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Destination: Utah’s Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park

By: Cindy Barks
July 22, 2025

Equestrians on the trail cross the Weber River near the small town of Wanship. Horseback riders are welcome on the trail. Photo by Cindy Barks.

Starting in the Utah mountain community of Park City, the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail stretches for 28 miles to the northeast through the historic towns of Wanship and Coalville and ends at the Echo State Park. Along the way, it descends from an elevation of about 6,500 in Park City to 5,500 feet at Echo State Park, and transitions from alpine terrain, through the Silver Creek Canyon and into the rolling farmland and high-desert terrain along I-80.

Read more about Utah’s Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park in our Trail of the Month article.

Walkers on Utah's Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park in Coalville | Photo by Cindy Barks

Utah’s Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park: May 2025 Trail of the Month

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On its northern end, the trail terminates at Echo State Park, where it runs along the shores of Echo Reservoir. Photo by Cindy Barks.

Members of a bachelorette party from Salt Lake City walk along a section of the trail that passes by Echo Reservoir in Echo State Park. Photo by Cindy Barks.

The northern end of the trail passes through an underpass at the entrance to Echo State Park. Photo by Cindy Barks.

The trail provides access to many scenic areas of Summit County in northeastern Utah. Photo by Cindy Barks.

Utah’s Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail runs for about 28 miles from Park City to Echo State Park, including this section through the Coalville area. Photo by Cindy Barks.

Signage along the trail in Coalville tells the story of the coal mining that took place beginning in the late 1860s along this former railroad route. Photo by Cindy Barks.

For several miles, the trail follows the Weber River, an area frequented by fly fishermen and birders. Cutthroat trout can be found in the river, and mule deer and bald eagles may be seen among the cottonwoods. Photo by Cindy Barks.

Equestrians on the trail cross the Weber River near the small town of Wanship. Horseback riders are welcome on the trail. Photo by Cindy Barks.

Wanship’s trailhead offers a large parking lot and bathroom facilities. Other trailheads are located in Park City, Coalville and at Echo State Park. Photo by Cindy Barks.

While much of the trail is surfaced with gravel, some sections are paved, including a short stretch through Wanship. The other paved sections are in Park City and Coalville. Photo by Cindy Barks.

The southern end of the trail is anchored by Park City, the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics and the host of the Sundance Film Festival for decades. Photo by Cindy Barks.

In Park City, the trail follows a portion of Poison Creek and offers access to residential and commercial areas. Photo by Cindy Barks.

Colorful murals adorn the walls of pedestrian tunnels all along the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail’s route through Park City. Photo by Cindy Barks.

A cyclist rides a paved section of the connecting Poison Creek Trail that runs through Park City’s Main Street area. Photo by Cindy Barks.

Along with providing a link to the Poison Creek Trail, which runs through Park City’s historic downtown, the rail-trail provides access to the Round Valley area north of the city. Photo by Cindy Barks.

Historic Downtown Park City is accessible via the city’s trail system, which includes the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail and the Poison Creek Trail. Photo by Cindy Barks.

The Park City Railroad Depot, built in 1886, currently houses the Le Depot Brasserie. The building, which served as a transportation hub during Park City’s mining boom, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo by Cindy Barks.

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States: Utah