A visit to Park City, Utah is often filled with fun with family and friends, shopping in the unique area boutiques, browsing the diverse art galleries lining Main Street, and dining in multiple award winning restaurants. However, when you finally take a break from all of the action and look around, you realize that amidst all of the luxurious accommodations and amenities, you are, in fact, surrounded by amazing Utah wilderness! Take a hike on one of the many well marked local area trails, and you’ll be sure to run in to one or more of Park City’s wild residents!
Sandhill Cranes – A Sign Warmer Weather Is On The Way!
Locals know spring has come to the mountains when they hear the loud calls of the Sandhill Crane! If these birds look a little prehistoric, it’s because they are! The Sandhills date back over 6 million years, and are the oldest living bird species around. Although once listed as an endangered species due to loss of habitat, the big birds are making a healthy comeback. A great place to visit with the Sandhill Crane is at Swaner Nature Preserve, located in Kimball Junction. Swaner offers over 1,200 acres of stunning open space, right in the middle of bustling Kimball Junction. Swaner offers a variety of family activities, as well as fantastic themed nature hikes. Enjoy taking in the endless wetland views while gazing at wildflowers, mountain vistas, and if your lucky, you’ll have a chance to visit with one of the preserves prehistoric residents – the Sandhill Crane! Visit www.swanerecocenter.org for a calendar of events.
Moose On The Loose in Park City
Another popular Park City regular is spectacular in size! Lucky locals and visitors will often get a chance to see Moose out and about on both the mountainsides, and surprisingly, sometimes right on Main Street! These large, lumbering animals enjoy life in the Wasatch Mountains and are often seen while hiking around Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort. During the spring time, wildlife ventures down in to town after a cold winter to look for food. There have been many sightings this spring; recently a cow and her two calves were spotted heading up a hillside in Old Town, close to the intersection of Main Street and Daly Avenue. Another moose was seen just off of busy Kearns Boulevard. We all love seeing these beautiful animals and having them as a part of our Park City Community!
While you’re visiting Park City, why not stay where you can easily access great outdoor activities and have a fair chance of viewing some of the area wildlife? The Deer Valley Penthouse property located in Arrowleaf in the Village of Empire Pass is an amazing spot! This luxury Penthouse condo has a spectacular location right in the heart of Deer Valley’s newest community. Enjoy cooking in the well-appointed kitchen, or perhaps bring in a private Chef so you can kick back and enjoy being pampered for the evening. The great room is the perfect place for entertaining and enjoying a family movie night, and, to top it off, it opens up on to an fabulous ski slope view deck, a great spot for viewing any surrounding wildlife! Other features you’ll enjoy include a fire pit, two large hot tubs, and and a well-appointed office area, just in case you feel a need to get a little work done. Good luck spotting those Moose!
Beautiful Accommodations Abound at the Penthouse!
About Jim Bizily
I am an outdoor enthusiast, parent of two awesome boys, and Property Manager in beautiful Park City, Utah. After years in engineering and entrepreneurial projects, I decided to move to Park City Utah to start a business managing lodging and vacation rentals.
