Trail Starts Here: Park City Active Insider Launch

Welcome to the first issue of Park City Active Insider, your new local guide to trails, community, and the active mountain lifestyle.

This week, we’re kicking things off with:
🥾 A fall-color jackpot loop on Rob’s–Olympic–Moose Puddle
☕ A post-hike favorite: Harvest Café
🧦 Gear pick: Smartwool socks to keep your feet happy
💜 A local cause we love: Girls on the Run Utah, empowering young girls to grow confident and strong
🚐 And a trail shuttle helping locals catch peak colors without the parking hassle

But this is just the start. Park City Active Insider is your go-to hub for everything happening on and off the trail, from info on new routes and behind-the-scenes chats with local athletes, to gear reviews, community events, and expert tips to help you make the most of mountain life year-round.

We’re building a space for everyone who calls the Wasatch home (or wishes they did) — hikers, riders, runners, and explorers alike. Stick around, invite a friend, and help us grow this community from the ground up.

So grab your boots, your favorite mug, and a friend who loves a good trail day.

Trail of the Week

We sweated it so you don’t have to

Rob’s Olympic Moose Puddle Loop
Length: 6 miles | Elevation Gain: ~1,100 ft | Modes: Bike • Hike • Run
Trailhead: 2520 Bear Hollow Dr, Park City, UT 84098

For our first PC Active Insider issue, we’re starting with a quick loop you can bike, hike, or run. I most recently rode it, so that’s how it’s described here, but it’s a perfect run too! It’s easily accessible, features a mix of tough climbs with flowy descents, and has you back to your car in an hour-ish. Right now, this loop is a fall-color jackpot.

🚵 Segment 1: Rob’s Trail (2.1 mi uphill)
Start at the Bear Hollow trailhead (parking is tight, so overflow at the Park City Community Church). Rob’s eases you in with shaded switchbacks under pine and aspen. Around mile 2 you’ll spot a memorial stone bench for Sam Jackenthal. I like to pause here for views of Canyons Village framed by bright yellow hillsides.

🌄 Segment 2: Olympic Trail (1.2 mi)
Take a right onto Olympic, which rolls across the hillside with views all over. It’s short but scenic, climbing toward the saddle above Utah Olympic Park.

🔽 Segment 3: Moose Puddle (1.9 mi downhill)
Up next is a couple miles of downhill, flowy singletrack. Moose Puddle is a local favorite for a reason with wide turns and big views.

🛣️ Segment 4: Road Return (0.5 mi)
Spit out near Olympic Park, coast down Bear Hollow Drive, and you’re back at Rob’s trailhead in no time.

Why we love it:
It’s the perfect sampler platter with a steady climb, wide-open vistas, and a descent that rewards your effort. Bonus: this loop is at its absolute peak in early October, when the aspens are showing off. Refuel at Harvest Café after (see our “Fuel Stop” below 👀).

Gear Up

Stuff we’re sweating in

Smartwool Hiking Socks – Keeping Your Feet Happy on Every Trail
We are a little obsessed with these Smartwool socks. They’re made from the brand’s signature merino blend, with just the right amount of padding for hiking. Plus, they are supportive without feeling bulky.

If you’ve spent any time on Park City trails, you know mornings can be crisp and afternoons can feel like summer. These socks handle both like a champ: cozy when it’s cool, moisture-wicking when things heat up.

We also love the smooth toe seams (no more hot spots or blisters after a long climb) and the ankle cut. They’re tall enough to keep out dust and gravel, but still breezy and sporty. And honestly, they just look cute peeking out of trail runners.

👉 Buy Them on Amazon for $22

What We’re Eating

Harvest Café – Fueling Park City Locals This Fall

820 Park Avenue, Park City, UT 84060

Nothing hits quite like a solid post-ride, post-hike bite, especially when the leaves are glowing and the trails are still rideable. This month, we’re pointing you to Harvest Café, a cozy, health-forward hangout tucked right off Park Avenue that nails the balance between nourishing and indulgent.

Why It Hits Different in October

Harvest has the laid-back, bright-and-earthy vibe you want after a fall hike or chilly morning ride. The indoor-outdoor seating lets you soak in that last bit of sunshine, and the seasonal specials start leaning into comforting, hearty-but-clean flavors. It's the perfect breakfast spot with mountain-town energy.

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., it’s a prime destination after you’ve knocked out a loop on Armstrong or done an early Rob’s Trail leaf-peeping hike.

What to Order:

🥑 Harvest Stack
Sourdough toast, smashed avo, soft poached eggs, cherry tomatoes, feta, and greens. It’s the kind of fuel that sticks with you without slowing you down.

🍌 Banana Bread (gluten-free!)
Toasted, warm, and topped with espresso butter. Local legend status. Get it to-go if you’re too full…you’ll thank yourself at 3 p.m.

☕ Flat White or Golden Latte
Coffee game is strong, and if you’re not ready for a second caffeine hit, the turmeric latte is like a warm hug in a cup.

Taking You To the Trails

Fall in Park City is the place to be. The trails come alive with color. For hikers and bikers who want to skip the parking hassle, Utah Mountain Shuttle is making it easier than ever.

From now through October 31 (weather permitting), Utah Mountain Shuttle offers weekend shuttle rides from both Canyons Village and the Munchkin Lot directly to top trailheads:

🚐 Shuttle Stops:

🥾 Bonanza Flat Trailhead

🌲 Bloods Lake Trailhead

🌄 Guardsman Pass

Shuttles run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., just $10 per rider.

👉 Details and booking at utahmountainshuttle.com

Girls on the Run Utah

👧 For grades 3–8
🏃 Culminates in a celebratory 5K
💪 Builds confidence + resilience

How to Help:
📚 Start or support a team at your school
🙌 Volunteer at the Nov. 15 Fall 5K
💜 Coach, mentor, or event support