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Park City Mountain Resort
Wild Rides and Fast Glides
By Kendeyl Johansen
Utah's "greatest snow on earth" attracts skiers and snowboarders from around the world, but do Rocky Mountain highs melt along with the snow? Not at all. Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) offers a variety of summer adventures for families. Activities include a bobsled ride with a 550-foot vertical drop with a brake that allows even 2-year-olds to ride, lift-assisted mountain biking, horseback tours through rustling aspen trees and more.
Ride the 2,800-foot Alpine Slide and sample bobsledding this summer. The cement double bobsled track offers an adrenaline rush for those feeling a need for speed, but cautious riders can enjoy a scenic ride by applying the sled's brake. Kids as young as age 2 can glide down the mountain! "The Alpine Slide is our most popular summer activity," says Melissa O'Brien, PCMR Communications Manager. "It appeals to all ages."
Before mounting the chair lift for the slide, consider packing a picnic and donning hiking shoes for exploring. Mountaintop tables are available for picnicking or hungry families can sample one of the many restaurants in the plaza.
The bobsled journey starts with the chair lift. Pull down the safety bar and savor the pine-scented air, count wildflower varieties or enjoy the silence. From the air, kids may spot squirrels, hawks or even a deer.
After exiting the chair lift, sample the view from a picnic table if you brought food. Many riders also decide to hike before trying the slide. PCMR offers more than 30 miles of trails but even short hikes will yield butterflies for little ones to chase and majestic pines to study.