Visiting Utah Olympic Park
Utah Olympic Park was one of the host venues of the Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City. It will be another venue for the upcoming 2034 Winter Olympics, the second time it will be held in Salt Lake City. Here’s what you can do in Utah Olympic Park to try to be an athlete for a day, or just be an athlete spectator!
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Did you know you can bobsled the original bobsledding track used in the Winter Olympics at Utah Olympic Park? There are two ways you can bobsled: one during the winter season which costs $225 per person, and one during the summer, which is $100 per person. You get to ride a bobsled with a qualified driver on both experiences, except in the winter, you’re riding a winter bobsled, skis and all, and in the summer, it’s wheel-driven. During the winter bobsled experience, you will go through the twists and turns of the track in around 30 seconds. Yes, that’s quick.
I had a chance to try the winter bobsled experience, and if you have the budget and means to do so, sign up for it. You’ll get free entry to the two museums included in your fee and a discounted second bobsled ride. You’ll also get a video of your bobsled emailed to you!
Wear clothing you’re comfortable in. This means light jackets, pants, and shoes with traction. Head socks and helmets will be provided at the venue, and they will be included with the price of the experience.
You will get ushered into a room where you will be briefed on the track and how to hold on to the bobsled. They will then put the helmet on and check the fit. Then you’ll be introduced to your driver and a small question and answer.
They will also tell you which group you’re in and asked to fill out the form for the video to be emailed.
Your group and driver will be asked to board the truck that will take everyone and the bobsled up the starting part of the race. The staff then took the bobsled out of the truck and set it up.
Your group of 2 or 3 will then be asked to sit behind the driver. The lightest person goes first, while the biggest person goes in the back of the bobsled. You won’t need to push the bobsled down, the staff will do it for you.
You’ll then hear the starting clock start as soon as your bobsled gets pushed down the track. And enjoy!
I fell in love with bobsledding. If you are a thrill seeker and love to try crazy things, bobsled! It is such an adrenaline rush no rollercoaster can replicate.
We were lucky to have a tour of the Nordic Ski Jump during our visit. There was still snow on the jump, and from the top, it looked insanely steep and scary.
Our guide said it’s not as scary as it looks when you’re doing the jump. From our angle, it looks steeper than it is, but it is also a daredevil sport. Young athletes use these facilities to train for the Nordic Ski Jump in various competitions, and you can watch them train if you’re lucky.
You too can partake in a tour of Utah Olympic Park. You can head on to the website to book a tour. They’re $20 per person and last for an hour.
You can tube down the Nordic Ski Jump track during the summers. For the first run, you’re only allowed to tube the smaller run, and for your second and consequent jump, you can start from the top. The tubing experience is part of the Summer Golden Pass, which means you’ll get unlimited tubing access for the morning or afternoon that you booked the pass for.
The summer golden pass is a 3.5-hour pass that allows you access to the tubing, zip line, airbag jumps, ski lifts, and a few other experiences in the Olympic Park. These passes are limited to 275 daily, so if you know the dates you’re visiting, best to book them online in advance.
Did you know you can watch winter athletes train in the summer at Olympic Park? The facility is not just used for the Winter Olympics, these athletes also compete in World Tournaments so they’ll need to practice.
Watching athletes train in the Nordic Jumps is one of the most popular things people do at Utah Olympic Park in the summer. You’ll see spectators all around as you push off – talk about pressure!
There are two museums located by the visitor entrance to Utah Olympic Park. The museums are located in the same building that you’ll purchase experiences for, be it the gold ticket or a bobsled ride.
The museums are free of charge! The first museum is the Alf Engen Ski Museum, and the second museum is the 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum. They’re located on the left or the right side of the first floor, with a few exhibits on the second floor. Each museum has rotating exhibits, as well as permanent exhibits.
It’s free if you just want to walk around and see the museum. Additional charges apply for the experiences, which vary between summer and winter.
Yes! There are multiple pathways you can take as you go from place to place at Utah Olympic Park. If you go in winter, the pathways are slippery, so best to wear shoes with good traction on them. When we visited in early April, there was still snow on the ground, and is still considered the ‘winter’ season. The park does close during shoulder season (mid-April to May) so check the dates before visiting.
Who knew that you could visit an Olympic Venue that’s so close to Salt Lake City? It’s a perfect day out for the Winter Olympic enthusiasts or a great place to spend a day in the summer. The site is very popular and can get fully booked, especially in the summer months. Come visit before the 2034 Winter Olympics, and see the site for yourself.
Thank you to Visit Park City and WITS for hosting me on this trip!
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