PARK CITY REAL ESTATE

Tucked away into the Wasatch Mountain Range, Park City is a nexus point for over 400 miles of trails for you to explore. Whether you have a vacation home in Park City or are just visiting, you can use our Park City hiking guide to learn everything you need to know about hiking in this beautiful area.  

Top 10 Trails You Need To Hike In Park City

There are so many fantastic trails for you to try while hiking in Park City. To help narrow the list, we chose ten trails that are especially scenic, easy-to-access, and mild-to-moderate difficulty.   

 

1. Lambs Canyon Trail – About 3.5 miles roundtrip, you will gain around 1,400 ft of elevation on this mountainous hike. Spring and summer are particularly beautiful times to do this hike as you will find fields of wildflowers and full-leafed aspens.
2. Hat Trick Trail – Roundtrip, the Hat Trick Trail is 2.6 miles long. You can use this trail to connect with other Round Valley trails like Fastpitch, Fairway Hills, and Ability Way trail.  
3. Iron Canyon Trail – Great for birding while hiking, this two-mile out-and-back trail will take you out in nature and into the beautiful canyons in Park City.
4. Run-A-Muk – A year-round, 2-mile trail, you can take the whole family including the dog on this hike. Just below Utah Olympic Park, everyone can enjoy a rambling, easy hike on Run-A-Muk.  
5. Spiro Trail – Moderately difficult, this trail is popular with hikers and bikers. You can climb up several switchbacks during this 8-mile loop and enjoy traveling through wildflowers and aspens.
6. Jenni’s Trail – Still a relatively new pathway, on Jenni’s Trail you can encounter wildlife as you wander through various groves of trees. It is moderately difficult and is 4.7 miles long. You can also pick up a ZipRider ticket and zip line back down the mountain rather than return hike.
7. Shadow Lake Trail – Combining with the Jupiter Peak Trail, you can enjoy a quiet hike to a less populated lake. This hike is 5.1 miles long and is a loop trail with moderate difficulty.
8. Glenwild Loop – This trail is a loop of 8.5 miles and accessible from the Spring Creek Trailhead. There are some steep climbs to add extra difficulty to this beautiful, singletrack hiking trail.
9. Fantasy Ridge – Make no mistake, this six-mile hike will be difficult nearly the entire time. This trail follows through the lovely aspen groves along the ridgeline up to the Canyons Resort 9,900 ft peak. The grueling effort is well-worth the stunning views of the Park City valley and surrounding mountains.
10. Millennium Trail – A lengthy, paved trail which is 7.5 miles long and connects to other trails and bike paths. It is not far into nature but still allows you to experience the beauty of the Wasatch Mountains.

Other Park City Hikes To Try

While our top ten list covers the all-around best trails to check out in Park City, there are many other great trails out there. Depending on what you are looking for in a trail, we found some excellent trails for family hikers, extra-long hikes, and more.

Family-Friendly Hikes

Farm Trail – A simple 1.4-mile hike, the path is paved with some easy rolling inclines for children to burn their energy on.

Summit Park Over Easy – A shady 2.5-mile out-and-back hike you can bring the whole family on. The trail will wind through picturesque alpine meadows and pine forests.  

Chair Lift Hikes

Silver Lake Trail – As a foot-traffic-only trail, this area is quieter than some other hikes. You can ride the Sterling Express chairlift up, then enjoy the downward hike or trail run. Also, if you hike up, you can take the chairlift down for free.

Loose Moose Trail – A downhill-only hike, you can reach this trail by riding up the Payday chairlift. While this particular trail is about a mile long, it connects to trails like Crescent Mine Grade and Jenni’s Trail.   

Short Hikes

McLeod Creek Trail – A gentle, paved trail so you can take strollers, dogs and young children. It is four miles of winding trail near water and rolling pastures.

Willow Creek Trail – A mix of packed dirt and paving, this two-mile loop goes around a pond, various playgrounds, and a picnic pavilion where you can stop and enjoy a mid-hike picnic.  

Long Hikes

Swaner Nature Preserve Trail – Rather than just one trail, the Swaner Nature Preserve has a system of four trails for a 10-mile long hike. These trails are a mixture of gravel, paving, and boardwalks so you can enjoy full immersion in the preserve.

 

Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail – While this trail is 28 miles long, people of all ages can join in on this hike. It is a paved/gravel hike, which follows along a former railroad track with great views of Park City and Deer Valley resorts.

Park City Hiking Preparedness

To stay safe as you revel in nature, there are some things you should make sure you bring on any hike you try in Park City.

 

• Water – If you don’t remember anything else, remember to bring water as you hike. A 24-ounce bottle will help you through most hikes, though it is perfectly acceptable to bring a full water bladder and a water bottle.  
• Sturdy shoes – Unless we mentioned otherwise, most hikes in Park City are fairly mountainous with dirt tracks and loose rocks. It’s not a bad idea to carry flip-flops if you are hiking to a lake, but we do not recommend you attempt most of these hikes in flimsy shoes.
• Waterproof windbreaker – The weather in the Wasatch Mountains can be highly unpredictable, going from sunny and warm to surprise cloudburst. A lightweight, waterproof windbreaker often is enough to shield you from any weather surprises.
• Poles – Some trails won’t require hiking poles. But if you struggle a bit with steadiness on your feet, a pair of hiking poles can be helpful on the more rugged trails.
• First-aid kit – There are tiny first-aid kits you can pick up and easily throw into a backpack or running belt. If you want to compile your own, include a few band-aids of various sizes, disinfecting wipes, and antibiotic ointment.  

Potential Hazards To Watch For While Hiking

When done right, hiking can be a wonderful, exciting experience. Part of hiking safely in Park City is to be aware of the potential dangers you may face during your hike. Some of the common hazards you should watch out for are:

 

• Wildlife – As Park City is a small town nestled right in the heart of the mountains, you will have the opportunity to see plenty of wildlife on your hikes. Please do not feed any wildlife; instead, simply enjoy seeing the animals in their natural habitat. Moose can potentially be dangerous, so be sure to give them a wide berth. There are also the occasional black bear sightings. Pack out any food you bring in and be extra alert when hiking at dawn and dusk.  
• Seasonal warnings – Flash floods, avalanches, forest fires, and other mountain hazards apply to Park City, like any other mountainous area. Keep an eye on the Park City weather advisories to make sure you stay safe as you hike.
• Loose rocks – Aside from the paved trails, you are going to encounter loose rocks as you hike. This presents not only a footing hazard for you but a potential falling rock hazard if you are going up switchbacks. Listen for any sounds which may indicate that rocks may be falling toward you.
• Other activities – Hikers are not the only ones who love the trails in Park City. Many mountain bikers also love to challenge themselves on these trails and are not always prepared to encounter a hiker. There are also often families, off-leash dogs, parents with strollers and people using assistive devices.

There are plenty of resorts, hotels, and short-term vacation rentals you can stay at when visiting Park City. But, if you find you have fallen in love with Park City and want to set up a more permanent vacation home, Jensen and Company can help you.

 

Brad Jensen has been working in real estate in Park City for decades and has helped hundreds of people find the home of their dreams. If you are interested in real estate in Park City and the surrounding private communities, contact us to start working with Brad today.

At the heart of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty is the 273 year history of the Sotheby’s Auction House. This powerful collaboration and brand relationship puts our properties, at all price points, at the fingertips of global auction house clientele. Being Utah’s only real estate brokerage with a marketing partnership of this magnitude offers our sellers an unprecedented level of exposure. This direct collaboration with the world’s most prestigious and recognized auction house is just another reason why Summit Sotheby’s International Realty is like no other.

Here in Park City, we’re right in the thick of winter. Very snowy and muddy conditions make for extra laundry. We have found some beautiful and inspiring laundry rooms that will make you actually want to do laundry. Each one provides tons of function without lacking any style. Whoever thought laundry rooms could be so elegant and pretty? Take a look:

Large Laundry Rooms

Photos: Alice Lane Interior Design

We absolutely love how fresh and clean this space is. The bright white upper cabinets provide so much light in the room. Your laundry room is a great place to try a fun color for cabinets. We love the dark blue lower cabinets here. All elements of design here are not only timeless and sophisticated but provide such useful functionality. Take a look at the drying racks, so handy you’ll wonder how you ever did without it. We also believe that every laundry room needs a large flat surface to serve as a folding area. No one has ever liked the idea of dumping their laundry somewhere in the house and letting it sit. With a functional space just for folding, you’ll be motivated to take a few minutes and get it done right then and there.

Photos: Shelterness & Remodelaholic

How great would it be to have multiple washers and dryers? With a large laundry room, you can make it happen. A great feature to have in your laundry room is to add in a utility sink for any extra soaking or washing. Get creative with this utility sink though! It doesn’t have to look like a utility sink at all, think oversized farm sink. Upgrade all your cheap plastic containers to wicker or wire baskets to hold linens, cleaners, and other items. Display shiny glass jar containers for your laundry detergent, laundry pods, and pet foods.

Large laundry rooms allow for multi-functionality. Create the perfect space for you:

Crafting

Sewing

Ironing

Folding

Sorting

Gift wrapping

Laundry Rooms in Smaller Spaces

Photos: Hometalk HomeBNC Apartment Therapy

Luxury condo and apartment living in Park City doesn’t always offer a large laundry space but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a dreamy laundry room that offers a lot of functionality too. Stacking machines will create so much more wiggle room in a small space. Doing this allows for more storage and in a smaller living unit storage is a hot commodity.

Simple and clean open shelving creates a beautiful element of design allowing you to display sleek storage options that really beautify the space. More functionality is created when you have a place to hang a drying rod or hanging line. Top of your new design by adding a sliding industrial or barn door to separate the room from your living space. This great feature is easy to install and adds the cherry on top of your beautiful laundry room.

Regardless of the size of your laundry room, you can have a space that both serves you and excites you every time to walk into it. Take a look at Brad Jensen’s other home design inspirations.

We did it, we made it through 2017 and now 2018 is screaming around the corner. The design trends are already becoming clear as people scramble to create a sense of a fresh start in their homes. If you are among them you can get an early start with these awesome trends that will be popular over the next twelve months.

Asymmetrical Wall Collages

Photo Source: Avenuelifestyle.com

These have always been popular to an extent, but they weren’t much of a trend until now. Asymmetrical wall collages were once a cute way to showcase your family photos. Now they are becoming a way to make a wall less drab by displaying various types of art. Tip: mix complementary colors and frame shapes.

Indoor Plants

Photo Source: beckiowens.com

Oddly, indoor plants fell out of fashion for a long time and it was never clear why. Now they are making a big comeback and it is a great thing. Not only do they bring some color and natural beauty into any home, but they are good for the air and can even attract the sorts of insects that keep your house free of more serious pests. Mutli-colored plants are especially in this year.

Creative Ceiling Features

Photo Source: thecottagemarket.com

People don’t generally think of their ceiling as a place to make a design statement and that is a shame. They are missing out on so many opportunities to create a more interesting looking room. Creative ceiling features and statement ceilings are becoming very popular, so it might be time to try it out yourself. Just be careful not to go overboard and overwhelm the rest of the room.

Mixed Metallic Accents

Photo Source: bhg.com

Metallics were boring for a long time because everyone went for stainless steel, iron or chrome. Now a more tantalizing design choice is gaining traction, using mixed metallics such as copper, bronze, steel and more to create a beautifully accented room. It looks great and it is so much better than past versions that all looked the same.

Terrazzo Flooring

Photo Source: apartmenttherapy.com

Terrazzo is one of those things you may have forgotten existed. Popular in art galleries and hotels, it isn’t usually seen in houses these days. Until now, that is. Many design aficionados were skeptical of this one until pictures started to come out showing off the finished product. It looks gorgeous!

For more design trends and home decor ideas, visit Jensen and Company’s blog and Pinterest profile.

From the Desk of Brad Jensen

Park City Utah | Real Estate Newsletter | September 2016

Dear Park City,

We have had a wonderful summer in Park City and now Labor Day has come and gone way too fast. The leaves are beginning to change and fall is in the air. I am looking forward to another couple of months of biking and then ski season. This is the best time of the year for mountain biking with the fall colors and the cool weather.

The real estate market has been steady through the summer season. The narrative has been the same all year with an overabundance of inventory in the $2MM and over price range and a shortage of inventory under $2MM. It is very difficult to find a nice condo in good condition under $400K and if you want to be closer to town or near one of the resort bases you should expect to pay at least $100K more. On the other hand if you are in the market for a ski in and out home or a home on one of the golf courses you will have some good choices. That is not to say that the golf communities have been without activity. Promontory, Red Ledges and Victory Ranch have been very active. There just happens to be a lot of inventory in these golf communities.

Deer Vista is starting to be very busy as well. There are two new homes being built and two more in planning. By this time next year we expect to have several new families in residence. Our events have been lots of fun. We hope to have several more in the coming months so stay tuned.

Remember, it is time to start planning for the ski season. Don’t forget to purchase your early season ski passes and make sure your equipment is ready to go. In the meantime I will look forward to seeing you on the trails.

Sincerely,

Brad Jensen
(435) 901-8333
brad@jensenandcompany.com
Summit Sotheby’s International Realty

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Father, Son (George) and Uncle Chris fishing trip on the Green River, Section A, below the Flaming Gorge Dam. Hired Trout Bum 2 for a One Day Float. Caught some big fish!

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Park City Local News

Master plan for Canyons Village at Park City Mountain Resort reconfigured

The master developer of the Canyons Village at Park City Mountain Resort wants to create a “more cohesive and vibrant village core for all seasons” with the help of a new master plan, according to Larry White, chief executive officer of TCFC Finance Co., the…[read more]

Summit County and Park City Councils approve short-range transit plan

Summit County and Park City are accelerating their plans to resolve the traffic woes. Last week, Summit County and Park City announced that they will continue investing in mass transportation. Staff, along with a joint transportation advisory board, have been working for the past year…[read more]

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Epic Pass Becomes Even More Epic

Photo: Associated Press – Rick Bowmer

The month of August marked an exciting acquisition in the ski industry. On August 8, 2016, it was announced that Vail Resorts, a publicly traded company, would soon buy Whistler Blackcomb ski resort for roughly $1.06 billion, making Vail Resorts the owner of the two largest ski resorts in North America.

For more information, visit here.

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Why Is There So Much Paperwork to Sign to Get a Mortgage?

From Keeping Current Matters Blog – August 30, 2016

We are often asked why there is so much paperwork mandated by the bank for a mortgage loan application when buying a home today. It seems that the bank needs to know everything about us and requires three separate sources to validate each and every entry on the application form.

Many buyers are being told by friends and family that the process was a hundred times easier when they bought their home ten to twenty years ago.

There are two very good reasons that the loan process is much more onerous on today’s buyer than perhaps any time in history.

1. The government has set new guidelines that now demand that the bank prove beyond any doubt that you are indeed capable of affording the mortgage.
During the run-up in the housing market, many people ‘qualified’ for mortgages that they could never pay back. This led to millions of families losing their home. The government wants to make sure this can’t happen again.

2. The banks don’t want to be in the real estate business.
Over the last seven years, banks were forced to take on the responsibility of liquidating millions of foreclosures and also negotiating another million plus short sales. Just like the government, they don’t want more foreclosures. For that reason, they need to double (maybe even triple) check everything on the application.

However, there is some good news in the situation.
The housing crash that mandated that banks be extremely strict on paperwork requirements also allows you to get a mortgage interest rate as low as 3.43%, the latest reported rate from Freddie Mac.

The friends and family who bought homes ten or twenty years ago experienced a simpler mortgage application process but also paid a higher interest rate (the average 30 year fixed rate mortgage was 8.12% in the 1990’s and 6.29% in the 2000’s). If you went to the bank and offered to pay 7% instead of less than 4%, they would probably bend over backwards to make the process much easier.

Bottom Line – Instead of concentrating on the additional paperwork required, let’s be thankful that we are able to buy a home at historically low rates.

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SSIR Comprehensive Park City
Real Estate Market Update Website

Real estate is hyper local. So much so, that each neighborhood, block and even street can have varying histories and current market data. This is why we built parkcitymarketupdate.com, a responsive, user-friendly website to help you navigate Park City’s market trends. Here you’ll find videos, infographics, quarterly and yearly reports, all broken down by neighborhood. Want more in-depth information? A property evaluation? Connect with Brad Jensen for up-to-the-minute market information and expert knowledge and experience

There are a long list of amazing qualities to appreciate about Park City’s community. But perhaps no reason is more often touted as a reason to live in the area than the town’s local public schools. High quality education, plenty of extra curricular activities, and a social environment where your students can thrive are what you can expect in the Park City school system.

Of course, you have to get your student to school every day. That is where the city-run transportation network comes in. You can put your child on the bus to school every morning secure in knowing they are safe and well cared for. You just need to follow some simple rules to make sure everything runs smoothly for everyone.

Your Responsibility as a Parent

There are some things you should know about the bus system for schools in Park City, which runs a little differently than you may be used to. First and foremost, your child will have to have a bus pass to ride the school bus.

All passes are free, and are a safety precaution to help keep your student safe. It is attached to their school record. Every morning they will run their bus pass so the driver knows who is on their bus, and who is not accounted for. This information is given to the school and checked against attendance, so the school can contact you and double check that they are absent, and not missing.

As a parent/guardian, you should also know that it is your responsibility to:

• Make sure your student arrives on time for the daily bus pick up.
• Make sure your student knows what bus is the right one to take home.
• Make sure the student has their bus pass every day.
• Make sure your student is properly dressed for the weather conditions of the day.
• Make sure you walk your student to the bus stop and remain with them until they are on the bus if they a) are in preschool, kindergarten, or first grade, or b) live a distance from the designated stop.
• Make sure that you are there to pick up your student at the bus stop if they meet up the conditions above.
• Make sure your student understands the safety requirements of riding a bus.
• Make sure you understand your liability for your child’s behavior while on the bus.

Finding Your Student’s Bus Route Information

For the protection of students, there is no publically available list of school bus routes published. However, you can find the nearest available bus stops for your local school by contacting the Transportation Department at 435-645-5660.

To learn more about the beautiful town of Park City, visit Jensen and Company.

It’s time to think about summer camps, and Park City Utah has plenty of them to choose from for your children. The following are the best Park City summer camps from Jane’s List.

Deer Valley Resort

This Summer Adventure Camp has it all for children. Not only do they have fun with the arts, crafts, projects, and social activities, but they learn from them. Camps are available weekdays from June 6 to August 23, 2016. Call them today to learn more at 435-649-1000.

Dance Tech Studios

Girls AND boys can have a summer of dancing fun at Dance Tech Studios. Boys can participate in Boys Extreme, which is a camp focusing on hip-hop, breakdance, and tricks. Girls can challenge themselves with Dance Intensives, learning many of the basic moves of ballet, jazz, tap, and more. Tiny Tutus are perfect for younger girls (3-4 years) to get them ready for a love of dance through ballet, jazz, and tap. Each day is a fun day of movement. Call them now for more information about their summer camps at 435-655-9213, or visit their website at www.dancetechworld.com.

The Peek Program

The Peek Program is an early enrichment school. They offer camps for kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, and preschool aged children. The average teacher to children ratio is 1:7. All activities are curriculum based. It’s perfect for parents looking to challenge their children and give them a head start for school in the fall. Call The Peek Program today at 435-649-9188.

Kids Yoga Camp with Randi Jo

Yoga has many benefits for children, and this is the perfect program to teach them how to use it in life. The camp’s focus is on learning meditation, breathing exercises, practicing mindfulness, journaling, and many other activities. There are many sessions throughout the summer for different age groups, so visit their website to find the best fitting sessions for your children.

Mine Bouldering Company

Rock climbing is physically and mentally challenging, making it great for young minds. The Mine Bouldering Company offers summer camps for beginner and intermediate climbers. Through many different engaging activities, kids learn the technical skills of rock climbing. In addition to climbing, they will also practice yoga, hike Swaner Preserve, and learn about nature and the importance of taking care of the environment. Learn more about Mine Bouldering Company on their website.

As you can see, Park City, UT has several summer camps for children making it a great place to live. If you’re thinking of moving to Park City, call Jensen and Company at 435.901.8333 for help in finding or building your dream home in this beautiful city.

Park City UT real estate is hot right now. It’s a buyer’s market and many people are taking advantage of it. We don’t only have people who are looking to live in this area, but there are many investors taking advantage of the housing market. If you’re thinking of investing in Park City UT real estate, here are some reasons you should go ahead and do it.

Interest Rates are Rising – Rent Will Be More Attractive

If you buy now, you’ll be able to take advantage of what is coming in the future with interest rates. Interest rates are increasing and that means people aren’t going to be buying as much pretty soon. More of them will be leaning towards renting. You can rent out your property when this happens, and make a good income each month.

Prices are Low, but Rising

House prices are still low, as part of the revitalization of the housing market the government tried to implement. If you don’t take advantage of these low prices now, you may end up losing out. Later, house prices will be much higher, and you won’t be able to make as much money if you are looking to flip.

Get More for the Money

Since house prices are low, you can get much more for your money now. As prices go up, you’ll start to see that you can’t get as many options in a home. This can affect how much you rent or sell the home for later.

Experts Speculate Seller’s Market Soon

While it’s a buyer’s market now with low home prices and interest rates, this is expected to change in the near future. In the next few years, it will be a seller’s market, which means you’ll be able to sell the house quickly for much more than you paid for it.

People are Moving to Park City

If you know Park City, you know how much it has to offer young and old. All of the attractions, activities, and beautiful scenery is what is bringing so many people to the area. As more people come to live in Park City, they will be looking for a place to live. This means that if you have an investment property, you’ll be able to make money off their desire to live in one of the best cities in the nation.

Investing in Park City Utah Real Estate

There’s no better time to invest in Park City Utah real estate. Contact us now for more information on how we can help you make an investment of a lifetime. If you are interested in becoming more familiar with Park City please call Jensen and Company at (435)901-8333 for information on local real estate.