Park City may have built a reputation as a winter wonderland, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have just as much to offer in the summer! As the snow clears out, the trails open up, and nature comes to life, you’ll discover a whole other side to the magical mountain town. While winter is ideal for snow sports, summer gives you the chance to have exciting adventures throughout Park City’s many beautiful parks. You can hike, bike, and climb all through the season! But with so many parks, how can you decide where to begin? We’ve curated a list of can’t-miss parks and trails around town so that you can have the best, most adventurous summer ever!
Bonanza Flat Conservation Area
Bonanza Flat Conservation Area is small but mighty. It consists of approximately 1500 acres of undeveloped backcountry land, tucked away in the upper elevations of the Wasatch Mountains. It overlooks magnificent alpine meadows and lakes.
There are a lot of hiking trails that traverse this superb space. We recommend…
- Bloods Lake Trail (moderate, 429 ft elevation gain, 2.7 miles, out-and-back)
- Lackawaxen Lake Trail and Bloods Lake Trail (moderate, 1696 ft elevation gain, 7.6 miles, out-and-back)
- Clayton Peak via Bloods Lake Trail (hard, 1650 ft elevation gain, 5.3 miles, out-and-back)
For more trails in Bonanza Flat Conservation Area, visit their AllTrails page.
Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest
Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest covers 2.2 million acres of land in northern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. This spectacular national forest is one of the most heavily visited forests in the nation. It is worth visiting- whether you want to immerse yourself in the landscape by hiking or you want to sit back and cruise one of the scenic byways.
If you’re based in Park City, then you’ll want to check out these hikes…
- Rob’s Trail (moderate, 1863 ft elevation gain, 8.5 miles, out-and-back)
- Wasatch Crest Trail (hard, 3211 ft elevation gain, 18.1 miles, out-and-back)
As for scenic byways- the most convenient drive for Park City visitors is Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. This drive winds through farm and ranch lands to heavily forested, mountain terrain, accented along the way by meadows and rugged peaks. It is recommended that you allow around two hours for this 65 mile drive.
To view other trails in the national forest, visit the AllTrails page.
Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley Resort is a wonderful vacation destination no matter the season. We love how, once the weather warms up, you can explore the same trails you skied down in the winter on foot! You’ll love seeing the area around Bald Mountain all green and fresh.
The best thing to do at Deer Valley Resort, in our opinion, is to hike Bald Mountain. There are a few ways that you can do it. The three options include…
- Bald Mountain via Silver Lake Trail (moderate, 1266 ft elevation gain, 4 miles, out-and-back)
- Bald Mountain via Ontario Trail (moderate, 1266 ft elevation gain, 4.7 miles, out-and-back)
- Bald Mountain via Silver Lake and Ontario Loop (moderate, 1272 ft elevation gain, 4.5 mile, loop)
Pick the option that sounds best to you! No matter how you do it, you’re sure to enjoy it.
Greater Park City
One thing’s for sure- when you visit Park City, you’ll have no shortage of trail options. The city of Park City has its own trail system, which adds to the list of amazing local hiking options. They offer hikes for adventurers of all skill levels! The top-rated trails in the system include…
- Armstrong Trail to Dawns Trail Loop (moderate, 672 ft elevation gain, 3.3 miles, loop)
- Armstrong and Spiro Loop Trail (moderate, 1095 ft elevation gain, 6.1 miles, loop)
- Gambel Oak Loop (easy, 643 ft elevation gain, 4.1 miles, loop)
Information on other options in the trail system can be viewed on AllTrails.
Do you have a favorite park or outdoors space to visit during the summer in Park City? Share it with us in the comments!
