Hiking/exploring Park City, Utah
Mar 4th, 2004, 04:34 PM
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Hiking/exploring Park City, Utah
We will have one day in Park City this summer. Can anyone suggest a great hike (not too difficult, since it will be our first day of vacation and jet lag and altitude may be a problem) or other activities to persue? We'll then leave for two weeks of hiking in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, so maybe something simple may be better.
Mar 6th, 2004, 07:35 AM
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Clousie,
I have several suggestions for you. I don't know what time of day you arrive in Utah. I assume you are flying in?
From the airport:
Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon, stop and have a meal at the Silver Fork Cafe if the timing is right, continue up the canyon to the end of the road and take the flat walk around Silver Lake. If you are feeling more energetic, hike up to Lake Mary - but it is high altitude and a little strenuous. Then ask someone to point you to the Guardsman's Pass road and drive over to Park City that way. The road is not paved all the way, but is passable for regular cars with no problem. The scenery and views on this whole loop is some of the best!
Once in Park City, get settled and hit Main Street for galleries, interesting boutiques and awesome restaurants. One of the very best is Grappa, at the top of Main Street. Get reservations ahead for dinner and ask to sit outside on the decks among the flowers!
If you don't have a full day, come up I80 to Park City. Maybe a horseback ride would be fun instead of hiking?
Drink tons of water, starting on the plane. More than you ever think you need. Limited alcohol, if any, and eating well will also help with the altitude change. An asprin at the airport is a good idea too!
Write back if you have more questions.
Have fun?
I have several suggestions for you. I don't know what time of day you arrive in Utah. I assume you are flying in?
From the airport:
Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon, stop and have a meal at the Silver Fork Cafe if the timing is right, continue up the canyon to the end of the road and take the flat walk around Silver Lake. If you are feeling more energetic, hike up to Lake Mary - but it is high altitude and a little strenuous. Then ask someone to point you to the Guardsman's Pass road and drive over to Park City that way. The road is not paved all the way, but is passable for regular cars with no problem. The scenery and views on this whole loop is some of the best!
Once in Park City, get settled and hit Main Street for galleries, interesting boutiques and awesome restaurants. One of the very best is Grappa, at the top of Main Street. Get reservations ahead for dinner and ask to sit outside on the decks among the flowers!
If you don't have a full day, come up I80 to Park City. Maybe a horseback ride would be fun instead of hiking?
Drink tons of water, starting on the plane. More than you ever think you need. Limited alcohol, if any, and eating well will also help with the altitude change. An asprin at the airport is a good idea too!
Write back if you have more questions.
Have fun?
Mar 16th, 2004, 10:34 AM
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Dayle,
Thanks for your suggestion; it has real possibilities. Now a few more questions.
Using my Utah map, tourist info from Park City and Moon Guide to Utah, I'm not totally able to piece this together. Is Silver Lake in Brighton or Silver Lake Village?
It's not a necessity to stay in Park City (others suggested it as a way to be away from the heat of SLC) so would you suggest we stay somewhere(?) near Silver Lake? I see Solitude Ski Resort and Brighton Ski area listed. Since we have the partial day on which we arrive to maybe walk around Silver Lake, what would you suggest for all day Sunday?
Is the dirt part of Guardsmen Pass in fairly good condition for a regular car?
Thanks for your suggestion; it has real possibilities. Now a few more questions.
Using my Utah map, tourist info from Park City and Moon Guide to Utah, I'm not totally able to piece this together. Is Silver Lake in Brighton or Silver Lake Village?
It's not a necessity to stay in Park City (others suggested it as a way to be away from the heat of SLC) so would you suggest we stay somewhere(?) near Silver Lake? I see Solitude Ski Resort and Brighton Ski area listed. Since we have the partial day on which we arrive to maybe walk around Silver Lake, what would you suggest for all day Sunday?
Is the dirt part of Guardsmen Pass in fairly good condition for a regular car?
Mar 16th, 2004, 11:42 AM
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Drove Guardsman Pass...the dirt...in a rental car last June...no problem.
Was sorta cold the whole time I was in Park City, had brought nothing but "summer clothes" as I know them in the South. oops. So if you're looking to avoid heat...that's your spot.
I had no prob. with the altitude, even mtn biking 20 miles on the first day off the plane. My husband could feel it the 3rd day we were there when we rode up "puke hill", if you'll pardon the expression, to 10,000 feet on the Wasatch Crest.
There are nice trails right out of main street. We actually parked at Cole Sports and rode straight out of their parking lot up to Shadow Lake. There was an old mine bldg nearby that was interesting to me. Sorry I can't remember the trail names, but I bet if you bought a coffee and a powerbar at Cole Sports someone would fix you up with a map and some suggestions.
I'll second the Grappa recommendation. Take a big sweater and sit outside. Avoid sushi in PC. Have fun!
Was sorta cold the whole time I was in Park City, had brought nothing but "summer clothes" as I know them in the South. oops. So if you're looking to avoid heat...that's your spot.
I had no prob. with the altitude, even mtn biking 20 miles on the first day off the plane. My husband could feel it the 3rd day we were there when we rode up "puke hill", if you'll pardon the expression, to 10,000 feet on the Wasatch Crest.
There are nice trails right out of main street. We actually parked at Cole Sports and rode straight out of their parking lot up to Shadow Lake. There was an old mine bldg nearby that was interesting to me. Sorry I can't remember the trail names, but I bet if you bought a coffee and a powerbar at Cole Sports someone would fix you up with a map and some suggestions.
I'll second the Grappa recommendation. Take a big sweater and sit outside. Avoid sushi in PC. Have fun!
Mar 17th, 2004, 08:32 AM
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Hi Clousie,
I would recommend staying in Park City since you have the time. There is lots to do.
Guardsmans Pass can be done in a regular car as Litespeed Chick said. Just go slow on the washboards. If you don't know what those are - you will!
Silver Fork Cafe is in Big Cottonwood Canyon where Brighton and Solitude are. Silver Lake is at the base of Brighton Ski area. Nice easy, flat walk with awesome scenery.
The Silver Lake area at Deer Valley is where Stein Erickson's Lodge is, upper Deer Valley. Another outstanding, but expensive, option for dinner. You might want to try them for Sunday brunch. It's fabulous. Glitretind is the name of the restaurant there.
As you may have gathered, there are lots of "Silvers" around here. I get them confused myself! PC was one of the biggest mining towns in the US. The Hearst and Astor fortunes came out of the Park City mines.
I recommend staying in Park City over Big Cottonwood Canyon because there is so much more to do.
I would recommend staying in Park City since you have the time. There is lots to do.
Guardsmans Pass can be done in a regular car as Litespeed Chick said. Just go slow on the washboards. If you don't know what those are - you will!
Silver Fork Cafe is in Big Cottonwood Canyon where Brighton and Solitude are. Silver Lake is at the base of Brighton Ski area. Nice easy, flat walk with awesome scenery.
The Silver Lake area at Deer Valley is where Stein Erickson's Lodge is, upper Deer Valley. Another outstanding, but expensive, option for dinner. You might want to try them for Sunday brunch. It's fabulous. Glitretind is the name of the restaurant there.
As you may have gathered, there are lots of "Silvers" around here. I get them confused myself! PC was one of the biggest mining towns in the US. The Hearst and Astor fortunes came out of the Park City mines.
I recommend staying in Park City over Big Cottonwood Canyon because there is so much more to do.
