Park City Next Weekend - need some advice (Trails, Hikes, Food)

[pogs4ever]

Hey Dudes,

going to park city next weekend to hangout with my Dad, missed father's day by a week, but whatever. I'll be sneaking out for a few rides here and there (~1hour loops) and I am staying an extra day on the ends to get some longer rides in (FRI-TUES). I've been to Park City in the winter, never in the summer. Just thought I'd ping the collective for any advice so I dont miss some must do, or some sage advice:

Shorter Rides: Flying Dog, Glenwild, Trailside, Bob's, Arcylon, anything else? Can only do 3.
Longer Days: Deer Valley, Canyons, Wasatch Crest? Can only do 2.

Deer Valley vs Canyons: I will likely be meeting up with my friends on one day to do some lift served, which is better for intermediates? mostly XC/trail background. Some of the new Deer Valley by Grav Logic sounds pretty cool to mix things up; so I'm slightly leaning towards that.

Wasatch Crest: there is like a ton of info on the net, but everyone seems to have a differing opinion on the best routing, I'd be interested in shuttling, no OAB. Any outfitters or route recommendation? both directions look pretty fun, but i would trust recommendations of people here more so than elsewhere.

As far as hanging out with my Dad:

• We might go hiking, any recommendations? he is 68 years old, so something <5 miles, not a hell of a lot of vert.
• Beer? is there any good micro's in PC? recommendations?
• Restaurants?
• I see that there are fishing guides, he has always wanted to go fly fishing; I've never been, thoughts about maybe doing that one day?
• Olympic Park - tourist trap?

thanks in advance!

[schindlerpiste]

Flying Dog is about 15-16 miles with ~2000 elevation gain at the begining. I don't consider it a short ride (at least not for my old bones).
Crest. Either top of Guardsman up, or puke hill up. End at the Canyons Crest Connector trail.
Hike: Up Armstrong to MMT then either way (except Spiro) down. Another great hike starts up Iron Mountain (no mountain bikes; pretty steep). A great 2 1/2 hr hike starts at the top of Bear Hollow (Rob's Trail), up to MMT, across to Ambush, to Rose Bud Haven, back to Rob's.

Canyons opens new downhill trail today. D.V.: Free bus loops up to the Montage then good downhill down to base.

Beer: Squatters, or Wasatch Brew Pub.

[muted]

Gravity Logic hasn't finished their first trail at DV yet. Canyons is a bike park with a couple DH trails, DV is old school DH trails.

As for crest, Big Rack Shuttles does shuttles from PC on odd numbered days. Come back to PC via Canyons Crest Connector, then Robs-Rosebuds Heaven which is fast and fun. Don't drop into Millcreek, there are a lot of downed trees and construction on the road out, the road is technically closed to bikers.

Trailside is the smallest little park ever. Fun but not somewhere I'd recommend to a visitor unless you are really pressed for time. Bob's Basin is quick, park near the school on Blue Bird Way and do Dropout. Easy to do two laps if you have time. Arcylon is all jumps, very short, so good for 2-3 laps in a short time.

One classic long ride is starting at DV, going up Deer Crest, and going to the Canyons all on the Mid-Mtn trail. Take the free bus from Canyons to DV to start out the day.

There are a million bike options so I'm trying to keep things simple here. It can be confusing. There are a million intersections in PC with way too many trails (as in they could consolidate names/trails that are the same dang trail), and while everything is well-marked, buy a map for sure.

For hiking with Dad, go to PC, DV or Canyons and take the lift up, then hike down.

Definitely go to High West Distillery for lunch or dinner.

I could show you around Monday or Tuesday if interested.

[dfinn]

the fishing is generally pretty good and easy on the Provo river, a guided outing with your dad would probably be a good time if you're into that.

[Sirshredalot]

For cheap eats: back door deli, el chubasco, bird and barley.

Beer: the ones mentioned above, plus pc brewing. They just opened at the bobs basin trailhead.

Steak: grub or the chophouse.

Pizza: maxwells is pretty good. The other pizza options are kind of sad.

For a short hike: I like the suggestion of taking the lift up and going for a stroll. The sun beats the hell out of you around here, even if you're young. If the trails off the mirror lake highway are melted out, the short hikes there are great. There are also trails accessible off of guardsman pass.

For a first time fly fisherman: canyons has a stocked pond and they'll bring you up there, give you a lesson, and put you on some big dumb fish. The deer valley ponds are kind of the same deal. Trout bum 2 is who I would call for a guide on the Provo or wherever else.

Biking: you'll have fun at either dv or canyons. I'm a fan of trail side bike park, especially combined with a loop at round valley. There is a good map printed by mountain trails foundation and available in local shops. Spend the 5 bucks on it. Storm cycles and white pine touring are my preferred local shops. You won't knock out flying dog in 1 hour unless you're a total stud. I like parking at pc brewing and climbing the preserve connector, descending flying dog to 24-7, and then taking the dropout back to my car and a beer. But there are other ways to skin that cat.

[muted]

Pizza: maxwells is pretty good. The other pizza options are kind of sad.

Didn't Estes Pizza open a branch up there this year? They make a pretty good triangle of grease IMO.

I like your idea of parking at the brewery to bike Glenwild area. I'll have to do that one time. Or every time.

[Sirshredalot]

Didn't Estes Pizza open a branch up there this year? They make a pretty good triangle of grease IMO.

I like your idea of parking at the brewery to bike Glenwild area. I'll have to do that one time. Or every time.

I haven't tried that pie yet. I'll have to look into it. Parking for bobs basin access means choosing between the brewery and the pump track now. 1st world problems, for sure.

One last thing for the original poster: there is a bunch of free music here all summer. Mountaintownmusic web site has the listings.