcupine Rim and Amasa back. These classic rides rightfully have a place in Mountain Biking's hall of fame. But limiting your view to Moab for mountain biking misses the state’s diversity of trails, terrain and experiences. Even Moab is sparking a renaissance with new singletrack trails like the Sovereign Trail and Magnificent 7 helping long-time visitors rediscover Utah mountain biking.

Explore Mountain Biking in Utah

Group of four friends, holding coffees and walking through downtown Park City.

3 Days

Park City Classy Warm-Weather Weekend

There are many ways to build a magical weekend in Park City. Three days can easily include art galleries, spa time, boutique browsing, food, and live entertainment. And, of course, the mountains make the place, so hiking boots are recommended for your pack list, but you don’t have to spend the entire time — or any time — in outdoor-gear mode. There’s plenty to do, and the itinerary can be as laid-back or active as you like.

Wellness, Arts, Support local, Events, Urban Experiences

Highlights