Mountain Trails

Mountain Trails Foundation

We build, maintain and protect Park City, Utah's trails

News

Give The Gift Of Trails

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The holiday season is about joy and for many of our friends and family that means enjoying our world-class, year-round trail system. If you’re looking to give the gift that keeps on giving, consider donating.

You can choose a gift from our donation page to be mailed (free of charge) to any address in the US. Or, you can donate without a gift, and we’ll send a card to the recipient of your choice with a special message acknowledging your donation on their behalf.

For last-minute shoppers who miss the shipping deadline, don’t despair, we will offer jacket pick-up from 3-6pm on December 23rd at our office at 5792 N. Highland Dr., Park City UT 84098. This service will be available to those who have already pre-purchased gifts via the website.

To arrange a custom card acknowledgment, or to pick up your order on the 23rd please email ian@mountaintrails.org.

Give The Gift of Trails Today

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew

What We Did With Your Generosity in 2022

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Winter has arrived early (or is it just on time?) this year and what a fun season to be an outdoor enthusiast! We’re changing gears – in my case, away go the mountain bike and running shorts, and out come the quiver of skinny skis and winter trail runners. Is anyone else feeling exceptionally optimistic about this winter? Yes, I do believe so. 

The collective enthusiasm around freshly groomed winter trails is palpable.  As fat bikers, Nordic skiers, trail runners, snowshoers and their respective four-legged friends hit the trails this month, all bubbling with excitement for the crisp air and squeaky snow,  I offer deep gratitude to those who contributed financially to MTF in 2022. Here’s a semi-complete (for the sake of readability) list of the bang you got for your buck: 

  1. Spring maintenance and blow-down removal on about 200 miles of trail. 

  2. Big Easy trail – done

  3. Cyn City trail – done

  4. Change Reaction trail – done

  5. Bonanza Loop trail – progress continues

  6. Sparky trail – done

  7. Mother Urban trail – done

  8. Milky Way trail at SkyRidge – done

  9. Lynx trail – done

  10. Winter grooming of about 50km of Nordic track and 25 miles of singletrack at Round Valley, Bonanza Flat and Clark Ranch. 

As we launch into 2023, with 10 new projects on our docket (more on that next month!), we hope you’ll continue investing in trails. . . ‘nough said. . . 

See you out there! 

Be Cool – Invest In Trails Today!

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew

THANK YOU for your Live PC Give PC donations!

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Thank you for contributing to our largest fundraiser!

Today, over 400 continuous miles of non-motorized trails now exist in Park City that connect you to mountain meadows, sagebrush covered hills, aspen groves, coniferous forests, and viewsheds that are unparalleled. 

If you like to hike, bike, and ski in Park City, please show your love for open space and trails this Live PC Give PC. We hope that when you give to Mountain Trails Foundation on November 4th, you will also give to Summit Land Conservancy: Because trails and land go hand in hand!

It doesn’t matter how much you give during Live PC Give PC, it matters THAT you give. All it takes is $5 to join the fun November 4th (or before!), and help us save the trails and lands that make Park City special!

DONATE NOW

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Livepcgivepc.org is a one-day virtual event that encourages all of Summit County, Utah to contribute to benefit our nonprofit organizations through a single online giving platform. It is uniquely Park City. The campaign is primarily coordinated by The Park City Foundation (PCF), Summit County’s community foundation, in partnership will area nonprofit organizations.

Live PC Give PC is now open for donations and go through November 4th, 2022.

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew

Wildlife… It’s Better with Open Space

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Utah, especially Park City and the Wasatch Back, is home to an abundance of wildlife including moose, elk, bear, mountain lion, bobcat, coyotes, snakes, sandhill cranes and more! As the seasons change, these critters are on the move to forage, mate, and seek shelter in lower elevations. It can be exciting to see these animals in the wild (and even our backyards) but it is important to always show wildlife respect. From the pesky Uinta ground squirrel to the beautiful and majestic bull moose, wildlife does best when it is observed from a distance and left undisturbed. As more neighborhoods are built in prime habitat areas, and more recreationists hit our world-class trails, animals are experiencing an increased number of encounters and human induced stressors. It is important to understand these creatures so we feel better prepared to respond, enjoy, and stay safe during these remarkable encounters.

Always keep your distance and give wildlife a clear escape route (especially if offspring are present). Never crowd a wild animal; doing so could make the animal feel threatened, stressed and become unpredictable. It may be necessary for an animal to move out of the way before you can continue on. If it’s impossible to go around the animal and provide a wide berth, it may be time to head home and hike another day. By keeping a respectful distance, you not only keep yourself safe, but you ensure the animal can continue a long and healthy life free from human-induced stressors.

At the trailhead, always check the posted signs and warnings. Unusual wildlife activity is often noted with instructions or information about what to do and where the animal was last seen.

Keep dogs on leash, especially when on the trails. If you are bringing your dog onto the trails, it should be well trained and either on a leash or under voice command depending on local regulations. Roving dogs can chase, kill or injure wildlife. In addition, countless dogs are injured by wildlife encounters every year. If you can’t control your dog, then it’s best to just hit the dog park – we have plenty! If you live in neighborhood that has active wildlife, supervise pets when they are outside, especially at dawn and dusk.

Don’t toss trash or uneaten food along the trail. Human food can entice wild animals to forage on busy trails. If animals always find food on the trail, they will always go looking for food on the trail. Plus it’s just good trail manners to pack out everything you packed in.

Don’t feed wildlife. Feeding animals can interrupt their normal behavior and foraging habits which could eventually result in death or starvation. You can also endanger yourself. Remove wildlife attractants from your property, including pet food, water sources, bird feeders and fallen fruit. If your property and landscaping are attractive to deer and other wildlife, predators may follow the wildlife into your property while searching for prey.

If you encounter injured wildlife, leave it be. Injured animals can act in unpredictable ways. The best help you can give is by notifying local authorities upon your return. Plus, there may be a predator lurking nearby.

Recreate with a companion. Your conversation will help to alert animals of your presence and it’s nice to have a rescue buddy handy in case of any emergency or accident. Wildlife is most active around dawn or dusk. Keep your head on a swivel when going out at these times.

Keep kids safe by educating them about wildlife. Kids can be unpredictable on the trails. For safety while hiking, educate them about wildlife encounters and keep them within sight or in a group if possible.

Educate your neighbors and family about wildlife conflict prevention, and know when to call authorities. If you see an animal, you don’t necessarily need to call authorities. Animals may be active where they are normally found. You should call if the animal is acting threatening, aggressive, destroying property, occupying an area in a human development (e.g., under a porch) or otherwise acting odd. REMEMBER, if you call the authorities, the Division of Wildlife Resources will usually capture and remove your wild visitor. Let’s keep them around, even if they do crash our dinner parties from time to time!

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew

Meet the Tour Des Suds Characters – Parktoberfest

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The Parktoberfest team has become a prominent staple of Tour Des Suds staring with 15 entrants in the 2022 event. The teams’ roots can be traced back to 1983, when David Gordon spent a year abroad in Munich. Participating in the event virtually in 2020 Parktoberfest came together as a group of a friends celebrating a 60th birthday.

David’s homemade pretzel bites are renowned and in addition to an incredible selection of Bavarian fare the team participates in Keg Bowling and feats of amateur gymnastics.

We all share in the sincere joy that springs from our trails and the creativity of our fellow users. Hopefully, Parktoberfest will serve to inspire you for the next Tour Des Suds and to create your own traditions.

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew

Ambassador Spotlight: Nick Calas

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We often laud our amazing community and point to our shared grassroots success in providing one of the best trail networks in the world. I hope you will join me in recognizing one individual who has offered his time in support for almost every volunteer event we’ve hosted, Nick Calas.

Nick moved to town before Mountain Trails Foundation existed, at a time when a dollar would buy you five beers during happy hour at the Alamo. Starting as a parking lot attendant at Park City Ski area, he worked his way up to “the best job on the mountain” working on the race crew when Park City hosted its first world cup in ’84-’85. Living in the Centennial building at the top of Main, he and his roommate split the $400 monthly rent – although he admits that utilities cost almost as much as rent and that the stained-glass windows didn’t provide much insulation.

Nick bought his first “real” mountain bike, a non-descript black frame from New Park Cyclery. It was a used bike previously owned by the proprietor, Tom Noaker. He worked with the “Underground Trail Company” to cut some of the first mountain bike trails in town, such as Masonic and Trappers Gate. They would leave tools on trails so everyone could take a turn cutting and digging.

Working for Park City Municipal for 32 years, Nick did everything from re-setting pins at the bowling alley (where O’Shucks is now) to managing various sports teams, tournaments and maintaining facilities at the MARC (formerly the Racquet Club).

Nick is always looking forward to the next trail adventure and is eagerly awaiting singletrack riding in Bonanza Flat. So far as sage advice, he asks that everyone wears a helmet when riding, “You don’t want to get a concussion and people don’t realize what can happen… it could happen between your house and the grocery store, PLEASE WEAR A HELMET!”

Like so many of our members and volunteers, Nick has a great Park City story and continues to invest himself in making a Park City (and its trails!) a better place for all of us. We hope that you will enjoy creating your own Park City history and take the time to reflect on those people, like Nick, who make this place special.

Be like Nick – Support Trail Maintenance!

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew