A short, well-graded hike to a ridge with a view, a memorial bench worth knowing about, and one of the easier winter snowshoe routes around Park City — once you know where to park.
If you've got two or three hours and you want a real hike — climbing, a view, a destination — Rob's is the one we'd send you to first. It's the kind of trail locals don't really think of as a trail. It's just where you go when you want to be outside without making it a whole production.
The climb is gradual. North-facing, so the lower part stays shaded through July and August. The grade is friendly the whole way up. No scrambling, no exposure, no route-finding. Then you crest the ridge and the Snyderville Basin opens up below you, with the Canyons ski runs on the other side.
There's a stone bench at the top with a story we'll get to.
The trailhead is on Bear Hollow Drive, just off Highway 224 on the northwest edge of Park City near the Utah Olympic Park. From Main Street, head north on Park Avenue, merge onto UT-224 north, and drive about two miles. Turn left on Bear Hollow Drive. The lot is on the left about a mile and a half in.
A few practical things to know before you go:
From the parking area, the trail starts winding up through aspens and pines on the north-facing side of the hill. Because of the aspect, you stay shaded most of the day — a real gift in July and August when the rest of Park City is baking.
About a mile and a half up, Colin's Trail comes in from the south. Stay on Rob's. Shortly after, you'll hit the Ambush/Rosebud junction, where the trail's bike rules change. From this point up, mountain bikes are uphill-only. If you're hiking, this is useful to know — the bikes you'll see above this junction are climbing, not bombing down.
The trail keeps gaining the ridge gradually through a mix of aspens and pines. Then you crest it, and the view opens up.
The bench at the top is a memorial. Sam Jackenthal was a 16-year-old from Park City, a national junior ski champion, who died in 2015 after a training crash in Australia. His family installed the bench with help from Basin Recreation's trail crew. The stone weighs over 500 pounds — they moved it up in pieces.
It sits at one of the prettiest spots on the trail, looking out toward Murdock Peak and the Super Condor runs at The Canyons. There's usually a few small mementos around it — wind chimes, notes, things people have left.
The quote on the bench: "There are only two things in life we can control, our attitude and our activity." Sam's words.
His family went on to start the Live Like Sam Foundation, a Park City nonprofit doing youth mental health and community development work. Park City Mountain painted five terrain park rails blue with Sam's gold handprint and the slogan "I Ride For Sam" — you've probably seen them if you ski there.
The bench is a place locals stop at. Sit for a minute. It's earned its place on this trail, and the trail is better for having it.
Rob's doesn't end here. The ridge is a multi-trail intersection, and this is where the trail gets interesting if you've got the legs and the time:
This connectivity is part of why locals love Rob's. It's a short hike with a real view and a doorway into the whole northern Park City trail system.
Early summer (June): the lot reopens after winter closure, wildflowers are starting, aspens are leafing in. Some mud and ice on the upper trail through mid-June.
Peak summer (July through August): the trail's busiest. The shaded lower section is a real advantage on 90-degree afternoons. Go early — by 9 a.m. on weekends the lot is full. Watch for afternoon thunderstorms above the ridge.
Fall (September through mid-October): this is when Rob's does what Rob's does best. The aspens turn gold and orange, the contrast against the deep Utah blue is the kind of thing people drive across the country for. Peak color usually lands in the last week of September through the first two weeks of October. Sam's Bench in October, with golden aspens framing the view — it's the photo.
Late fall (late October): still open but conditions get unreliable. Mud after rain, frost in the mornings, possible early snow on the ridge.
Winter (December through March): the trail is open and the snowshoeing is some of the best around Park City. See below.
Shoulder seasons (November, April, mid-May): the worst time for Rob's. Too muddy for boots, not enough snow for snowshoes, and trail surface damage is a real concern. Wait it out.
The local secret most visitors miss: Rob's is one of the best snowshoe routes in Park City, and the "closure" you'll see on AllTrails applies to the parking lot, not the trail itself.
The Bear Hollow lot is closed roughly November 1 through May 15 due to private property issues. Vehicles parked there during the closure are towed. But the trail itself stays open year-round if you park elsewhere and walk in.
Where to park in winter: locals park at Park City Community Church and walk up Colin's Trail to connect to Rob's. The church isn't formally designated trail parking — it's a local norm. Be respectful: don't block anything, don't park during church events, and don't make a mess. If everyone shows up because of this article, the option goes away.
What it's like: Rob's is a high-traffic winter route, so the trail is almost always packed down by other snowshoers. You're not breaking trail. This is comfortable, accessible snowshoeing — not a backcountry workout. Less crowded than summer, but you'll see other people.
What to bring:
Winter conditions: Utah's snowpack varies year to year and conditions in the Wasatch can shift quickly. Before any winter hike, check current trail and snow conditions. The Utah Avalanche Center publishes daily forecasts for the area.
A few practical winter notes: days are short — start before noon to be comfortably back before dark. Cell signal is unreliable on the back side of the ridge; tell someone where you're going. And conditions can change overnight after a storm; what was packed yesterday may be a foot of fresh today.
Moose live in this drainage. Give them at least 50 feet, more if you can. They're not aggressive by default, but cows with calves will charge if cornered. If you see one on the trail, wait or back away calmly.
Stop at Hugo Coffee on your way back toward I-80 — it's at the Park City Visitor Center at Kimball Junction, a few minutes from the Bear Hollow trailhead. It's a woman-owned roaster that's openly dog-friendly and puts proceeds toward animal rescue, which makes it a fitting last stop after a trail you probably just hiked with your dog.
If you want a local guide to take you out — to Rob's or any other Park City trail — that's what we do. We handle the logistics, the trailhead crowd, and the "is this the right trail for our group" question, and you just hike.
