Local Flavours: The Complete Guide to Riding in Park City, UT

Note from the author: Throughout much of the United States, Covid-19 cases are on the decline, and while that is great news, we still have a bit of mitigating measures ahead of us before we truly round the proverbial corner. While producing this I took several measures to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus, which included limited involvement of additional riders, and basically spending the entire week either on the trails, grabbing takeout, or working in the apartment I rented. Please adhere to Park City local guidelines and mandates while in town, and please continue to wear masks indoors even if you are fully inoculated.

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I blew my first opportunity to spend time in Park City. It was back in 2008 and I had traveled to the Wasatch with some friends to chase some snow storms. While the majority of the trip was a success, the evening before our planned day in Park City ended with me in the ER learning about my a.c. joint separation. I wish I could say that it resulted from getting sendy in the backcountry, but it may have had more to do with elevated levels of debauchery and a road sign collision. Fret not, no motor vehicles were involved. As it turned out, snowboard legend Travis Rice would be in Park City the next day filming for one of my all time favorite shred flicks, "Community", and my friends were fortunate enough to see some of the action firsthand. I wasn't, so there's that.














Long before Anglo and Mormon settlers made their way into the valleys between the Wasatch to "make the desert blossom as a rose", this land was home to the Eastern Shoshone and Ute tribes. Based on their migration patterns, experts have claimed that the Northwestern Shoshones were among the most ecologically efficient and well-adapted cultures of the American West, while Ute people engaged in a sophisticated gathering and hunting economy. Anglo and LDS immigrants brought conflict as they moved into these territories, competing for natural resources with the indigenous people who already called this place home. The Utes frequently defended themselves in a number of armed conflicts before reluctantly signing Treaty of Spanish Fork in 1865 which effectively forced a relocation to the Uintah Basin, a far less forgiving environment than what we now call Park City. Sadly, the Shoshones endured one of the most tragic events in American history on January 29, 1863 when Colonel Patrick Edward Connor and 200 army volunteers attacked a group of 450 Shoshone men, women, and children, which saw over 350 of them lose their lives in the violent assault. Today the Shoshone people have the smallest reservation in Utah, consisting of only 187 acres. The Utes own over a million acres which is home to 3,500 people.

These days Park City is home to nearly 9,000 full time residents, a number often dwarfed by the amount of tourists that can be found in town on any give day. Tourism is the primary driver of the community's economy, which was previously driven by the extraction industry before suffering a series of mishaps throughout the mid twentieth century. The town's first ski resort open in 1963 and quickly ushered in a new era for the community as it became known for "The Greatest Snow On Earth". Park City has leaned into its allure for travelers looking to revel in the surrounding mountains, attracting over 4 million per year and developing into one of the most affluent communities in the state. While winter still holds the edge, summer is catching up quickly when it comes to attracting visitors, with mountain biking playing a pivotal role in that regard.


Park City is situated along the southern edge of the Snyderville Basin, about 30 miles to the southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah's largest population center. It's easily accessible via Interstate 80 or US Route 40 depending on where you are driving from. The town runs an intra-city transit system that is free for passengers, with service to the Canyons Village, Deer Valley Resort, Kimball Junction, Park City Resort, and Prospector Square among other stops.

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is 45 minutes away as well and as one of the American West's busiest airports, offers a range of flight options at relatively low fares. Car rentals and public transit are all easy to navigate as well, making getting to and from Park City via air travel a popular option.

Please stay up to date on any and all COVID-19 restrictions via the Summit County Health website.































Park City sits at 7,000 above sea level which makes it considerably cooler compared to the larger population centers in the valleys below. The riding season for PC begins in earnest in May and runs through October or whenever the snow begins to fly. Higher elevations will see a shorter riding window. With much of the rest of the state being a desert, it's not hard for locals to get some quality time on two wheels at virtually any point during the year, but prime time for Park City would be in July and August, as those are the two warmest months of the year and see the least amount of cloud cover.

Average temps rarely exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, however due to the nature of the higher elevations it can feel a bit warmer as the thinner atmosphere allows for a bit more UV roasting. Summer nights are fairly cool, so pack accordingly.


I feel like this is a lazy suggestion so apologies in advance, but bring whatever ya got. Between the lift served terrain, the massive backcountry, Woodward, so on and so forth, there are opportunities for everything from a dirt jumper to a downhill rig. I will say that for what it's worth, there were a few times while riding my Firebird on trails that were rated black, I found myself wishing I had opted for the shorter and snappier Trail429.



Park City and the surrounding area are well served by two primary advocacy groups: the Mountain Trails Foundation and the Wasatch Trails Foundation. The Mountain Trails Foundation is a 501c3, and much of their focus is specifically on trails within Park City proper. Founded nearly 30 years ago, Mountain Trails Foundation works with local government entities, private landowners and developers to ensure access to over 400 miles of multi-use trail in and around town.

Eric Porter, longtime professional mountain cyclist and Youtube extraordinaire, is the president of the Wasatch Trails Foundation, the group responsible for the W.O.W. trail among other gems. The 501c3 is currently working on completion of the Pine Canyon Bike Bark, which in addition to the completed pumptrack, will include a beginner jump line as well as 2 new flow trails connecting the lower W.O.W. trail parking lot to the pump track. Both organizations are now working together to apply for grant funding on a singletrack connector between the Park City trails and the Wasatch County trails.

South Summit Trails Foundation does a lot for the area as well, managing the trails around Kamas, Oakley, and the Eastern areas of Park City in Summit County.












Park City has absolutely no shortage of places to eat and sleep while in town. In fact, I'd say that the options are rather overwhelming. Tourism reigns supreme here, meaning there is something in Park City for just about everyone, from hostels and camping sites, to rooms that cost almost as much as my mortgage payment. Per night. I stayed in a condo in Old Town which is effectively "Main Street" without being called Main Street, which proved to be a great spot for walking around and exploring the town by foot or bike. Other options can put you at one of the two main resort areas in town, or you can stay a bit further away and closer to Kimbal Junction and Woodward. If you'd rather just park your glossy van life somewhere or go old school in a tent, you can post up at places that include Rockport State Park, Echo State Park, or the Park City RV Park. Check out Visit Park City's lodging guide for a complete list of available options.

Breakfast:
Wasatch Bagel and Grill serves up tasty breakfast sandwiches and bagels (captain obvious over here), plus they've got your burger needs covered for lunch or dinner!
I'm a big smoothie and coffee in the am kind of guy, and Atticus Coffee and Tea House delivered on both fronts quite nicely while I was in town. Fret not, they've got plenty more if you're looking for additional breakfast items.

Lunch:
You had me at the poke bowl. Check out Five5eeds for super tasty midday eats.
Serving up comfort food in a casual setting, Windy Ridge Cafe is a great alternative to the pricier Main Street options.

Dinner:
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Park City, eat at a world class restaurant at least once. Make it the Stein Eriksen Lodge.
Baan Thai has some top notch noodles and curries, as well as a really cool spot to eat outside when the temps permit.
Organic, fresh, and freaking tasty burgers are waiting for you at Burgers and Barley.


Jans is dedicated to the sports they love and has your needs covered, whether you are interested in the latest alpine skis or best new mountain bikes, you want to take a fly fishing lesson, or you’d like to book a guided mountain biking tour.
White Pine Touring has been at it in PC longer than most, specializing in mountain biking, backcountry skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and rock climbing.
Contender Bicycles builds custom bikes and carries MTB stalwarts including Santa Cruz, Cannondale, Juliana, Moots, Scott and more.
Storm Cycles has been serving the Park City community for over 20 years, carries brands that include Pivot Cycles, Trek, and Yeti. Stop in for all of the local trail beta you could ask for.
Park City Bike and Demo has your rental and service needs covered.
Switchback Sports is Park City's only outdoor gear consignment shop, and also offers a range of service options.


1. Look for that angle. The Provo and Weber rivers are both renowned for having plentiful brown and rainbow trout that are kept fat and happy by a year round diet of sow bugs. Both are also tailwaters, which means that the fish benefit from cold oxygenated water throughout the year leading to upwards of 3,000 fish per mile. Be sure to give Jans a shout if you need gear or info!
2. Check out Bridal Veil Falls. The drive out of Heber along route 189 is pretty stunning, but it's the destination here that really sets this scenic drive apart. Bridal Veil Falls is a 607 foot tall waterfall in the southern end of Provo Canyon, and is well worth a break in the bike action to see firsthand.
3. PC is obviously well known for its resort amenities and now for its action sport complex in Woodward, but the National Ability Center is an adaptive sports complex just outside of town, and works "with people of all abilities, harnessing the power of specialized equipment, techniques, teaching methods and over 1,900 volunteers."




Park City mountain biking trails


Park City Mountain Resort mountain biking trails

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