Go local in Park City, Utah
Every night at 10 o’clock, a siren wails in Park City. A tradition left over from the town’s early 1900s silver-‐mining days, it was installed to alert families and Main Street businesses of fire. As the mining business boomed, it doubled as the “children’s curfew.” Now, it signals the end of another day on the trails— and if you’re up for it, the beginning of a night on the town. Though the now-‐dormant mining operations still hold plenty of silver, when folks head into the mountains today, they’re after International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) gold. In fact, Park City is IMBA’s first and only gold-‐level ride centre in the world. I visited this true mountain town and was introduced to some of the most soulful singletrack I’ve ever experienced. But I was most impressed by how, as a community, Park City has embraced all things cycling.
As for the siren, the volunteer fire department does the honours, reminding everyone each night — locals and guests alike — that Park City is a town that remembers its roots, and values community.
Park City Mountain Resort – Black Forest
How Park City Ranked IMBA Gold
When IMBA started its Ride Centre program in 2007, it aimed to help traveling riders know where to find the best mountain biking. As IMBA’s Director of Consulting Services, Chris Bernhardt, puts it, “If you were going on a one-‐week vacation, where would you want to go?” IMBA pulled together a range of criteria to evaluate destinations that apply for ride-‐centre status against their standards for trail-‐sustainability, and riders’ standards for fun and flow.
They start by asking the important questions. Are there beginner, intermediate and expert trails? Are there gravity trails, bike parks, and back-‐country singletrack? What about a brew-‐pub? A coffee house? And don’t forget bike shops and bike-‐ friendly accommodations. For each of the criteria, IMBA awards points and the candidate tallies up a score out of 100. A bronze ranking requires 55-‐75 points, silver is awarded for 76-‐89 points and gold goes to candidates scoring 90+ points.
For Park City it was a home run. With over 400 miles of local, networked trails covering all abilities, bike parks at all of the three local resorts, lift access to stunning singletrack — both machine-‐ and hand-‐cut — and a growing selection of gravity runs, there is something epic for everyone.
Park City Mountain Resort – Town Li
Round Valley – Beginner
For our first ride in town, we hit the relatively flat Round Valley Trail System while we let our bodies adapt to the elevation. The sage-‐lined singletrack is fragrant and flowy, and we shared a section with some elk calves frolicking just like we were. I asked our guide, White Pine Touring’s Scott House, if we needed to worry about poison ivy or poison oak. Or rattlesnakes. He cheerfully told me, “Park City is probably one of the only places in North America where you can take off all your clothes and roll around in the bushes, unscathed.”
Park City Mountain Resort – Guided Tours
The Flying Dog – Intermediate
The next day we rode the Glenwild Trail System, with a bonus loop around crowd pleaser, The Flying Dog. It’s a spectacular climb through rocky switchbacks and Aspen stands with wildflowers for decoration. We took a break on the ridge to snap some photos and have a snack before dropping into the Dog, which required almost no brakes or pedaling, but enthusiastic whooping was de rigueur. As a bonus, we threw in a lap through The Drop Out in Bob’s Basin to feed the freerider inside us. Perfectly formed berms, friendly drops and rollers made the climb back out 200 per cent worth it.
Park City Mountain Resort -XC RIde
Trail Clause
It turns out, the Glenwild Trail System, like many others in the area, is the result of forward-‐thinking clauses in development contracts. In Park City, if you build a new condo or housing community you are expected to make a contribution to the trail network, either by building, or by providing funds to the Mountain Trails Foundation. One community, The Preserve, threatened to close their trails to the public. It was met with so much community outcry it made the front page of the Park Record the day we arrived. In Park City, there is also a one per cent trail tax added to your bill at the local restaurants. That funding goes towards helping to do even more trail development. This is a community that stands behind its trails.
Park City Mountain Resort – Sweeneys Switchbacls Trail
Mid‐Mountain Trail: An IMBA Epic
Our third day saw us to the top of Deer Valley resort for some lift-‐access singletrack. Our aim was to take on the Mid-‐Mountain Trail, a designated IMBA Epic Ride, starting from Silver Lake. Our guide, a friendly Deer Valley patroller, called one left-‐ leaning berm the “Sound of Music” corner. I had to laugh, because with vistas featuring snow-‐dusted mountaintops, hemmed in by green meadows and white Aspen stands, the Rogers and Hammerstein classic had already been an earworm for me for two days running.
For many mountain bikers of the XC variety, resort riding can be intimidating. We often assume it’s best left to the full-‐face helmet, knee and elbow-‐pad clad DH riders. Or we condemn it for reasons of “earning your turns.” But at Park City, you’d be remiss to skip the lift access. There is so much terrain, that you won’t miss some climbing (though Armstrong and Spiro are very popular routes up to the Mid-‐ Mountain trail). A single ride on the Deer Valley lift costs $28 and opens up miles of trail in seemingly endless combinations of rooty, rocky, buff, tight and exposed singletrack.
Our Mid-‐Mountain adventure saw us in the saddle for about 45km, crossing all three local resorts, coming to a glorious conclusion at the base of Canyons. There you can hop on the bus — public transit is free and bike-‐friendly in Park City — and get a lift all the way back to town.
Park City Mountain Resort – Mid Mountain Trail
Park City Mountain Resort – Mid Mountain Trail
Shuttle To Singletrack – Expert
For our fourth day’s ride, we shuttled up to Guardsman’s Pass and did our best to pick the most epic way down via Dead Tree. We took a van, but locals have been known to make use of Park City’s free transit system to organize their shuttling.
If you know where to look you can find original, exposed singletrack that’s hand-‐cut and hugs the ridges and rises of the mountainside in a way that truly makes you feel the hills are alive. Come around a corner and another enormous view expands in front of you while mild vertigo makes your tummy tickle with the happiest of butterflies. “Every day is a powder day on a mountain bike in Park City,” says Stephen Lane, Park City’s tourism marketing manager. Just keep your head up — you never know when a moose might decide to join you.
Park City Mountain Resort – XC Ride
The Moral of the Story
What they’ve got in Park City is special. It’s the best trail riding and trail loving that you’ve probably never heard of. It’s incredible to see what can happen when a community pulls together in the same direction and makes me forget momentarily that there are other places where trails are closed down, features are removed, and bikes are shunned or charged extra.
I met the mayor of Park City, Dana Williams, at one of the town’s many community events. He’s not like other mayors I’ve met — he plays in a rock band (he was about to go on when I caught up with him) and even works some shifts at the local coffee roaster’s. He has played a big role in making Park City truly a year-‐round destination. In describing the shift, he said simply, “Why don’t we invite people to come do what we do in the summer?” Since 2002 under his leadership, Park City has gone from 50 miles of trail and 2,000 acres of open space, to over 400 miles of trail and 10,000 acres of open space. Thanks to the gung-‐ho vibe of the community when it comes to all things bicycling, I have no doubt that when he leaves office this January, his legacy will continue to grow, securing Park City’s place as Utah’s mountain-‐biking oasis.
If you’re looking for some epic terrain to explore check out Park City and support a town that supports trail partnerships, the growth of our sport and good, old-‐ fashioned fun in the outdoors. The secret is out, and there has never been a better time to discover it for yourself.
Park City Mountain Resort – Crescent Mine Grade Trail
Park City: 10 Tips to Go Local
For bike-‐friendly accommodations of all shapes and sizes, plus local packages including lift passes, check out Park City Lodging.
To help your body acclimate to the elevation quickly, drink lots of water, get lots of sleep and try to take plenty of deep inhales and strong exhales.
Hire a guide for at least one day and milk them for as much local knowledge as you can. If you’ve only got limited time, this is the best way to make sure you don’t blow it.
Brush up on your skills with a visit to the Trailside Bike Park. With features built by Progressive Trail Design, it is a mountain-‐bike playground, even sporting a polka-‐dotted wall ride, a variety of skinnies, and tabletops galore.
For an affordable lunch stop, head to the hospital. Seriously. The chef in the cafeteria there has been known to compete — and win — in the local cook-‐ offs.
For fine dining, check out the River Horse on Main; for beers and pizza on a budget, check out Vinto — nothing on the menu costs more than $12, and you can order wine by the ounce. Gluten free options available everywhere.
Need a whiskey? Check out the High West Distillery. Opened in 2007 it’s Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870. Cocktail recommendation? Dead Man’s Boots.
Park City has live, open-‐air concerts almost every night of the week. See who’s playing where by checking out Mountain Town Music.
For a ride on the ritzy side, check out the free sunset champagne sabering demonstration and tutorial at the St. Regis Hotel. Includes a lift up North America’s first resort funicular.
Red Bicycle Breadworks breadsticks are like crack for the locals. They’re available to satisfy your post-‐ride hunger at The Market at Park City.