NEWS: Posted on August 6, 2022

Mountain Trails Foundation, as the Community Partner in collaboration with Park City Mountain through Vail‘s EpicPromise, is delighted to announce a joint venture to provide professional expertise and financial support to fellow nonprofit trails organizations, South Summit Trails Foundation (SSTF) in Kamas Valley and Wasatch Trails Foundation (WTF) in Heber Valley.

Leadership at Vail Resorts has expressed keen interest in investing in the communities where it does business and in supporting a high quality of life for its employees in the places they live and work. Heber City, UT and Kamas, UT are communities where many Park City Mountain Resort employees live and recreate. 

This partnership will allow Mountain Trails Foundation, in alliance with these volunteer trails organizations, to expand its mission to build, maintain and protect trails. These partnerships create a strong win for all entities and the communities they serve. The partnerships with SSTF and WTF leverage Mountain Trails’ 30 years of professional experience in the nonprofit and trail building/maintenance sectors, against the deep connections and understanding of local need that SSTF and WTF have in their respective communities.

As growth in outdoor recreation continues to trend rapidly upward, pressure is exacted upon popular trail systems such as Park City’s. One of Mountain Trails Foundation’s strategies for preserving Park City’s world renowned, 400-mile trail system and maintaining high-quality trail experiences is to disperse trail users and diversify local trail systems. By expanding and connecting trail systems where appropriate, and building use-specific and/or directional trails in the region, trails maintenance is more manageable, great outdoor experiences are fostered, and communities are bolstered.

Trail tourism brings economic stability. Proximity to trail systems increases property value. Immediate access to trails bears a strong correlation with community mental and physical well-being. Trails stimulate social connection and pride in community. It is for these reasons that Park City Mountain through Vail’s EpicPromise and Mountain Trails Foundation are interested in combining forces with SSTF and WTF.

This partnership will lead the future of trails, prosperity and community wellness along the Wasatch Back.