A long weekend guide to mountain trails, rooftop beers, and the small town energy that makes Park City shine beyond ski season.
By: Outbound Hotels
Tucked into the Wasatch Range in central Utah, Park City is a charming mountain town best known as a luxury winter destination with world-class skiing. But visit in the summer and fall and you’ll experience a whole different side of the place. When the snow melts, the ski runs turn green, wildflowers line the hillsides, a laid-back vibe settles over the place, and the sprawling trail system opens up for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. Long daylight hours mean you can spend an entire day outside without rushing—enjoy coffee in town before heading out into the mountains, then end the night at a tucked-away cocktail bar or rooftop saloon.
Steps away from Park City Mountain Resort and a quick ride from Main Street’s shops and restaurants, Outbound Hotel’s upcoming Park City location (opening early 2027) is a comfortable base camp to return to after a long day. For folks flying in, renting a car will get you the best access to all the surrounding nature, though the hotel’s close proximity to the mountain base and public buses means a car is not a requirement.
To pack it all in you’ll need a plan, so we’ve put together a three-day itinerary filled with everything you need to eat, see, and experience during luxe Utah mountain town getaway.
Day 1: Get Acclimated
Morning — Fuel Up & Ride
Park City sits at nearly 7,000 feet, so ease into the altitude and take your first morning slow. Luckily, breakfast is just steps away at Billy & Co., Outbound’s on-site, all-day eatery. Fuel up with a build-your-own-oatmeal bowl, avocado toast, or a stack of French toast, washed down with a Mountain Mocha or an invigorating fresh juice from the Juice Bar. For a little extra pep to counter the altitude, grab a Ginger Snap or Tumeric Trail Power Shot. If you need to get going, snag a grab-and-go breakfast burrito or sandwich instead.
Next, walk down to Switchback Sports, a respected gear rental shop that opens at 10 AM, and rent standard bikes, e-bikes, or a mountain bike to check out the local trails. Explore the paved bike paths around town to get a lay of the land or check out the regional Park City Rail Trail, a 28-mile dirt path that long ago served as a railroad and ends at Echo Reservoir. Follow it east to find yourself spinning your tires past wetlands, farms, and small creeks with rolling hills to the other side. Ride as long as you want before turning around and heading back to town.
Afternoon — Olympic Attractions
There’s no reason to shy away from the touristy activities that Park City, which was home to the 2002 Winter Olympics, has to offer. If you have a car, the Utah Olympic Park, now a year-round training facility for winter athletes, is only 10 minutes down the road. You can join a guided tour to go behind the scenes and see the world’s highest Nordic jump, or take on the thrill of high-speed sports yourself with a run on the bobsled track, where you’ll reach up to 70 miles per hour in under a minute. If you plan to spend a few hours here, the Gold Pass gives you unlimited access to the alpine slide, zip-line, tubing, and scenic chairlift rides. No rental car? Park City Mountain Resort is directly across the street from Outbound and has an alpine slide and scenic chair lift rides.
Evening — S’mores Under the Stars
Back at Outbound, hit up June Bar for some alpine aperitifs before dinner; the Summit Old Fashioned with herbal alpine liqueur or a Huckleberry Highball go down easy. If you’re still feeling the altitude and want to skip the booze, the bar’s delicious dirty soda line-up has you covered. Put in a dinner order from Billy & Co., noshing on modern mountain fare like smashburgers, piled-high sandwiches, and hearty pot pies. Once your bellies are full and the sun has set over Jupiter Peak, lean into the summer-camp feeling of the mountains with s’mores around the firepit at Outbound’s courtyard. The temperature should drop just enough to justify a sweatshirt, or you slip into a swimsuit and soak in the hot tub under the starry night sky.
Day 2: Hit the Trails
Morning — Bikes & Hikes
Hiking and mountain biking are the biggest draws in Park City during the summer, and the beauty is that both use the same sprawling trail network. Grab a to-go breakfast burrito if you’re feeling ravenous or maple blueberry overnight oats from Billy & Co., then walk or bike over to the Old Town Transit Center and hop on Park City’s free bus (9 Purple Route) up Empire Pass, where you’ll immediately trade town for high alpine meadows and aspen groves.
If you want a more relaxed outing, hop off the bus at Bonanza Flat and take on the five-mile Bonanza Loop, which rolls through open ridgelines and forested sections with steady mountain views the entire way. It’s open from July 1st through September 30th. For a bigger day, take the shuttle to Montage Resort and hike or bike downhill through the Park City Mountain Resort trail system back toward town. Linking Mid-Mountain to Jenni’s Trail creates a roughly eight-mile route that feels quintessential Park City: smooth singletrack, ski-run crossings, and long shady stretches through the white-barked aspens, where you may catch sight of a moose. There are endless options for creating your own route, and if you want to shorten it, you can always take one of the dirt roads straight back to the base rather than twisting and turning through the forest.
Afternoon — Western Time Capsule
Few post-hike rituals feel more satisfying than collapsing into a booth at No Name Saloon still dusty and sweaty from the trail. The iconic Main Street spot feels delightfully frozen in time: red brick walls covered in vintage signs, neon beer lights, and taxidermy staring down from the walls. Inside is a cozy spot to hunker down on a rainy or cold day, but if the sun is shining, wind your way up the stairs and out onto the rooftop. Then, guzzle down a frosty pint of a local draft, like Proper’s Yacht Rock IPA or Uinta’s Was Angeles Lager.
If you have the time, a 30-minute drive will bring you to the Homestead Crater, a geothermal spring hidden inside a 55-foot limestone dome. Visitors can swim, soak, or even scuba dive in the warm waters as sun peaks over the walls and glistens onto the water below. Be sure to book in advance, as only 20 swimmers are allowed in at one time to prevent overcrowding. If you don’t have a car, you could book a spa treatment, like a massage or facial, at Align Spa only a quick walk away.
Evening — Small Plates & Pizza
After you make a pitstop back to your room to freshen up, walk over to Matilda—only five minutes away from Outbound—for a late dinner. (We recommend making a reservation in advance.) As one of Park City’s most beloved and innovative restaurants, it’s hard to go wrong with anything on the menu, but the place is known for its scratch-made sourdough pizza, so your best bet is to order one to share—go for the calabrese with salami, whipped ricotta, and hot honey—and split a few orders of pork belly and charred cabbage. Don’t skip the sticky date pudding for dessert.
Day 3: Get Out on the Water
Morning — Paddle Out
By day three, you’ll understand why locals structure their summers around early mornings outside—they’re much more peaceful than mid-day. Grab an early sit-down breakfast at Billy and Co. and head out to Jordanelle Reservoir with Park City SUP to get on the water before the afternoon crowds roll in. A stand-up paddleboarding session or SUP yoga class is one of the best ways to experience the quieter side of the area, and the reservoir is calm in the mornings, with glassy water reflecting the surrounding mountains. You can organize a custom tour with a local instructor who will take you to their favorite spots on the lake, or get the Intro to SUP package for a quick orientation before you explore the coves and shorelines on your own.
Afternoon — On Main Street
Back at the hotel, chairlift chicken drummers or smoky bratwurst meatballs from Billy and Co. make for a great apres meal whether you’re coming from skiing or SUPing. Your next stop is downtown to spend the final afternoon on Main Street. Wander in and out of art galleries like David Beavis Fine Art or Gallery Mar, buff up on local history at the Park City Museum, check out shops for outdoor brands like Arc’teryx, The North Face, Patagonia, and Aether Apparel, and admire the old mining-era buildings that now house cafés and cocktail bars. After an exhausting few days, it should feel nice to slow down and explore on your own time.
Evening — Sushi in the Wasatch
You may not think of fresh fish when you think of land-locked Utah, but the sushi at Yuki Yama in the heart of downtown Park City may just change your mind. Ask your server for their sake recommendation, then indulge in the stuffed shishito peppers, crispy tuna tartare, and a Mr. Miyagi roll. Once you finish your dinner, take a slow stroll back down Main under the twinkling lights while live music drifts out of bars and people enjoy the cool night. If you have the energy, pop into one to take in the local scene one more time. Then finish up with a night-cap at June Bar, Outbound’s speakeasy-style cocktail lounge.
