Summer in Park City: 25 Things to Do with Kids When the Snow Melts
Park City is not just a ski town. Summer here is pure magic. Here are 25 family-tested activities for when the snow melts and the mountains turn green.
Park City Summer Is the Best Kept Secret in Utah
I might get my Park City local card revoked for saying this. I think summer here is better than winter. Do not get me wrong, the skiing is phenomenal. My husband would kill me if I really meant it. 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, and suddenly everything feels accessible.
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The mountains turn impossibly green. Trails are endless. Light lasts until almost 9 PM. Charlie and Wyatt live outside from June through September. Biking, hiking, swimming, catching frogs at the pond, riding the alpine coaster. The kind of childhood I wish I had growing up.
Park City sits at 7,000 feet, which means summer temperatures are blissful. 75 to 85 during the day, 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 Midwest humidity or Southwest heat, Park City summer feels like a cheat code.
This list comes from a lifetime of summers here testing things first as a kid, then with my own kids. The genuine hits, not the tourist traps.
Outdoor Adventures: Activities 1 Through 8
1. Alpine Slide at Park City Mountain. Quintessential Park City summer activity. Ride the lift up, cruise down a winding concrete track on a wheeled sled. Kids control their own speed, which makes them feel like absolute daredevils. Charlie asks to do this every 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 running from Park City to Echo Reservoir, about 28 miles total. You do not need to do the whole thing. Prospector to Quinn's 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. Sturdy trail shoes. The trail has gravel sections where flip-flops will not cut it.
3. Swaner Nature Preserve. Free admission, beautiful boardwalk trails through wetlands, a nature center with hands-on exhibits. The bird watching is surprisingly great - we have spotted herons, hawks, once a bald eagle. Stroller-friendly paths.
4. McLeod Creek Trail. Paved trail through the heart of Park City along the creek. Flat, shaded in parts, 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.
5. Stand-Up Paddleboarding at Jordanelle. Reservoir is about 15 minutes from town and offers calm water perfect for SUP with kids. Several rental shops at the marina. Kids as young as 5 can ride tandem on a board with a parent. Mountain backdrop makes you feel like you are paddleboarding in a postcard. One warning - mosquitoes at Jordanelle in July are aggressive. Bring repellent.
6. Fly Fishing on the Provo River. The middle Provo runs through the area and is one of the best trout fisheries in the state. Several guide services offer family-friendly half-day trips - they provide all the gear and patiently teach kids to cast. Charlie caught his first fish at 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 6 or 7 for trail rides, with shorter pony rides for younger.
8. Utah Olympic Park Summer Activities. Olympic Park does not shut down when the snow melts. Extreme zip line, alpine slide, ropes course, guided tours of the ski jump facilities. Freestyle skiers practice aerial jumps into the splash pool, and watching them is a free, jaw-dropping spectacle. The place is run tight.
Town Activities and Culture: Activities 9 Through 15
9. Park Silly Sunday Market. Weekly summer market on Main Street, our family Sunday ritual from June through September. Local food vendors, live music, artisan crafts, kids zone with face painting, best people-watching in town. Arrive by 10 for the best selection and manageable crowds. Bring cash for the food vendors.
10. Free Wednesday Concerts at City Park. Mountain Town Music puts on free concerts all summer at City Park. Bring a blanket - NOT a chair. Chairs are not allowed at City Park, this trips up every visiting family. Blanket only. Even the low-back beach kind will get you waved off the grass.
11. Kimball Art Center / Egyptian Theatre. The Kimball offers drop-in art workshops for kids throughout the summer, with rotating gallery exhibits. Free to browse. The Egyptian Theatre on Main is a beautifully restored 1926 venue hosting family shows, movies, concerts. The building itself is worth seeing.
12. City Park Splash Pad and Playground. Free, central, lifesaver on hot days. Splash pad has multiple water features that entertain kids for hours, adjacent playground has climbing structures, swings, sandbox. Pack a picnic. Mineral sunscreen reapplied every couple of hours. Altitude makes the sun fierce even when it does not feel hot.
13. Park City Museum. In the old city jail on Main. Tells the story of mining history. Wyatt loves the jail cell exhibits and the recreated mine shaft. Suggested donation makes it budget-friendly.
14. Library Story Time. The Park City Library runs an incredible summer reading program. Even visiting for a week, you can get a temporary card and participate.
15. Indoor backup for thunderstorm afternoons. Round Room play area at the Kimball Junction transit center is free, indoor, and exactly what you need when the 3 PM storm rolls in.
Day Trips and Bigger Adventures: Activities 16 Through 21
16. Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. Drive UT-150 from Kamas up into the Uintas and you hit a string of gorgeous alpine lakes. Mirror Lake is about an hour from Park City and sits at over 10,000 feet - bring layers. The drive alone is spectacular.
17. Homestead Crater in Midway. One of the most unique swimming experiences in the country. A 90-something-degree natural hot spring inside a 55-foot limestone dome. Swim, snorkel, even scuba dive. About 20 minutes from Park City. Worth every penny.
18. Heber Valley Railroad. Scenic train ride through the Heber Valley. Open-air cars in summer are especially fun. Themed rides like the dinosaur train and pizza train sell out fast - book early.
19. Tibble Fork Reservoir. About 40 minutes from Park City in American Fork Canyon. Turquoise alpine lake, easy shoreline hiking, kayaking, fishing. Cold water from snowmelt but swimmable on warm days. Pack a water bottle - no services up there.
20. Salt Lake City Day Trip. SLC is 30 minutes down Parley's Canyon. Natural History Museum of Utah, Tracy Aviary, Clark Planetarium, Hogle Zoo. On really hot days, indoor museums are clutch.
21. Snowbird Summer. The tram at Snowbird runs in summer and takes you to 11,000 feet for jaw-dropping views and alpine hiking. Bungee trampoline, climbing wall, Mountain Coaster at the base. About 45 minutes from Park City.
Free and Low-Cost Fun: Activities 22 Through 25
22. Free outdoor concerts. Park City hosts free outdoor concerts throughout summer. Mountain Town Music at City Park (blanket, not chair), free Saturday concerts at Canyons Village. Check the Park City Chamber calendar - there is almost always something on summer weekends.
23. Explore the Mine Trails. Park City's trail system passes remnants of old silver mining operations. The Ontario Mine trail and the Spiro Trail both have historical artifacts. Older kids love the treasure-hunt aspect of spotting old mining equipment and tunnel entrances (all safely sealed). History lesson disguised as a hike.
24. Stargazing. At 7,000-plus feet with minimal light pollution, Park City stargazing is remarkable. Drive a few minutes out toward the Uintas and you will see the Milky Way stretching across the sky. August is prime time for the Perseid meteor shower. We spread blankets in the yard and count shooting stars every year. Tradition.
25. Build a Fort at Round Valley. Massive open space just minutes from town. Miles of trails through rolling meadows and aspen groves. In summer we let Charlie and Wyatt loose to build forts from fallen branches in the aspen trees, catch grasshoppers, pick wildflowers. No entrance fee, no structure, no agenda. The simplest things are the best things.
One Round Valley warning. Moose. They are on these trails year-round. Sunday morning hike crowd has run into them more times than I can count. Give them 50 yards minimum. Turn around if mama and calf are blocking. This is real and Wyatt can confirm.
Pack a compact first aid kit. With kids you never know. Kids headphones for travel days.
Summer Packing Essentials and Practical Tips
Park City summer weather is glorious but has quirks. Afternoon thunderstorms roll in frequently in July and August, usually 2 to 5 PM. Brief but can be intense with lightning, heavy rain, sometimes hail. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and have an indoor backup. Storms usually clear by evening, leaving behind spectacular sunsets. Mountain weather - if you do not like it, wait twenty minutes.
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, wear hats. Altitude sickness is REAL for sea-level visitors - drink water, give yourself a day before the big hikes.
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 extras in the car all summer.
Mosquitoes. Wetland areas and creek trails breed mosquitoes early summer through June and early July. They thin out as things dry up, but for June visits, bring bug spray. Jordanelle is the worst offender. Swaner Preserve can be buggy in early season. By August mosquitoes are essentially gone and the weather is at peak. If I had to pick one month to visit Park City, August. Warm days, cool nights, no bugs, wildflowers still blooming, town alive with summer energy.
What to Pack
Tried-and-tested picks:
Recommended Products
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