Things to do in Park City in summer: Mountain Trails, Lakes and Olympic Adventures
Park City, Utah in summer means lift-served trails, a mountain reservoir, Olympic sites and a historic Main Street.
8 Oct 2026
Park City sits high in the Wasatch Range, at about 6,936 feet, and is 32 miles southeast of downtown Salt Lake City. Summers are warm and the nights are cool. Those same ski slopes turn into trails and rides, and the old mining town is just as nice to wander as it is in winter.
On the mountain
The town began as a silver mining camp in the 1860s. By the 1950s it had nearly become a ghost town, until skiing brought it back to life in the 1960s. That history is why summer here feels like more than a resort stay. You can ride a lift in the morning and stand in front of a Victorian building from the mining days by lunch.
Park City Mountain offers a long run of warm-weather activities. They include mountain biking, hiking, scenic lift rides, an alpine coaster and slide, mini golf, gem panning and rock climbing. Hiking and biking trails are reached by lift. The mountain grew in 2015 when it joined with the neighboring Canyons resort, so there is a lot of ground to cover.
Deer Valley Resort calls itself a place for "Skiing, Hiking, Biking & More." It also has a section for summer activities, so it is worth a look if you want a different mountain to explore.
Trails and wide open space
Hiking, mountain biking, road biking, horseback riding and golf are all among the summer activities. Park City has extensive mountain biking and hiking trails, plus nearby reservoirs and hot springs.
Summit County, the county around Park City, is a high and mountainous place. There are two ranges here: the Uinta Mountains, which run east to west, and the Wasatch Mountains, which run north to south. The county includes parts of Ashley National Forest and Wasatch National Forest, as well as Rockport State Park. Besides Park City, the towns include Coalville, Kamas, Oakley, Francis and Henefer.
On the water
Jordanelle State Park surrounds Jordanelle Reservoir, which is filled by the Provo River. The park offers many things to do, among them biking, beach access, boating, fishing, hiking, kayaking, swimming, waterskiing and watching wildlife. There are boat launches and a marina. Trails welcome hikers, bikers and horse riders, and Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed on the Perimeter Trail. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the trails.
The reservoir holds rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, smallmouth bass and other fish, and races such as triathlons and marathons are held at the park in summer. At night, the park's status as an International Dark Sky Park makes it a good place to see stars.
Olympic fun
Utah Olympic Park was built for the 2002 Winter Olympics and sits northwest of Park City. In warmer months it turns into an adventure park. It has an alpine slide, extreme zip lines, extreme tubing, an obstacle course, a free drop experience and a canyon ropes course. There is also a bobsled experience on one of only four sliding tracks in North America.
The same park has six Nordic ski jumps and a museum about the 2002 Games. The Alf Engen Ski Museum is also there, in the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center. It holds more than 300 trophies, medals, uniforms, skis, boots and photos covering 70 years of skiing. It is a good rainy-day stop.
Places to see downtown
Main Street Historic District has 64 Victorian buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. They date back to the silver boom that began in the 1860s. The Park City Museum is on Main Street too, and it offers visitor information.
The Egyptian Theatre was built in 1926 and hosts professional theatre. McPolin Farm is a historic farmstead and one of the area's notable sites.
For families
For families, the mountain coaster and alpine slide, the gem panning and mini golf, and the zip lines and tubing at the Olympic Park all work for a range of ages. A day by the reservoir with a swim or a paddle is a calmer option. A walk down Main Street is a gentle way to end the day.
When the weather turns
In a summer storm, head indoors. The Alf Engen Ski Museum, the 2002 Games museum and the Park City Museum all give you something to do under a roof. The Egyptian Theatre is one more indoor stop.
Getting around
Park City has a city-wide bus system that links the resorts, downtown and surrounding areas, and it runs all year. Main Street is easy to cover on foot. For Jordanelle and the Olympic Park, plan on a short drive.
Good to know
Park City is at about 6,936 feet, so drink water and take it easy at first.
Summers are warm, with cool nights, so pack a layer.
Jordanelle State Park lets Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on its Perimeter Trail.
Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the park's trails.
Check each venue's own website for what is open before you go.
Find local help
When you plan a summer trip, or if you live in Summit County and need a hand with something, browse the local businesses in our Park City and Summit County guide. You will find them grouped by what they do.
Useful links
Businesses in Park City in the Park City & Summit County guide
About Park City: the town at a glance
Own a business in Park City? Claim or add your listing, free
By Thomas Hassett and Eric Andrews, Local Business America
Photo: An Errant Knight, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: Wikipedia, Park City, Utah (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_City,_Utah); Wikivoyage, Park City (Utah) (https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Park_City_(Utah)); Wikipedia, Park City Mountain Resort (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_City_Mountain_Resort); Wikipedia, Summit County, Utah (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summit_County,_Utah); Wikipedia, Jordanelle Reservoir (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanelle_State_Park); Wikipedia, Utah Olympic Park (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Olympic_Park); Park City Mountain (https://www.parkcitymountain.com/); Deer Valley Resort (https://www.deervalley.com/); Utah Olympic Park (https://www.utaholympiclegacy.org/); Utah State Parks, Jordanelle (https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/jordanelle/). Wikivoyage and Wikipedia text is licensed CC BY-SA.