Biking Through Park City's History
Photography: Dan Campbell
To some bike riders, summer in Park City means rugged mountain biking on the area’s famous ski slopes. Those enthusiasts have guts, dexterity, and legs and arms of steel. I would not be one of those people. So I was thrilled to find the “Historic Sites” bike tour run by the folks at White Pine Touring. It’s the perfect way for recreational riders to experience the cool morning air or a fine afternoon in this high mountain town, all the while soaking in tales of its rollicking history as one of the West’s legendary silver mining towns. And, the tour runs mostly downhill.
The three-hour, paved-road adventure begins at the White Pine shop, where you’re outfitted with a sweet, seven-speed “Breezer” bicycle with a comfy seat and mercifully smooth suspension. (You are also welcome to bring your own bike.) You and your bike then take a van ride up to Deer Valley’s Silver Lake Village where your knowledgeable guide reveals the first tidbit of information about Park City’s silver mining legacy, which had its beginnings in the late 1860s. From there, your well-versed guide will lead you down winding roads and regale you with a series of intriguing stories—such as why “Mother Urban,” who ran the row of 16 small houses in the red light district, holds a special place in the town’s memory.
(Hint: it wasn’t just that her “girls” were so hot. It turns out she had the proverbial heart of gold when it came to funding the city in hard times.)
A brainchild of Park City’s Sally Elliott, now a Summit County commissioner, the Historic Sites bike tour was really an outgrowth of concern for preservation. “We have an authentic mining history in Park City, and people want to know about it,” she explained. When a significant old mine site was suddenly razed without notice or fanfare several years ago, Elliott and a group of concerned citizens and historians lobbied hard to put a stop to the destruction of important mining relics and raised $75,000 to put up historic markers throughout Park City. From that, the connection with bike riding and White Pine Touring seemed like a perfect fit.
Highlights of the Historic Sites tour include an overlook of the sprawling Ontario Mine, then an exhilarating, three-mile long whoosh down the curves of Royal Street. You’ll stop in the former red light district and then bump along old railroad tracks, into Old Town and the charming Washington School Inn for a cookie and water break. Along the way, you’ll learn that Park City was home to 200 mines with 1,200 miles of underground tunnels burrowed through the surrounding hills. Local miners churned out over $400 million in silver in the late 1800s — an astonishing amount, even today. The tour concludes with a spin through the town’s historic Park City cemetery, then it’s back to the bike shop. You’ll leave with gently stretched muscles and a wealth of stories to share.
The Historic Sites Bike Tour costs $40/per person, including the comfortable bike, water and transportation to starting point. Tours are arranged to accommodate morning or afternoon reservations. Call White Pine Touring, 1685 Bonanza Drive, 649.8710.
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