A continuous, non-motorized trail through the mountains that already connect us.
The Vision
Imagine a paved, non-motorized trail connecting Salt Lake City — Utah's vibrant capital — to Park City, home to some of the best mountain biking and trail networks in the country. Not just mountain biking. Hiking, trail running, dog walking, roller skiing in summer, classic and skate skiing in winter. One corridor connecting two of Utah's great communities, no car required.
Growing up, family trips to Colorado always meant time on the paved path that runs alongside I-70 near Vail — people biking, walking, and skating for miles, completely separated from highway traffic. I assumed a state with Utah's population and its outdoor culture would have built something like it along I-80 a long time ago. It hasn't.
Instead, cyclists ride the shoulder of I-80 through Parleys Canyon today, sucking in exhaust and fighting for their lives against 70-mph traffic. SUVs hauling bike racks crawl up and down the canyon every weekend, because the only way to get from where people live to where they want to play is still by car. For a state that prides itself on being a visionary leader in outdoor recreation, this is a strange, glaring oversight.
This isn't wishful thinking, either. Utah has already committed $95 million toward a statewide paved trail network. The city-side piece — Parley's Trail, from Sugar House to the mouth of Parleys Canyon — was finished in 2024. A feasibility study more than a decade ago even proposed a route through the canyon along the old US-40 roadbed. What's missing isn't feasibility. It's follow-through — about 6.5 miles of trail, across three segments.
A real trail changes that math. With Class II pedal-assist e-bikes now mainstream, this corridor wouldn't just serve the athletes who can already pedal 26 miles to ride 20 miles of world-class trail — it would work for regular people, tourists, families, and commuters. It would be just as valuable to someone walking their dog, going for a run, or pushing a stroller as it would to someone on a bike.
A sense of what's possible, once it's connected — concept sketches, not final designs.
We have a twice-in-a-generation opportunity, with the 2034 Winter Games on Utah's doorstep, to get this trail approved, funded, and built. Not just to move people safely between two mountain towns — but to show the world that Utah isn't a handful of disconnected city islands in a beautiful landscape. We're one community, physically and strategically connected by trails, and by a shared love of the outdoors.
Who's Behind This
I'm Alex Pacanowsky. I was born in Salt Lake City and have lived here with my family since 2008. I'm an engineer and general manager at a local manufacturing company, and I help coach the Judge Highland mountain bike team. Most of my weekends are spent on some combination of hiking with my dogs, Lily and Kona, cycling, mountain biking, or skiing in these same mountains.
I'm not doing this to build anything for myself — SLC to PC isn't a company, and I don't have a stake in it beyond wanting to ride my bike home from Park City someday without dodging traffic. I think this trail is overdue, and I think enough of us feel the same way that it's worth organizing around.
I'm also looking for a handful of serious volunteers — people who want to help with outreach, planning, design, or fundraising, not just add their name to a list. If that's you, say so when you sign up below. Have questions, or records from the original feasibility study? Email me directly at hello@slctopc.org.
The Ask
This isn't a petition to a specific agency — it's how we prove real demand exists. If 1,000 residents sign on, I'll take that as a clear signal and file the paperwork to make SLC to PC an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit. I'm also compiling the corridor's planning history into one place, and I'll send it to everyone on this list as soon as it's ready. I'll only email you about real progress.