By clicking “Accept,” you agree to the use of cookies and similar technologies on your device as set forth in our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy. Please note that certain cookies are essential for this website to function properly and do not require user consent to be deployed.

A Long Weekend in the Wasatch: Salt Lake City & Park City Itinerary

Taking a long weekend to discover the Wasatch? Check out the urban and alpine highlights alike on an express trip through the capital and the state’s favorite ski town. Here’s how to spend a few days exploring:

Day 1

Worm's eye view of Mormon temple and some trees.
Salt Lake Temple. Photo © Randy Miramontez/Dreamstime.

Arrive in Salt Lake City early and plan a visit to Temple Square around one of the free daily performances of the Tabernacle Choir. Pick and choose how many museums, visitors centers (there are two), and other attractions you take in at Temple Square, depending on your appetite for Mormon history. Go shopping and strolling around the 9th and 9th neighborhood, where you can look for souvenirs at Cahoots and get dinner at Pago. Head to one of the city’s many craft breweries for a drink before calling it a night.

Day 2

Soak up views on a quick hike along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Photo © Jeremy Christensen | Dreamstime.com

In the morning, head straight to Gourmandise and order breakfast, plus a box of pastries (or even a cake, if you’re feeling decadent) for later. Take the scenic route to Park City via Emigration Canyon—this is the way the Mormons headed into town over a century ago! Stop at one of the Foothills attractions, like the Natural History Museum of Utah, and consider a short hike along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, accessible behind the museum. Continue on through Emigration Canyon and stop for lunch at the iconic Ruth’s Diner. Emigration Canyon will connect with East Canyon and take you straight to Park City via I-80. When you arrive in Park City, head to Old Town in the early evening to stroll up and down Main Street, get a drink at No Name Saloon & Grill, and grab dinner at High West Distillery & Saloon.

Day 3

Stroll down the charming Main Street in Park City. Photo © Dlouisephotography | Dreamstime.com

Before breakfast, stroll around the McPolin Farm and get some impressive sunrise shots. Then head out for a hike at Deer Valley or at Park City Mountain Resort, before getting lunch at a base-area eatery like The Farm or the Glitretind Restaurant. If it’s the off-season, head to Old Town again to eat before making the drive back to Salt Lake City. This is also a great time to pocket some souvenirs and check out some of Main Street’s many art galleries.

Maya Silver

About the Author

Maya Silver is a Utah-based writer who covers the outdoors, food, and the environment. She has written for NPRTravel + LeisureFood52, and many other publications. Maya is the author of Moon Salt Lake, Park City & the Wasatch Range, Moon Zion & Bryce, and Moon Best of Zion & Bryce, and co-author of My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks, a book for teens.

Rock/ice climbing, mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and camping fill her mountain life. These days, she’s also busy teaching her two adventurous kids to do the same. 

By day, Maya is the managing editor at the outdoor brand Cotopaxi.

Learn more about this author

Pin It for Later

Image of city at the base of mountains at dusk with text A Long Weekend in Salt Lake City & Park City