The Owl Journal
Field Notes : Park City, Utah (Winter Edition)
Park City is my home, and has been for the last 19 years. While I live here for the summers, I do concede that most visit in the winter. You can't hide "the greatest snow on earth" (although this year, we are certainly trying). Every day here can be an adventure, and it is only limited by your imagination. If you'd like to borrow mine, my favorites are below. Welcome to my hood. ❤️
WELCOME TO THE WASATCH! MEET YOUR GUIDE
CAMP
There is a lot of summer camping in and around Park City, but it is very restrictive in the winter, as you can imagine. Here are some places in and around Park City that will work out just fine when the weather turns.
Soldier Hollow State Park – Adam's pick. Soldier Hollow was the home of the Nordic Ski Competition in 2001. It will be the future home of the 2034 Utah Olympics. Not only is it a great place to sleep for the night, nestled in the shadow of Mt. Timpanogos in the Heber Valley, but it's also a fantastic place to skate or cross-country ski.
Rockport State Park – Rockport is located 15 minutes outside of Park City in Peoa, UT (a beautiful little agricultural community). It's located on a reservoir, which is a popular hotspot for ice fishing in the winter.
RV Sites – Park City RV resort is directly off I-80 and has access to snowshoeing and a quick hop into town and Kimball Junction. Certainly, the closest to all the activities in town, but there is a nightly fee.
FOOD + DRINK
Hearth & Hill: It's the best daily option in Park City. Located in Kimball Junction - it has a great bar, amazing food, and is always full of folks and energy. We do a lot of Owl marketing lunches here to brainstorm our next campaigns.
Cafe Terigo: You will see me here. This has been a family-run restaurant on Main Street for more than 30 years. It is my favorite spot in Park City for lunch on a Friday, and I have been doing that (almost) religiously for 19 years. It is primarily a locals' spot, so expect a lot of post-ski or work lunches happening here, but it is the most charming restaurant in town.
Stein Eriksen Lodge: The original Deer Valley institution. We still go frequently because we love the staff and the food. Sit in the bar or outside and enjoy the views. After your glass or bottle of wine, head downstairs to the Champion's Club for a rousing game of ski-ball or pool.
BEST VAN DAYS
While it's not Ouray, Provo Canyon has some world-class ice routes for the days you take off the ski hill. I have climbed both Stairway to Heaven and Bridal Veil Falls, and neither fails to impress. Easy access from the road and plenty of pitches for a full day; however, if you want to do it the right way, go very early for the best ice and spend lunch at Sundance's Foundry Grill. The truffle fries are a perfect way to test that the circulation is back in your fingers.
The most fun you can have on a sunny day off the slopes is fat biking in Round Valley. It is an epic setting of fairly easy trails. Fat bike rentals are ubiquitous in Park City (Check out Storm Cycles), and with a van, the pop over to Round Valley is a couple of minutes from the store. Fifty-six miles of trails over 2100 acres right in the middle of town. Matt's Flat is a basic, easy ride. Rambler is something a little more spicy. Barrel Roll is a hoot. Check the conditions first, and stay on the fat bike designated trails.
Fat biking in Round Valley. You have this view the whole time. (Not me, the mountains)
Early Skinning up Park City Mountain Resort
If you have a van in Park City, the prerequisite activity to do (but more often just talk about), is skinning up Park City Resort in the morning. There are little Owl "blue birds" everywhere in this parking lot in the early AM - so you will have plenty of company. Grab your skis and your skins and head to the First Time parking lot around 6:30 am. You can skin all the way up to the Angle Station, located at mid-mountain. It's about 1000 ft of climbing. Most locals take a couple laps on the perfect courduroy before getting coffee at the bottom (or mimosas from my van). See you there.
Cross-Country / Skate Ski at Soldier Hollow
I have a love-hate relationship with skate skiing, but this is the Mountain West mecca for it. It was purpose-built for the Olympics, featuring a variety of terrain. You can also cross-country here.
BEST WINTER HIKES
Timpanogos (from Sundance)
This is a monster in the winter, but one of the most beautiful hikes in all of Utah (and yes, I am lumping in all of our National Parks). Pine and Aspen forests, waterfalls, mountain meadows, lakes, caves - all winding up one of Utah's largest peaks and just a 45-minute drive from Park City. Bring snowshoes and Yaktrax, as conditions can vary, and be prepared with lots of water and food. It's a big hike (but you can always turn around). I did it at night once, and we saw a mountain lion at the top.
Glenwild Loop / Flying Dog (from Glenwild Park)
While a lot of the prime summer hiking and biking terrain falls within the ski resorts, this hike looks back on the Wasatch. Since it's literally in my backyard, I have done this many, many times. Great views, easy hike. Do it as an out-and-back or a very healthy loop (14 miles). It's so pretty and so peaceful. This is a hike where you will undoubtedly see more animals than people.
Post skin wine in the van with Rumpl
ON MY VAN AND IN MY VAN
Now you know where to go—here's what you need to know. Park City is a tourist town, and there will be plenty of people around for help with directions and guidance. We are used to it. It's also an incredibly welcoming town—we are not "locals only" at all.
The roads are well-plowed in the winter, so my standard BFG KO3s work well to keep me rubber-side down. I highly recommend traction boards, especially if you plan to venture off-road. Also, do not underestimate the importance of good lighting. When you are out in the mountains, it is dark/dark - like "feel your thoughts" dark. Make sure you can light it up to avoid snowdrifts and animals.
If you have read my build article, you know what is on my van. However, here are some must-have Owl items to keep you winter-ready.
