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SALT LAKE CITY — When summer heat has you beat, Utah's ski resorts are great places to cool off and enjoy an end-of-summer retreat with friends, as a couple or with the family. Nearly all of Utah's ski resorts offer good places to hike, mountain bike and enjoy wildflowers, wildlife and lovely mountain settings.
A few of Utah's winter resorts transform into full-service summer resorts with hotels, restaurants, special events and even amusement parks. Summer temperatures typically range within a comfortable 70-85 degrees.
Park City
“Between the three world-class resorts, cool weather, endless public trail system, and array of activities for all ages, summer in Park City has something for everyone," said Christiaan Boer of the Park City Chamber/Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Park City has a wide variety of lodging, dining, shopping and activities to accommodate a range of budgets and tastes. For outdoor enthusiasts, Park City Mountain Resort, Canyon Resort and Deer Valley Resort all offer hiking, mountain biking, scenic chair lift rides and special activities and events through the summer. Alpine slides, zip lines and an alpine coaster await the adventurous.
Many of the activities are best suited for older children and adults, but families with young children can enjoy resort playgrounds, amusement park rides, summer camps and child care.
Utah Olympic Park hosted the ski jump, bobsled and other events at the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Visitors can take a ride in a real bobsled or flip into the aerial pool on skis. An alpine slide and zip lines replicate the bobsled and ski jump experiences. Museums help visitors learn about skiing in Utah and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games through displays and hands-on activities.
Utah Olympic Park offers tours of the Olympic venues and an aerial show which is held every Sunday through Aug. 31.
Snowbird
“Snowbird is one of the most accessible year-round resorts, and, over the past 10 years, we have expanded our activities to make it an even greater summer destination," said Resort operations vice president Dave Fields.
This year, Snowbird has added the Big Mountain Trail, a 7.5 mile downhill mountain biking trail from the top of Hidden Peak to the Plaza Deck. Snowbird's lodges and restaurants are located within walking distance of the activities at Snowbird Center, which include an alpine coaster, alpine slides, ropes course, bungee trampolines, climbing walls and inflatables.
Pack a lunch and ride the gondola to the top of Hidden Peak for a mountain-top picnic. Hike down to the Peruvian Chair Lift for a gorgeous 20-minute ride back down the mountain. Check out Snowbird's Stay and Play and Oktoberfest packages to get lodging, breakfast and activities for a discounted price.
Snowbird hosts several free events throughout the summer. Free family flicks are shown every Friday evening through Aug. 15. Free concerts are performed on Saturday nights. Oktoberfest, one of Utah's biggest festivals, begins on Aug. 16 at Snowbird and admission is free.
"With Snowbird’s spectacular mountain scenery, we aim to allow guests to enjoy our resort in the summer as much as they do in the winter,” Fields said.
Sundance
Sundance resort offers unique events every summer including the Sundance Summer Theatre, Bluebird Cafe Concert Series and Bearclaw Supper Club. While most resorts offer scenic chair lift rides during the summer, Sundance takes it further with full moon rides on select weekends through October.
This year, the Sundance Summer Theatre is performing the beloved musical "Fiddler on the Roof." The show ends on Aug. 16, so reserve your tickets now if you'd like to see this well-reviewed production against the backdrop of Mount Timpanogos.
"What better place to hear these timeless lyrics ‘Sunrise, Sunset’,” said Sundance Resort general manager Chad Linebaugh.
The Bluebird Cafe Concert Series, now in its 12th year, is a partnership between Sundance and the famed Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Award-winning singer/songwriters such as Amy Grant and Kim Carnes have already performed at the Sundance Outdoor Amphitheatre this summer. Hit writers Brett James, Marv Green and others will take the stage on Aug. 22 and 29.
At the Bearclaw Supper Club, guests begin their evening with a lift ride followed by cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and dinner under the stars. It is held monthly through September.
“We want to offer guests a culinary experience they can’t have anywhere else, one that is unique to Sundance, while taking advantage of our beautiful surroundings,” said Sundance director of food and beverage Steve Solomon.
Park City, Snowbird and Sundance are all located less than an hour's drive from Salt Lake City or Provo. Other Utah resorts also offer fine dining, outdoor concerts and activities through the summer and fall. Visit their websites to learn more about last-minute summer getaway opportunities.
Allison Laypath is an expert on family travel and author of the family travel blog tipsforfamilytrips.com. With her family, Allison especially enjoys road trips, national parks and local field trips. Email Allison at allison@tipsforfamilytrips.com.
