Accessible Things to Do in Park City

Thinking about accessible things to do in Park City, it would be remiss not to mention programming, volunteering, and exploring the National Ability Center. “The NAC means everything to us athletes,” Michael informs. “As someone with a disability who loves the outdoors, skiing, craves adrenaline, and the feeling of athleticism—the NAC is our outlet.” With over 20 types of programs ranging from snow sports to equestrian programs to rock climbing to summer camps, it can be challenging to choose an adventure. Michael offers some advice for getting involved. “There's always opportunities to volunteer,” he states. “It’s an intro to the NAC and allows you to get involved in the community.”

The NAC’s McGrath Mountain Center at Park City Mountain Resort is arguably the most beautiful building on the mountain. Michael enjoys showing his college friends around the facility and encourages anyone visiting Park City to visit. “The McGrath Mountain Center is a hub for adaptive excellence. The NAC is a community; it's a family, welcome and open to everyone.”

Each athlete expresses the sentiment that the NAC’s presence in Park City positively influences the understanding and acceptance of disabilities within the community. “It’s the largest adaptive facility in the world,” summarizes Logan. “People in the community treat disability differently because the NAC is here.” The NAC offers a huge range of activities—skiing, snowboarding, archery, climbing, water sports, and more—from two locations: The Ranch and The McGrath Mountain Center. An adaptive individual should start with the NAC if they're looking for things to do in Park City.

Concerts at Deer Valley

“In the summers, my friends and I go to Deer Valley for the concerts,” Michael says. “It’s very accessible.” Deer Valley’s Director of Communications, Emily Summers, explains some steps they take to ensure everyone can enjoy the summer concerts. “Our goal is to make the Deer Valley Summer Concert Series a welcoming experience for everyone… For guests with mobility impairments, ADA accommodations are available through our concert partners, including ADA general admission tickets and designated parking.”

Main Street’s Bar Scene

The geography of Park City’s Main Street doesn’t always support accessibility. "Downtown Park City is challenging to make accessible due to its layout. Everything is on an incline; it’s steep. It can be intimidating for people with leg braces or wheelchairs.” Michael views the difficulties of navigating Main Street as an opportunity for problem solving. “It's really important to have a community conversation about improving accessibility because it should be a collective effort involving everyone." Fortunately, some establishments on Main Street strive to ensure everyone can enjoy nightlife, even if navigating to the entrance is challenging.

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The Cabin is a bar and venue, featuring a robust year-round concert schedule and tasty traditional pub food. Michael describes why he and his NAC teammates are pleased with the accommodations. “We told them we all have different disabilities... They allowed us to go through the back entrance, where they had a ramp, rather than wait in line... They treated us well.”

O’Shucks has over 30 years of history serving drinks, comfort food, and sushi in Park City. The restaurant motto is, “If we take care of the locals, it doesn’t really matter if the tourists find us.” This commitment to residents has contributed to its success and growth, with locations in Pinebrook and SLC in addition to the White House on Main Street. “O’Shucks White House on Main is very accessible,” Michael says, noting that it has been another favorable spot for him and his teammates after practice.

Seven State Parks surround Park City: East Canyon Reservoir, Echo Reservoir, the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail, Rockport Reservoir, Jordanelle Reservoir, Rock Cliff Nature Center, Wasatch Mountain, and Deer Creek Reservoir. Utah State Parks has done a fantastic job prioritizing accessibility at these locations. Devan Chavez, the Public Information Officer and Associate Director of Utah State Parks, explains, “Our parks have worked hard to make them accessible.” This includes several resources such as the Utah State Parks Accessibility Page and the Utah State Parks Accessibility Guide, which provides information on accessible facilities, trails, and amenities in and around our state parks. 

Jordanelle Reservoir

Hideout, Deer Mountain, and Mayflower are Park City communities hugging Jordanelle Reservoir, a body of water where the National Ability Center operates water sports like wakeboarding, wakesurfing, and skiing. Hailey Griffin, a mono skier who primarily relies on a wheelchair for mobility, shares one of her favorite pastimes with her eight-year-old son, Deccard. “That's maybe my favorite, going over to the Jordanelle and either paddle boarding, or if we can (with the NAC) go wakeboarding, or camping there.” The campground features accessible cabins, cottages, and campsites with modern restrooms and plenty of parking. The Rock Cliff Nature Center in the southeastern corner of the reservoir includes an ADA accessible boardwalk and paved trails with interpretive signs.

East Canyon State Park

East Canyon State Park and reservoir is a historical site near the Mormon Pioneer Trail an excellent choice for recreation with designated ADA accessible campsites, cabin, yurt, and fishing dock. “My friends and I  go there a bunch in the summer,” Michael says of East Canyon. “It’s super accessible. They have a parking lot with a bunch of handicap spots… We paddleboard, swim, and barbecue.”

The Rail Trail

The Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail begins in Prospector Square and continues about 30 miles to Echo State Park. The scenic path is a gentle 2% grade and features interpretive signs, benches, and resting places to enjoy the views. The Utah State Parks Accessibility Guide illustrates,“The trail surface is primarily road base, except for 3 miles from Park City north and a 0.5-mile section in Wanship. The remaining asphalt sections are suitable for wheelchairs and in-line skaters."

Mcleod Creek Trail

The McLeod Creek Trail is a paved pedestrian path with a gentle grade that leads from Kimball Junction to Kearns Blvd. It features countless scenic views, benches for rest, and scenic riparian habitats along McLeod Creek.

A reliable place to train is essential for athletes, and Basin Recreation Fieldhouse is Logan Knowles’ favorite gym in Park City. “They were super cool about me coming to join. Everybody there is really supportive,” explains Logan, who has cerebral palsy. “I work with a trainer who is open to helping me out... People who work there don’t shy away from disability.”

The NAC’s High Performance Competition team frequently trains at the Utah Olympic Park, which houses the Alf Engen Ski Museum—an exhibition of Park City’s skiing history, including the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Games. “They have Paralympic displays in the museum. It’s super cool how they incorporate both worlds together,” Logan describes.