Hiking in Park City

July is one of the best months for hiking in the local mountains. With the late and very wet springs that we just had, the wild flowers are just now in full bloom. As we walk along any of the numerous trails in Park City there is an amazing array of colors with Columbine, Lupine, Bluebells and Mountain Daisies all in full bloom. Walking under the canopy of towering Aspens, it is easy to get distracted. It is also the time of year that deer and moose are taking advantage of the tender new foliage and are constant companions on the trails. We are very fortunate here in Park City to have an organization such as the Mountain Trails Foundation which builds and maintains many miles of hiking/biking trails. One of the most popular trails is know as the mid-mountain trail. This trail begins at mid-mountain Deer Valley at an elevation of 8,200 feet and follows the 8,000 foot contour across the mountains through Park City Mountain Resort, the Canyons Resort and ending just to the north of the Utah Olympic Sports Park. One of the great things on this trail is that there are numerous entry and exit points so that whether you have all day or just an hour or two, there are wonderful loops.

One of my favorite areas for hiking is in the Uinta Mountains just to the east of Park City. The Uinta’s contain most of the high elevation peaks in Utah, with peaks ranging from 12,000 to over 13,000 feet, contain about 500 lakes and, for the most part, is a wilderness area accessible only by hiking or horseback. This range offers spectacular views and is a must visit for outdoor enthusiasts coming to Park City.

In real estate news, I am seeing some signs of an improving real estate market here. I’ve been receiving an increased number of calls lately for people looking to pick up an investment or ski condo this summer. And while the national economic news is still pretty dismal, many buyers are beginning to look at our prices as a good investment. Last week I visited a new golf course project called Red Ledges in a neighboring town of Heber, about 20 minutes from Park City. Red Ledges will feature a Nicklaus Signature course as well as a Cliff Drysdale Tennis Academy, and offer some of the most beautiful view of Mount Timpanogos and the Wasatch Range. The golf course is currently under construction and at least nine holes are expected to be open for next summer.

The Mark O’Meara course at Tuhaye is now in it’s third full season of operation and people that I have taken there to play feel that it is the most interesting and enjoyable of the private courses around the area. Lot and home sales in Tuhaye are doing well and I have been meeting several new owners who are calling Tuhaye “Home”

Upcoming events to look forward to is the Park City Arts Festival the first week of August and the Deer Valley Jazz Festival August 21-24. If your schedule permits you to visit Park City during any of these times these are definitely events to participate in.