You wake up in the morning with the window left open a mere crack, and the air is a crisp 55°F. The sun is spilling in, reflecting red, orange and purple hues in the bedroom mirror. Everything outside is quiet, calm and peaceful. The mountains add an element of excitement and beauty as you think about your day.
You’ll start with breakfast and coffee, locally sourced, before going on a morning hike or bike on the hundreds of miles of area trails. Next, it’s an afternoon walking the historic streets of town and shopping local before hitting dinner overlooking stellar scenery. Oh, you thought this was in Park City? No, it’s in Heber City.
Located just a 15-minute drive away from Park City proper and a 45-minute drive from the Salt Lake City International Airport, Heber City hums with activity during fair-weather months.
“Summer weekends are the busiest time of year for us,” says Jessica Turner, public relations manager for Visit Heber Valley. “While Park City is super busy in the winter and summer has filled in, summer has always been our busiest time of the year. We see lots of visitation from Wasatch Front residents. Key holidays [Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day] play a role for folks flying in or on a longer road trip looking for a stop.”
Heber City was founded in 1859 by Latter-day Saint converts from Great Britain as the town of London, before they renamed the community in 1862 in honor of their mission leader, Heber C. Kimball. Heber City was incorporated as a town in 1889. With just under 9 square miles of space and more than 400 miles of trails and parks that stretch into the Heber Valley, the community is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
“It’s a relatively short drive time [from the Wasatch Front] for many outdoor recreation areas, such as Deer Creek and the Jordanelle Reservoir, that are popular,” she says. “We’re happy that recently the Wasatch Trails Foundation and other entities partnered together to do trail work and [build] connectivity throughout the valley. Some of these connector trails — namely the Bonanza Loop Trail at the top of the Wow Trail — are having a big debut season.”
For the perfect day, you’ll want to start off with a cup of joe and a quick breakfast at The Bagel Den. Local to Utah, you can get fresh and authentic New York taste in the mountains. Load up on protein with a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, or lean into the weather and try a seasonal cream cheese.
Once you’re caffeinated and filled up for the morning, take advantage of the numerous state parks in the area. Explore Wasatch Mountain State Park, Jordanelle State Park or Deer Creek State Park … all just a short drive in the area.
Shop at Redmond Farm Store to stock up on farm fresh and real food to take home and keep your fridge full. They’re known for their raw milk, eggs, pasture-fed beef and pork, and more. Also give Heber City-based Redmond Life’s Re-Lyte Hydration Electrolyte Powder a try. The community is becoming an increasingly popular place to locate a wide range of other businesses, such as Eastern Outer that sells sunglasses and goggles online and Sport Kilt that makes kilts for men, women and children.
If you’re looking for physical shopping, don’t miss local boutiques like Herlove Bespoke Jewelry and Curio Collective downtown as both are owned by Utah natives, adding to the charm of the city. Go a bit past Main Street and you’ll see Water from the Moon, a local gift shop, and Ghost Flower Beauty that crafts holistic self-care products and gifts.
For an overnight getaway, The Slope, a new alpine mountain village anchored by Andaz Heber Valley, is slated to open in 2027 and feature an 85-key resort and 200 hotel-branded residences. Located alongside the Provo River, The Slope also will feature a year-round tubing hill, wellness facilities, an elevated pool deck, restaurants and shops.
“Heber City is evolving quickly, and people are starting to take notice,” says Garrett Spruth, a local resident and real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “But what makes Heber City truly remarkable is that, even as it grows, it hasn’t lost its soul. Between local viewing points like Deer Creek Reservoir and Mount Timpanogos, experiences like cold plunging in the Provo River and driving to town for breakfast, you get the perfect balance between quiet, grounded living and proximity to world-class energy.”
After a day out in the sun biking, running and hiking, refuel at Back 40 Ranch House Grill. With the option to sit outside and watch the sun set, the end of your perfect day in Heber City couldn’t be any better. Whether you just took part in one of the numerous events on the calendar or spent the day sightseeing, you’re now part of something special in the state of Utah.
Turner notes, “The city is easy to get to and easy to explore. We welcome any and everybody and make a point to think through how to make things accessible to all.”
Summer Event Highlights
Thursday Heber Market on Main
Starting the first Thursday in June and running weekly until mid-August, stop by Main Street to enjoy food trucks, local vendors and live music. There is no cost to enter, and the market runs from 5 to 9 p.m.
Red, White and Blue Festival
This growing July 4 event, originally created by locals for locals, now attracts out-of-area visitation and has 5K and 10K running races, a parade, concert, fireworks and various other festivities. Wear your red, white and blue.
Fair Days
The demolition derby (July 23-25), one of the largest derbies in the western U.S., bookends Wasatch County Fair along with Rodeo Heber (July 30-August 1). Wasatch County Fair runs from July 23-August 1, and includes a parade, livestock shows, fair exhibits and additional family-friendly activities. It is recommended to get tickets in advance for events.
Concert Series
There’s no better way to spend a summer evening in Heber City than at the Saturday Sunset Music Series. Every Saturday from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Main Street Park comes alive with music, good food and a relaxed vibe.
