Ultimate Guide to Park City In October: Adventures and Foliage
Thinking about heading to Park City in October? I am here to tell you that is a fantastic idea! If you thought Park City was just for skiing then I’m here to tell think again! October in Park City is absolutely fantastic and it’s technically shoulder season so a huge win in terms of prices and crowds! Fall really is the best time of year to visit Park City.
Below you’ll find the best family friendly activities to do in Park City in October plus where to eat and where to stay with the perfect family vacation. Hoping to see some celebrities at Sundance Film Festival? That is traditionally in January so you’ll have to visit again in winter.
How Long do you in Park city in october?
We went for a 4-day weekend and I think that is absolutely the right amount of time. You’ll have enough time to go for a scenic drive and a hike or go mountain biking plus you’ll leave yourself with enough time to enjoy your resort and head to a few nice restaurants. If you are pressed for time, Park City is definitely still a good option for a 2-day weekend. I would just pick 1-2 key activities you want to fit in and make sure you don’t try to do too much.
What to expect from park city in October?
The fall season should be in full swing by October, or if you get really ‘lucky’ you might experience winter like we did. Fall weather is unpredictable and you should expect anything from gorgeous 70 degree days and sunshine to cooler temperatures. My best recommendation is to book your trip and the monitor the weather because even though we didn’t have the perfect weather, we had a fantastic time. You just need the right layers!
Where to see the best fall foliage in park City in October
Scenic Hikes
Jenni’s Trail
This was my absolute one of my favorite things we did while we were in Park City. Jenni’s Trail is an easy 3-mile loop nestled within ski runs by Park City Mountain Resort. When you first start out you’ll be on a wide ski run that is pretty steep – don’t let that scare you off! Once you get on the actual trail it’s relatively flat. I was definitely nervous for a minute that I had picked a challenging trail and the kids weren’t going to make it.
The fall colors on Jenni’s Trail were stunning. You’ll see a variety of foliage and my absolutely favorite, Larch trees! There are mountain bikers on this trail and it is pretty popular so definitely make sure your kids are aware of trail etiquette.
Bloods Lake Trail
This 2.8 mile trail is more remote and offers stunning fall foliage and views. However, October in Park City (and most places) can be unpredictable. Even though we visited in early October, Bloods Lake Trail was covered in a few inches of snow. If you want guaranteed good weather conditions, I’d consider late September or the very first week of October. We still had a blast and the juxtaposition of the snow and the fall foliage was pretty spectacular. And my kids had the best time throwing snowballs at us while they hiked – it made for some great motivation to keep moving!
McLeod Trail
This 6-mile paved trail is absolutely perfect for family bike rides or leisurely stroller strolls. You won’t feel quite as away from the hustle and bustle as the other trail I’ve recommended but if you don’t love to hike but do love beautiful fall foliage this is a great option for you. Across the street is the McPolin Farm barn which is an iconic Park City landmark and a beautiful place to take some family photos with a fall foliage backdrop.
Scenic Drives
guardsman Pass Scenic Byway
Guardsman Pass is one of the most scenic byways in Utah leading from Park City into Big Cottonwood Canyon or south to the Heber Valley and Wasatch State Park. This backcountry drive boasts spectacular scenery with golden aspens, red oaks, and panoramic views of the Heber Valley. If you stay at the Montage Deer Valley (see my review below!) then you have easy access to the Guardsman Pass Scenic Byway and the nearby hikes (Bloods Lake Trail). No visit to Park City in October would be complete without a drive on the Guardsman Pass Scenic Byway.
We have a child who gets very car sick and she fared really well on this drive! Before you head out on the road make sure to stock up on some road trip toys for your little kids.
What (Else) to do in park city in October
Shopping on Main Street
I am a sucker for a charming historic Main Street and Park City definitely checks that box! My absolutely favorite store was Roots, we’ve only been in one other Roots and that was in Banff almost 10 years ago and we stocked up on winter hats and sweat pants that everyone in our family still wears. We were so excited to pick up a few more pieces while we were in town! My daughter loved all of the gem stores and could have spent all day there.
Utah Olympic Park
There are plenty to do with kids at Utah Olympic Park but one of the main draws is just for adults (and older teens): the winter bobsled experience. I was too terrified to try but you can channel your inner Olympian and head down the 2002 bobsledding course. Not ready to fly down an ice luge at high speeds? Stick to a guided tour of the museum where you can learn all about the Olympic legacy.
Zipline
Go ziplining at the Park City Mountain Resort and you can enjoy the fall foliage while you are zooming through it. For kids who are a little nervous about ziplining on their own you can do the Flying Eagle, a two seater zipline ride. Even better it starts and ends at the same place so you can ride it over and over again. Something your kids will be sure to want to do it! It really is the best time! Spending time at the Park City Mountain Resort is a great way to break up long days of hiking or mountain biking and is sure to make your kids happy!
Alpine Slide
While you are at the Park City Mountain Resort be sure to take a ride on the 3,000 feet alpine slide. Children under 48” can ride with an adult which we thought was absolutely perfect. This was definitely more my speed than the bobsledding experience! Note on operating hours, many of the Park City Mountain Resort activities close in late September/early October so make sure to check their website before you arrive. Nothing is worse than overpromising a fun activity to young kids.
Mountain Biking
This isn’t my realm but my husband was in heaven mountain biking in Park City. I’m more of a fan of a slow ride on pavement, which you can and should do on McLeod Trail. He rented a bike from our hotel, the Montage Deer Valley, and enjoyed bombing around on the miles of trails around the hotel and around Jenni’s Trail while the kids and I went hiking.
Take a day trip to salt lake city
Salt Lake City deserves a vacation all on it’s own but if you have extra days in Park City or are hit with inclement weather then a day trip to Salt Lake City could be the perfect addition to your itinerary. My kids had a great time at the Museum of Natural Curiosity in Lehi. Just be sure to bring a change of clothes because the water room is fantastic but the smokes and galoshes do absolutely nothing! Other kid-friendly places we’ve enjoyed in Salt Lake City include Natural History Museum, Hogle Zoo, and Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum. Depending on where you are based in Park City most of these destinations will be 40-60 minutes away.
Where to stay in Park City in October
We love staying at ski resorts in the fall! They have so much to offer besides ski slopes, like miles of trails nearby, arranged activities like fly fishing and horseback riding, and every kids favorite: heated pools! These are two of our favorite resorts in Park City.
Montage Deer Valley: The Luxury Option
After doing a ton of research on luxury hotels in Park City, we selected the Montage Deer Valley for our family vacation and it was absolutely the right choice. The reviews that tipped the scale for the Montage Deer Valley were ones that talked about while there are many 5-star resorts in Park City, there aren’t any that feel as luxurious as the Montage Deer Valley. So if you are looking for out of this world luxury then you need to stay at Montage Deer Valley. You’ll also have easy access to the scenic drives and hikes recommended above, especially Blood’s Lake and Guardman’s Pass.
Some of our favorite amenities were the nightly s’mores, free arcade, bowling alley, heated outdoor pools, and the family hours at the indoor spa pool. We didn’t try the kid’s archery but it looked like a blast! The staff really bends over backwards to make you feel happy while you are there. They sent up a birthday cake because they heard my son say it was my birthday and arranged for the Bernese mountain dog to come and meet our family because we missed his normal meet and greet hours.
Marriott Mountainside: Mid-Range Family Friendly
A Mariott time-share, the Marriott Mountainside is perfect for larger families or just families that love to spread out when they are vacation (us!). The 1- and 2-bedroom villas come with a full kitchen which is ideal for families. See my note below about eating out in Park City. If you are traveling with kids you are definitely going to watch the option to do some cookie. The hot tubs flow into each other with a waterfall so the Marriott Mountainside gets an A++ for pool deck ambiance.
where to Eat in Park City
Full disclaimer here: I thought the food in Park City was insanely overpriced. With that said, we really enjoyed these two restaurants and I would say that Saltbox was pretty average in terms of price.
Chimayo
Billed as innovative Southwestern, Chimayo is perfect if you are looking for a more upscale dinner options. Our favorite dish was definitely the chicken fajitas. The portion was huge and we ended up with two nights worth of leftovers. Chimayo is popular so I would definitely recommend making reservations online. Located in the heart of Park City plan on eating at Chimayo after you do some (window) shopping on Main Street.
Saltbox
We hit up Saltbox on our way out of town and I’m so glad we made a detour to stop there. It was absolutely delicious! It was definitely the most I’ve seen the kids eat at a restaurant – ever. They got smoothies, mac and cheese with bacon, and the world’s best kid’s chicken tenders (I know because I had the chicken sandwich). We even got little treats to go for the car. They have a lovely patio which Adirondack chairs and picnic tables which is one of the best ways to enjoy a gorgeous fall day.
High West Distillery
With three locations in Park City, the Nelson Cottage, the Saloon, and the Distillery and Tasting Room, High West Distillery has something to offer everyone. Only the Distillery and Tasting Room is child-friendly. While the restaurant was fantastic, I’d recommend saving the tour for either very young (ie can be worn and fall asleep) or older kids. This wasn’t our first distillery/winery/brewery with the kids so we knew what we were in store for but toddlers on these tours can be exceptionally challenging.
We visited Park City in early October and absolutely loved it. We are looking forward to visiting again in the summer months to see the city in a different season and enjoy live music at the amphitheater at Canyons Village. We’ll probably make it there in the winter months eventually but as a non-skiing family we love the idea of going in the shoulder season instead!
