Park City

Why Park City for a Bach Trip

Park City is the bach trip for groups who want skiing or summer mountain time without the Aspen price tag. Park City Mountain Resort is the largest ski resort in America. The downtown Main Street is the most walkable in any major US ski town; bars, restaurants, and shops in a quarter-mile strip. The Olympic ski jump and bobsled facilities are still active and tourable. And it is 30 minutes from Salt Lake City Airport, making it the most accessible major Western ski town for short-flight groups.

The right group is one comfortable on snow and ready for moderate altitude. The wrong group is looking for nightclubs; Park City's nightlife is bar-and-saloon, not club-and-DJ.

Where to Base Your Group

Stay walking distance to Main Street. Hotels: Treasure Mountain Inn (Old Town), Stein Eriksen Lodge (Deer Valley, splurge), Hotel Park City. For groups, Old Town vacation rentals and Deer Valley condos sleep 8 to 16; expect $500 to $4,000 per night.

When to Go (and When to Avoid)

Two seasons: ski (December through April) and summer (July, August, September for hiking). Avoid Sundance Film Festival (late January, lodging triples) and major holiday ski weeks.

The Day Scene

Winter: ski Park City Mountain Resort (largest in the US) or Deer Valley (skis-only, more polished). Lift tickets are $200 plus per day; multi-day passes are the move. Summer: hike Bald Mountain or take the chairlift up for the views without climbing. Mountain biking on the Round Valley trails. Olympic Park tour with bobsled experience ($150 plus per person to ride down the actual Olympic track). Hot Air Balloon Adventures for the morning. Provo Canyon scenic drive for non-ski mornings.

The Night Scene

Main Street is the entire night scene. No Name Saloon (the iconic local), High West Distillery and Saloon (whiskey, dinner, vibe), Park City Live (the closest thing to a club). Wasatch Brew Pub for casual beer. Most bars close around 1 AM; mountain town nightlife winds down earlier than city.

Food and Drink Worth Planning Around

Riverhorse on Main is the destination dinner. High West Saloon for the modern Western menu. Vessel Kitchen for the upscale-casual lunch. Squatters for breakfast (open 24 hours during ski season). Powder for the upscale dinner at Waldorf Astoria. Stein Eriksen Lodge dining for the Deer Valley splurge. The Mariposa for fine dining.

Pro Tips

Altitude (Park City sits at 7,000 feet) affects you. Drink water aggressively. Book ski rentals before you arrive online. Sundance week (late January) is fun if you want celebrity-spotting but lodging is triple. The drive from Salt Lake City Airport is 30 minutes; one of the best small-airport-to-resort drives in the US. Free shuttle bus runs between Old Town and the resort. And Utah liquor laws are stricter than most states; full-strength liquor only sold at state stores, restaurants serve cocktails up to 1.5 ounces.