Summer Mountain Biking in Park City with Kids

Two Wheels, One Mountain Town

Park City has over 450 miles of singletrack and is the first - and so far only - IMBA Gold-Level Ride Center in the world. The grade was 96 points. We brag about that one. Most of the conversation around mountain biking up here is about expert flow and lift-served downhill, which is fine. But the family-friendly terrain is huge and underrated. This is one of the easiest places in the country to put a kid on a real mountain bike.

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Beginner Trails for Families

Rail Trail - paved and flat, the perfect starter. Ride from Bonanza Drive toward Wanship for a scenic out-and-back. The locals' line is to start at the trailhead by the Old Town transit lot and ride out toward Promontory.

Round Valley - wide, rolling singletrack through open meadows. Trails are well-marked and there is very little exposure or steep terrain. Perfect for kids who have outgrown the bike path. One warning - moose. We have moose on these trails, especially the Sunday morning crowd that goes early. Give them 50 yards minimum and turn around if mama and calf are blocking the way. This is not a suggestion. Wyatt has watched me back my bike off Round Valley three different summers.

McLeod Creek Trail - gentle creekside path connecting Kimball Junction to town. Shaded in spots, very manageable for young riders. Pop out at the playground at the end and the kids will not complain about the climb back.

Intermediate Family Rides

Lost Prospector - rolling loop through aspen groves with some gentle technical sections. Great for building skills in kids 8 and up. Charlie has been riding it since he turned 8 and now wants to upgrade to flow.

Glenwild - beautiful trails with short climbs and flowy descents. The views of the Snyderville Basin are incredible. Carry a hydration pack. Summer rides get warm at altitude and altitude sickness is real for sea-level visitors who think they are going for an "easy" ride. Drink water before you are thirsty.

Lift-Served Biking

Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley both offer lift-served mountain biking in summer. Park City Mountain has flow trails and jump lines for older, experienced kids. Deer Valley's trails are more cross-country oriented. Both rent bikes and offer lessons. Local patrollers see the same crashes every summer - parents who put their kids on lift-served downhill before the kids have ever ridden real singletrack. Build them up first.

Gear and Safety

Helmets are non-negotiable. For kids riding singletrack, gloves and knee pads add confidence. Several shops on Main Street rent quality kids' mountain bikes - Jans, White Pine Touring, and Cole Sport all have family bike packages. Good cycling sunglasses protect eyes from dust and sun on the trails.

One thing nobody tells visitors. Park City summer afternoons get thunderstorms. They roll in fast off the Wasatch. Mountain weather - if you do not like it, wait twenty minutes. Plan rides for morning. Off the trail by 1 PM in July if you do not want to learn what lightning sounds like a quarter mile away.

Making It Fun

Keep rides short and sweet for younger kids. End at a fun destination - a playground, an ice cream shop, a swimming spot. The McLeod Creek trail ends right near a great playground in town. Positive experiences now create lifelong mountain bikers.

Do not skip the sunscreen. UV at altitude is no joke, even on cloudy days. Comfortable trail shoes are non-negotiable. A reusable water bottle for everyone. And pack a compact first aid kit. With kids you never know when you need it.

Bike-Day Essentials to Pack

Tried and tested:

• kids hydration backpack
• waterproof trail shoes for kids
• mineral sunscreen for kids
• compact first aid kit
• kids binoculars - for the wildlife stops, not the riding
• insulated kids water bottle

Reward at the end - ice cream on Main, or back to Vinto for an iced espresso for me (the only acceptable coffee in town, my opinion, I will defend it). The kids get juice. Everyone is happy.