25 Summer Activities in Park City with Kids | Park City Moms

Park City Summer Is the Best Kept Secret in Utah

I am going to say something that might get my Park City resident card revoked: I think summer here is better than winter. Do not get me wrong, the skiing is phenomenal. But summer in Park City is this magical combination of warm days, cool nights, wildflowers everywhere, and a fraction of the tourist crowds. The town exhales after ski season, the pace slows down, and suddenly everything feels more relaxed and accessible.

We moved here for the skiing, but we stay for the summers. The mountains turn impossibly green, the trails are endless, and the light lasts until almost 9 PM. My kids live outside from June through September: biking, hiking, swimming, catching frogs at the pond, and riding the alpine coaster. It is the kind of childhood I dreamed about giving them.

Park City sits at 7,000 feet, which means summer temperatures are blissful. We are talking 75 to 85 degrees during the day and dropping into the 50s at night. You will need a sweatshirt for evening activities, and the AC barely comes on in most homes. Coming from the brutal humidity of the Midwest or the scorching heat of the Southwest, Park City summer weather feels like a cheat code.

This list of 25 activities comes from five summers of testing things with my own kids. These are the ones we come back to again and again, the genuine hits rather than the tourist traps.

Outdoor Adventures: Activities 1 Through 8

1. Alpine Slide at Park City Mountain. This is the quintessential Park City summer activity. Ride the lift up, then cruise down a winding concrete track on a wheeled sled. Kids control their own speed, which makes them feel like absolute daredevils. My 9-year-old asks to do this every single weekend. Go on a weekday morning to avoid lines.

2. Rail Trail Bike Ride. The Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail is a paved, mostly flat path that runs from Park City to Echo Reservoir, about 28 miles total. You do not need to do the whole thing. The stretch from Prospector to Quinns Junction, about 3 miles each way, is perfect for families. Rent bikes from one of the shops on Main Street if you did not bring your own. Make sure everyone has sturdy hiking shoes because the trail has a few gravel sections where flip-flops will not cut it.

3. Swaner Nature Preserve. Free admission, beautiful boardwalk trails through wetlands, and a nature center with hands-on exhibits. The bird watching is surprisingly great and we have spotted herons, hawks, and once a bald eagle. Stroller-friendly paths make this work for all ages. 4. McLeod Creek Trail. This paved trail runs through the heart of Park City and follows the creek. It is flat, shaded in parts, and connects to several parks. We use it as our daily walk and bike route in summer. Kids love stopping at the bridges to throw sticks in the creek and watch them float downstream.

5. Stand-Up Paddleboarding at Jordanelle. Jordanelle Reservoir is about 15 minutes from Park City and offers calm water perfect for SUP with kids. Several rental shops are right at the marina. Kids as young as 5 can ride tandem on a board with a parent. The mountain backdrop makes you feel like you are paddleboarding in a postcard. 6. Fly Fishing on the Provo River. The middle Provo River runs right through the area and is one of the best trout fisheries in the state. Several guide services offer family-friendly half-day trips where they provide all the gear and patiently teach kids to cast. My son caught his first fish at age 7 on one of these trips and still talks about it.

7. Horseback Riding. Multiple ranches near Park City offer trail rides for families. Red Pine Adventures does a great family ride through the backcountry with stunning views. Most require kids to be at least 6 or 7 for trail rides, but some offer shorter pony rides for younger children. 8. Utah Olympic Park Summer Activities. The Olympic Park does not shut down when the snow melts. Summer activities include the extreme zip line, the alpine slide, the ropes course, and guided tours of the ski jump facilities. The freestyle skiers practice their aerial jumps into the splash pool, and watching them is a free, jaw-dropping spectacle.

Town Activities and Culture: Activities 9 Through 15

9. Park Silly Sunday Market. This weekly summer market on Main Street is our family Sunday ritual from June through September. Local food vendors, live music, artisan crafts, a kids zone with face painting and activities, and the best people-watching in Park City. Arrive by 10 AM for the best selection and manageable crowds. Bring cash for the food vendors.

10. Main Street Galleries. Park City has a surprisingly robust art scene, and many of the galleries on Main Street are kid-friendly. The Kimball Art Center is the highlight and they offer drop-in art workshops for kids throughout the summer, with gallery exhibits that rotate regularly. It is free to browse and the staff is welcoming to families. 11. Egyptian Theatre. This beautifully restored 1926 theater on Main Street hosts family-friendly shows, movies, and concerts throughout the summer. The building itself is worth seeing with ornate Egyptian revival architecture that makes my kids feel like they are in a palace.

12. City Park Splash Pad and Playground. Free, centrally located, and a lifesaver on hot days. The splash pad has multiple water features that entertain kids for hours, and the adjacent playground is well-equipped with climbing structures, swings, and a sandbox. Pack a picnic and make an afternoon of it. Keep everyone protected with mineral sunscreen reapplied every couple of hours because the altitude makes the sun fierce even when it does not feel hot.

13. Park City Museum. Located in the old city jail on Main Street, this museum tells the story of Park City mining history. Kids love the jail cell exhibits where they can go inside, and the recreated mine shaft. The silver mining history is genuinely fascinating and the museum does a great job making it accessible for younger visitors. Suggested donation admission makes it budget-friendly. 14. Library Story Time. The Park City Library runs an incredible summer reading program with prizes, events, and weekly story times. Even if you are just visiting for a week, you can get a temporary library card and participate. 15. Round Room Play Area. The free community space at the Kimball Junction transit center has a play area for young kids. When you need to get out of the sun or escape an afternoon thunderstorm, this is a great indoor option that costs nothing.

Day Trips and Bigger Adventures: Activities 16 Through 21

16. Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. Drive Highway 150 from Kamas up into the Uinta Mountains and you will hit a string of gorgeous alpine lakes perfect for picnicking, fishing, and easy hiking. Mirror Lake itself is about an hour from Park City and sits at over 10,000 feet, so bring layers. The drive alone is spectacular. 17. Homestead Crater in Midway. This is one of the most unique swimming experiences in the country. A 90-degree natural hot spring inside a 55-foot limestone cave. You can swim, snorkel, or even scuba dive. It is about 20 minutes from Park City and worth every penny.

18. Heber Valley Railroad. A scenic train ride through the beautiful Heber Valley. The open-air cars in summer are especially fun. Special themed rides like the dinosaur train and pizza train sell out fast, so book early. 19. Tibble Fork Reservoir. About 40 minutes from Park City in American Fork Canyon, this turquoise alpine lake is stunning and offers easy shoreline hiking, kayaking, and fishing. The water is cold from snowmelt but swimmable on warm days. Pack a good water bottle because there are no services up there.

20. Salt Lake City Day Trip. SLC is just 30 minutes down the canyon and offers a world of family activities: the Natural History Museum of Utah which is incredible, Tracy Aviary, the Clark Planetarium which has free exhibits, and Hogle Zoo. On really hot days, the indoor museums are a great option. 21. Snowbird Summer. The tram at Snowbird runs in summer and takes you to 11,000 feet for jaw-dropping views and alpine hiking. The base area has a bungee trampoline, climbing wall, and the Mountain Coaster. It is about 45 minutes from Park City and makes an excellent day trip.

Free and Low-Cost Fun: Activities 22 Through 25

22. Catch a Free Concert. Park City hosts free outdoor concerts throughout the summer in various venues around town. The Deer Valley Music Festival brings classical and popular artists, and many events at the Canyons Village base area are free. Check the Park City Chamber calendar for a current schedule because there is almost always something happening on summer weekends.

23. Explore the Mine Trails. Park City trail system passes by remnants of the old silver mining operations. The Ontario Mine trail and the Spiro Trail both have interesting historical artifacts along the way. Older kids enjoy the treasure-hunt aspect of spotting old mining equipment, foundations, and tunnel entrances, all safely sealed. It is a history lesson disguised as a hike.

24. Stargazing. At 7,000-plus feet with minimal light pollution, Park City offers remarkable stargazing. Drive a few minutes out of town toward the Uinta Mountains and you will see the Milky Way stretching across the sky. Download a stargazing app and let the kids identify constellations. August is prime time for the Perseid meteor shower, and we spread blankets in the yard and count shooting stars every year.

25. Build a Fort at Round Valley. Round Valley is a massive open space just minutes from town with miles of trails through rolling meadows and aspen groves. In summer, we let the kids loose to build forts from fallen branches in the aspen trees, catch grasshoppers, pick wildflowers, and just be kids in nature. No entrance fee, no structure, no agenda. Sometimes the simplest things are the best things. Always pack a compact first aid kit - with kids, you never know when you will need it. A good pair of kids headphones will keep everyone happy during travel days.

Summer Packing Essentials and Practical Tips

Park City summer weather is glorious but has some quirks. Afternoon thunderstorms roll in frequently in July and August, usually between 2 and 5 PM. They are brief but can be intense with lightning, heavy rain, and sometimes hail. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and have an indoor backup for the afternoon. The storms usually clear by evening, leaving behind spectacular sunsets.

The sun at altitude is no joke. Even on overcast days, UV exposure is significantly higher than at sea level. Apply sunscreen before you leave the house, reapply every two hours, and wear hats. Sunburns at altitude happen fast and hurt worse than you would expect.

Layers matter even in July. Mornings can be in the 50s and evenings drop quickly after sunset. A light jacket or fleece for every family member is essential. We keep a bag of extra layers in the car at all times during summer and you will use them more than you think.

Finally, mosquitoes. The wetland areas and creek trails breed mosquitoes in early summer through June and early July. They thin out as things dry up, but for June visits, bring bug spray. The Swaner Preserve in particular can be quite buggy in early season. By August, mosquitoes are essentially gone and the weather is at its absolute peak. If I had to pick one month to visit Park City, it would be August with warm days, cool nights, no bugs, wildflowers still blooming, and the town alive with summer energy.

What to Pack for Ski Season

Here are our tried-and-tested picks for this trip: