Many are aware that the 2002 Olympic Games took place in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, it is less commonly known that most of the mountain events, such as skiing, were held in Park City, a town located approximately 40 minutes from Salt Lake City. Park City is a charming mountain town, offering stunning views of both the mountains and the valley. The town is in a perfect location for a getaway in the mountains.
It was truly a mountain escape, one I cherished every minute of and was reluctant to leave, not wanting to return to the heat back at home. In the winter the city is perfect for those who love skiing or snowboarding, however, Park City in the off-season is just as delightful. The times that I have visited have been in the off-season, not only is it more budget-friendly, but I have never skied before so no snow is right where I am more comfortable. In this guide to Park City, I’ll share my favorite activities and my top recommendation for accommodations.
Lodging
This was my second visit to Park City. On my first trip, we stayed in a VRBO, which I absolutely loved. This time, we opted for the Marriott MountainSide Resort, and it was a fantastic choice! The resort catered perfectly to our family reunion, offering a comfortable and welcoming environment for both small and large groups. We had a blast with the wide range of hosted activities, including fitness classes, games, hikes, movies, karaoke, and more. The resort’s ability to accommodate large groups was a definite plus, making our stay even more enjoyable.
Since the resort had a pool and plenty of activities on-site, I ended up exploring less than usual, but that was okay with me. It made for a more relaxing vacation. We still managed to fit in some activities and hikes, though, which I will share a little later.
The resort is practically nestled on the mountain, making you feel like you are in a true mountain oasis. It’s conveniently located next to Park City Mountain Resort, where you can enjoy the Alpine Slide and ski lifts. Just be sure not to confuse it with the Alpine Slide at Olympic Park.
Olympic Park
One of the activities we enjoyed was visiting Olympic Park, the site of several events from the 2002 Winter Olympics. The park features a museum dedicated to the 2002 games, training grounds for future Olympians, and an extreme adventure course that I highly recommend.
Depending on the time of year you visit the park, there may be one or two activities unavailable due to seasonal timing. During our visit in early June, I was able to experience everything I wanted to, but I learned that in July, the Drop Tower was open, although it wasn’t something I was interested in. It’s important to check the park’s website for ride availability during your visit. Also, make sure to review the requirements for each ride, including height, weight, and age restrictions, to avoid disappointment upon arrival.
How It Works
To access these attractions, you’ll need to purchase a Gold Pass, which provides entry to all activities. You can buy a single ticket specifically for the Alpine Slide, although I don’t have firsthand experience with that option since I wanted to do more than the slide so we all got the Gold Pass. The gold pass is a pass that you buy for anywhere from $50-75, depending on different dates, and you get 3.5 hours in the park. You can go on whichever attractions you want, with no limit on how many times you go on a ride.To get up the mountain for the rides, they have ski lifts that take you up. The wait times were pretty reasonable during my visit, so it wasn’t a big concern, but just keep in mind there can be lines at times.
Alpine Slide
My favorite ride was the Alpine slide, it was such a thrill going down the mountain so close to the bushes and at such a fast pace. You have complete control over your cart, you have the brake and the accelerator. You can get going pretty fast, I would make sure there is ample space between you and the person in front of you because the last thing you want is to be flying down the mountain and get stuck behind a slow driver. The slide allows children to ride with an adult, making it a great opportunity to enjoy the experience together. I loved the Alpine Slide and went on it 5 times throughout the 3.5 hours. 10/10 – highly recommended!
Tubing
For those seeking an adrenaline rush, the old olympic ski hills offer an exhilarating experience: you climb into a tube and zip down the slopes, feeling the thrill of speed and excitement. I was very leery about the tubing, you don’t have any control and aren’t strapped in or anything. You are just kind of thrown down the hill, wearing only a helmet. It however was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I was looking forward to trying but was also very nervous, the mountain looks very tall from the top! Before you can do the extreme tubing you have to do the smaller hill, which they do check to see if you have. Both hills were fun and gave me a huge adrenaline rush. I enjoyed both hills, the steeper one took me a minute to realize that I did enjoy it and wasn’t going to die… and then I did it again. Both hills were so much fun!
Ziplines
I thought my favorite attraction would be the extreme zipline, however, it wasn’t as fast as we expected so I only went on it once. Didn’t mean it wasn’t fun, it was, I just enjoyed some of the other thrills a little more. There are two ziplines that you have the opportunity to go on, the freestyle or the extreme. The difference is the extreme is a little steeper and goes a bit faster, there is also a minimum age of 13. Both rides were enjoyable, and if you prefer something less fast-paced or steep, the freestyle option is just as fun.
There were also some adventure courses that I didn’t do because I wanted to do the other rides, but they did look fun! I loved my time at Olympic Park, and I highly recommend it as an activity to those who are vacationing in Park City.
Hiking
Mid-Mountain Trail
Finding the trailhead for this hike was a little bit of a struggle. Google Maps will take you to this lodge, you can either park at the lodge which is $50 or you can ask the valet where the trailhead parking is. They will direct you a little way up the main road. The actual trailhead is located right behind the lodge, so if you park at the trailhead parking it is a small hike to get to behind the lodge. You will see an old mine entrance that is sealed up, this is where the trailhead begins.
This hike was absolutely stunning! The views were breathtaking, with paths winding through lush forests. Being surrounded by nature was incredibly serene and peaceful. The landscape was vibrant and lush, painting a beautiful green scenery all around. The trail follows alongside the mountainside, offering scenic views along the way. We hiked this trail in the middle of the day in early June, and the weather was perfect—just the right temperature, not too hot at all. The hike itself is 2.8 miles, but we didn’t complete the entire trail due to our group containing a toddler. Even so, we thoroughly enjoyed our time hiking this gorgeous mountainside, with an impressive view of the valley below.
Jenny’s Trail
We also checked out another great hike right behind our resort, which was super convenient—a quick five-minute walk to the trailhead. This 3.3-mile out-and-back trail takes you to an amazing overlook where you can soak in panoramic views of the resort and the expansive valley below. The trail winds through sunny terrain dotted with bushes that offer occasional spots of shade. There were some spots that had shade from shade but it was only in small sections, but the majority of the hike is done in the full sun. It was a wonderful way to explore the natural beauty all around us, enjoy some peaceful time outdoors, and get our bodies moving!
Downtown Park City
Another fun part of our trip was wandering downtown, checking out the unique architecture and browsing through the shops. It did get pretty hot walking around, but we found it quite interesting. Downtown is really tourist-friendly with lots of cool galleries and shops like Athleta, Cotopaxi, and plenty of neat local spots to explore. It was a great mix of culture and shopping that added to our adventure.
Park City provided the ideal escape for a relaxing vacation with plenty of outdoor activities. It was the perfect blend of leisure and adventure. I’m already looking forward to returning and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mountain getaways!
Stay Safe and Start Exploring!