When your backyard is as beautifully diverse as the Park City area, the term “recreation” takes on a whole new meaning. This is not lost on the Park City Municipal Athletic & Recreation Center (PC MARC). Its summer recreational programs take full advantage of Park City’s boundless outdoor options. Whether you’re looking to give that mountain bike an overhaul and hit the trails or simply want to brush up on your swimming technique, here are a few of this year’s outdoor programs at the PC MARC.
Mountain Biking
The alpine trails around Park City, Heber, and Midway are excellent for mountain bikers, and the PC MARC will be hosting a variety of clinics and guided rides this summer. Clinics will be held on June 27 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and July 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Riders who want to brush up on their technique will also want to check out the skills clinics that will cover switchback and cornering techniques. These will take place throughout June and July, so it’s best to check the PC MARC activity schedule for the time that works best for you.
Once your bike is primed and ready to go, there are plenty of guided experiences available. Intermediate and advanced riders should consider the Guided Epic Rides that will tackle some of Park City’s most scenic trails. Wasatch Over Wasatch (June 25 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.), Slate Creek (August 20 from 9 a.m. to noon), and Wasatch Crest (September 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) are all on the docket this year. The PC MARC provides a shuttle to each trail, a guide, and picnic for when the ride is finished.
The PC MARC also offers some great women-only experiences which range from Beginner Clinics throughout the summer to Moms on Bikes, a social cycling experience that will be every Wednesday at 9:30-11:30 a.m from June 17 to September 2.
Fishing
PC MARC’s Fly-fishing Camp is a great way for burgeoning fishers to sharpen those knot tying and casting skills, and it’s an excellent way for beginners to learn the basics. Volunteers from High Country Fly Fishers will be on hand to pass their skills and knowledge on to attendees. They’ll help with everything from casting techniques to choosing the right fly for the environment, and they’ll also have all the equipment and flies you need to make the most of each session—though attendees are welcome to bring their own gear. The camp is for fishers aged 12 to 16 and takes place at Deer Valley Ponds every Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. starting on June 10 and ending on July 1.
Swim Clinics
It’s hard to branch out from swimming at the PC MARC’s lovely pool, but taking a dip in some nearby outdoor bodies of water is always a welcome summer pastime. Deer Creek Reservoir, Echo Reservoir, Jordanelle Reservoir, and Rockport Reservoir are all excellent places for a cool mountain dip. Even if you’re planning a visit to one of these local reservoirs for a bit of wakeboarding, paddleboarding, or waterskiing, brushing up on your swimming technique will ensure a safe trip. Throughout June, July, and the first week of August, the PC MARC will offer swim clinics on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:15-7 p.m. that will focus on specific swim strokes along with water safety. These clinics are for anyone 16 and older and are specifically designed for stroke-ready swimmers. Each clinic session will have a specific focus, including backstrokes, breaststrokes, and freestyle swimming.
Wilderness First Aid
Even when you’re out fishing on your favorite riverbank or biking along your favorite trail, emergencies can happen. Regardless of what outdoor activity you’re planning on exploring this summer, the safety of you and your traveling companions is a priority. The Wilderness First Aid Clinics at the PC MARC are designed to teach attendees how to respond to emergencies while biking through the trails, taking a dip in a reservoir, or simply out for an alpine hike. Clinic instructors from Park City Recreation and Traverse Beyond will touch on everything from outdoor emergency preparedness, incident management, patient assessment, environmental concerns, and activity-specific injuries. These clinics will take place at the PC MARC on July 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and attendees 16 and older are welcome to attend.
