Your Guide to Adaptive Adventures in Park City, Utah

Park City sits at 7,000 feet in the Wasatch Mountains, about 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. Surrounded by two world-class ski resorts and hundreds of miles of mountain bike trails, it's a town made for outdoor adventure.

But is it accessible? Yes it is. It's one of the best adaptive adventure places in the U.S., thanks to The National Ability Center. They operate out of two locations here and runs over 20 types of programs year-round. The McGrath Mountain Center serves as the hub for adaptive ski, snowboard, and mountain bike programs on the mountain. Deer Valley added its own adaptive ski school. Inspired Summit Adventures runs backcountry yurt trips. Overall, it's a concentration of adaptive programming that's hard to find in one place anywhere in the country.

Everything in this guide has been physically visited and measured by trained mappers. That means real door widths, real turning space dimensions, real bathroom information. The kind of details that matter for a peace-of-mind visit.

Now with all of that out of the way, lets get into the fun part!

Adaptive adventures with the National Ability Center

The National Ability Center (NAC) runs over 20 types of adaptive programs in Park City. So when you visit, NAC is your best friend for local adventures.

Here are some examples of some adaptive experiences you have access to:

• Adaptive skiing and snowboarding
• Adaptive mountain biking
• Archery
• Rock climbing and high ropes
• Equestrian and hippotherapy
• Water skiing, wake surfing, and wakeboarding
• Kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding
• Summer camps for youth and adults
• Pickleball

Programs run year-round across two Park City locations:

1. The Ranch, which is the main campus with equestrian, archery, climbing, and summer programming
2. McGrath Mountain Center at Park City Mountain, which for snow sports and mountain biking. Staff will help you figure out what works for your specific needs and what equipment is available. You can register for their programs on their official website.

Now, lets get into what each location looks like on the ground.

Ski or snowboard the mountain — NAC McGrath Mountain Center at Park City Mountain

In winter, the McGrath Mountain Center is where adaptive ski and snowboard lessons happen. The building opened in October 2023 after a decade of planning, and it's very impressive: heated indoor space to get fitted for a sit-ski or mono-ski, a locker room, a quiet room for anyone who needs a lower-sensory break, and ski-in/ski-out access. The NAC's high-performance alpine team trains here too, alongside first-timers. Park City Mountain is the largest ski resort in the US, so the terrain options are wide.

Accessibility of the NAC McGrath Mountain Center: Ground-level entry with accessible paths and a gentle slope throughout the outdoor area. The lobby rolls straight in with no door. Both standing and seated front desk options at check-in. Elevator serving multiple floors at 77 inches wide and 52 inches deep, Braille and raised number buttons at the right height. A dedicated quiet room and athlete locker room, both step-free. Private accessible bathroom with a 34-inch door, grab bars, and an 18-inch toilet. Staff have experience with physical, visual, hearing, and cognitive disabilities, with ASL-capable staff on site. Eight designated accessible parking spaces.

Ski or snowboard at Deer Valley — Snow Park Lodge

Deer Valley runs its own adaptive ski school out of the Snow Park Lodge, and it's a different mountain experience from Park City Mountain. Deer Valley limits daily ticket sales, which is one of a few that do this in the U.S. The reason is that it keeps the mountain less crowded and the runs more manageable. They have excellent grooming and service, and that carries over to the adaptive program. The Snow Park Lodge is the base where ticket sales, rentals, the restaurant, and the adaptive school are all here.

Accessibility of Deer Valley Snow Park Lodge: Ground-level entry with accessible paths and a gentle slope of 2 out of 5 throughout. The Snowpark Restaurant has a 70-inch door, step-free seating, buffet counter at 34 inches, and tables at 28 inches with 27 inches of clearance. Elevator at 79 inches wide, 50 inches deep, Braille and raised number buttons. Accessible bathroom stall with a 34-inch door that opens outward, grab bars, and an 18-inch toilet. 25 designated accessible parking spaces. The Park City Transit bus that stops here accommodates two wheelchair users with tie-down straps and a ramp — so if you're not driving, this is actually a manageable option.

Ride adaptive mountain bikes — Round Valley trails

The NAC runs adaptive mountain biking out of their Ranch campus at Quinn's Junction, with the Round Valley trail system right at their back door. The Porc-U-Climb to Downward Dog loop is where most NAC programs start. The trails were purpose-built for adaptive riders in partnership with the Mountain Trails Foundation, wide enough for three and four-wheel adaptive cycles, with smooth surfaces and mellow grades. NAC staff use this loop almost daily in summer. The goal is to get anyone on a mountain bike regardless of ability, first fitting you to the right equipment, then building from dirt roads to double track to single track depending on what works for you. For more advanced riders, the Seldom Seen trail on Park City Mountain was also built wide and smooth specifically with adaptive bikes in mind.

Accessibility of the Porcuclimb to Down Dog Loop trailhead: Ground-level entry with accessible paths throughout. The trail itself has a slope rated 3 out of 5 in sections and some passages narrower than standard wheelchair width — this is real trail riding with adaptive equipment, not a paved path. The NAC provides the right gear and guides the experience. 14 designated accessible parking spaces in the shared lot near the Park City Ice Arena.

Get on the water — Jordanelle Reservoir

The NAC is one of a very small number of adaptive programs in the country that runs various paddle sports. In summer they operate out of Jordanelle Reservoir, about 15 minutes from Park City, running kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, water skiing, wake surfing, and wakeboarding. If you've ever wanted to get behind a boat and haven't been able to, this is the place to do it. Contact the NAC directly to talk through what's available when you're visiting and what the right entry point is for your needs.

Ride horses or shoot archery — The NAC Ranch

The NAC Ranch is the main campus in Park City at Quinn's Junction, and it's where equestrian, archery, rock climbing, high ropes, and most non-snow programming lives. The building, called The Hub, is the central gathering point, with an indoor climbing wall, pickleball courts, and program check-in. The equestrian center is on the same campus. In winter the Ranch runs Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and fat tire biking on the Round Valley trails that back right up to the property. Year-round there's always something running here.

Get into the backcountry with Inspired Summit Adventures

Inspired Summit Adventures is a Park City-based guide company that runs backcountry skiing, splitboarding, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and yurt trips in the Uinta Mountains about an hour from town. If the NAC is the on-ramp to adaptive outdoor recreation, Inspired Summit is for people who want to go further, literally off the grid into terrain that most visitors never see.

Their signature offering right now is the Western Uinta Hut System, Utah's first four-season backcountry hut network. It currently has two yurts: Castle Peak, which sits at 9,800 feet and is a classic backcountry experience, and Smith and Morehouse, at 7,600 feet near the reservoir of the same name, which was specifically designed as the more adaptive option in the system with road access and proximity to the water. In winter, guides snowmobile your gear in while you ski. In summer, the area opens up for hiking, paddleboarding on the reservoir, fishing, and mountain biking. Each yurt sleeps up to 10, has a wood-burning stove, a full kitchen setup, and a guide and chef if you book the catered experience.

Accessibility of the Smith and Morehouse Yurt: The yurt itself has a 33-inch door with a lever handle, 60-plus inches of turning space inside, and smooth hardwood and thin carpet flooring. The surrounding outdoor area has a slope grade of 2 out of 5 (meaning it is not steep) and is wide enough for a wheelchair user to move around. Staff hold first aid, CPR, and advanced wilderness survival certifications and have experience with physical disabilities. The caveat: the outhouse has four steps with no handrails, and the accessible adventure tour area has some passages narrower than 32 inches. This is backcountry, not a developed facility. So just make sure to contact them directly before booking to talk through your specific needs. They're the kind of operation that will problem-solve with you.

More accessible things to do

Watch Olympic athletes train — Utah Olympic Park

Utah Olympic Park was built for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and still runs as an active training facility. During training sessions you can watch US athletes work on ski jumping, bobsled, skeleton, luge, and freestyle skiing from accessible viewing areas at no charge. The Alf Engen Ski Museum inside covers Utah ski history and the Olympic legacy.

Accessibility of Utah Olympic Park: The approach involves a ramp with handrails on a moderate slope rated 3 out of 5, worth knowing about if you use a manual chair. The outdoor area has accessible paths and a gentle slope of 2 out of 5. All museum exhibits are viewable from a wheelchair with designated accessible seating nearby. The elevator is 81 inches wide and 56 inches deep, with Braille and raised number buttons at the right height. The accessible bathroom stall has a 33-inch door that opens outward, grab bars, and an 18-inch toilet. There are 7 designated accessible parking spaces near the entrance.

Skate on an Olympic-size rink — Park City Ice Arena

The Park City Ice Arena has public skating, hockey leagues, and a sit-sled option for skaters with mobility disabilities — you're in a sled frame that moves across the ice rather than on blades. It's a full Olympic-size sheet, and the sit-sled program means you don't have to watch from the stands.

Accessibility of Park City Ice Arena: Rinkside seating is step-free with a 70-inch door and 60-plus inches of turning space. The locker rooms have a roll-in shower with a flat entrance at 35 inches wide, a fixed shower seat, grab bars, and a handheld showerhead. The elevator is 67 inches wide, which is just under the standard recommendation — so measure against your chair if width is a concern before you go. The accessible bathroom stall has a 33-inch door, grab bars, and an 18-inch toilet. There are 5 designated accessible parking spaces near the entrance.

Where to stay

Sometimes you never know what accessibility will be like when booking a hotel. The two hotels below were physically visited and measured, so you know the important details to make a decision whether it will work for you. Overall, Wheel the World mapped five hotels, so you can view all of them here with all the accessibility details you need.

Stein Eriksen Lodge — Deer Valley

Stein Eriksen Lodge sits mid-mountain at Deer Valley and has been the benchmark for ski hotel luxury in the US for over a decade. It was named World's Best Ski Hotel at the 2025 World Ski Awards, which was the second time it's received that honor. You have ski-in/ski-out access, a full spa, two outdoor pools with lifts, and onsite dining. It's not the cheapest one you'll ever book, but it has everything you want.

Pendry Park City — Canyons Village

Pendry is the newer luxury option, slopeside at Canyons Village with direct access to the Sunrise Gondola. The design is modern and mountain-influenced, a less traditional lodge and more California-meets-Utah. It has four on-site restaurants, a rooftop pool, and a full spa.

Where to eat and drink

But wait, there's more. There's also a total of eight restaurants mapped in Park City, so you have access to accessibility info for some of the area's best spots to eat. Click each listing to see bathroom details, table heights and clearance, entrance info, and more.

• Lucky Ones Coffee — A coffee shop inside the Park City Library that employs and empowers people with disabilities. Great coffee, great cause, and a patio with views of the dog park. Open daily until 3pm.
• Five5eeds — An Australian-owned breakfast and lunch spot that locals are fiercely loyal to. The pulled pork benedict and hotcakes are the move. Be prepared to wait on weekends — it's worth it.
• Matilda — The dinner sister restaurant to Five5eeds, right next door. Wood-fired pizza, a solid wine list, and a laid-back vibe that works for a Tuesday night or a weekend date.
• LOMA — Italian and Mediterranean on Lower Main Street. Housemade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and seasonal dishes from the team behind Twisted Fern. Dinner nightly, brunch on weekends.
• Squatters Brew Pub Top of Main — Award-winning craft beer at the top of Historic Main Street. Burgers, fish and chips, and pub classics alongside weekend brunch. A Park City institution.
• Alpine Distilling — A craft distillery pouring their own whiskey, gin, vodka, and liqueurs. More cocktail bar than restaurant, with tastings available and a laid-back lounge vibe.
• Sammy's Bistro — A locally owned neighborhood spot featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Gourmet food at locals' prices — the Chivito Club Sandwich and Mahi Mahi Tacos are the ones to get.

Ready for an adventure?

Park City is in a location that makes it impossible to not be adventurous and out in nature. They have so much variety, too, so it doesn't matter when you visit. You'll always have something to do.

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