Utah is one of the nation’s most unique states. Every inch of the state is filled with gorgeous natural beauty, unexpected wonders, and a wide range of landscapes that range from Martian-like red rock to green, alpine forests and beautiful mountain lakes and streams of Heber Valley.
Like many states, Utah also has distinct seasons—and this can often result in long, cold winters filled with snow. So how do you stay active and enjoy the beauty the state has to offer even during the winter months?
Good news—there are nearly as many excellent things to do in Utah in winter as the rest of the year. You just have to know where to look. That’s why we’ve put together this guide of the 15 best winter activities to enjoy in Utah. They range from the adventurous and outdoorsy to the more escapist opportunities that will let you forget that it’s winter at all.
So without further ado, here are 15 of the best things to do in Utah in winter.
Explore the Ice Castles of Midway
Tucked into the country atmosphere of a town called Midway is a fun activity that appears each winter out of thin air—or, we should say, out of thin ice. The Midway Ice Castles are sculpted entirely from ice and span several acres of space, enough to pack in tunnels, ice slides, and magical spaces that kids and adults alike are sure to love. The ice castles have been a Midway tradition for years, but when they open varies each year depending on the weather. It’s no surprise, considering they have to have cold weather long enough and consistent enough to keep the ice castles standing.
You’ll also enjoy hot chocolate and other sweets to help you warm-up while you explore the castles, including a hot cocoa stand inside the ice castles themselves. Whether you’re looking for an excellent date night, a fun event with the family, or just a way to see the cold of winter in a more beautiful light, the ice castles of Midway are a great place to start. You can even explore the Homestead Crater in Midway while you're there.
To learn more about Midway, check out this site: https://utah.com/midway-ice-castles
Go Dog Sledding in Park City
Have you ever seen videos of traditional dog sledding and imagined what it would be like to stand at one of these sleds, pulled by a dedicated and strong team of snow dogs as you whip through the frozen wilderness?
Park City, the beautiful ski town that’s famous for the annual Sundance Film Festival, has tons of attractions that bring in thousands of visitors in the wintertime. But one of their most beloved is the opportunity to go dog sledding through snowy meadows. It’s no Iditarod sled race, but it will give you or your family members the opportunity to do something few ever do in their lifetime.
Rides are technically available year-round, and tickets are generally around $400. Excursions can be booked for as little as 25 minutes or as long as an hour. Are you ready to discover if you have what it takes to win a dog sled race? Park City, Utah is the place to show your stuff—and meet some adorable pups in the process. That makes this one of the best things to do in Utah in winter.
To find out more: https://www.visitparkcity.com/things-to-do/sports-outdoors/dogsledding/
Take a Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride through Deer Valley Resort
Want to get into the quaint and traditional Christmas spirit? Why not do it at the beautiful Boulder Mountain Ranch in Deer Valley Resort? Not only is this a gorgeous place to stay and get shelter from the snow and cold, but it also offers a range of activities you and the whole family will love.
Our personal favorite? The horse-drawn sleigh rides that begin at Boulder Mountain Ranch and take you through absolutely breathtaking alpine landscapes flecked with frost and snow.
Available each night and lasting approximately 45 minutes, these rides let you and your group get comfortable, warm, and snug, and then simply sit back and enjoy the experiencing of traveling the way people would have done over two centuries ago.
Sleigh rides are available throughout the winter season, but we recommend taking one around the holidays so that you can really get into the spirit. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped straight into A Christmas Carol in no time.
More information can be found at the Boulder Mountain Ranch website: http://www.bouldermountainranch.com/sleighrides.html
Try Extreme Tubing at Soldier Hollow
Looking for some more extreme things to do in Utah in winter? Perhaps a pleasant sleigh ride pulled along at a leisurely pace by a pair of friendly horses isn’t quite intense enough for your tastes. Don’t worry, we have you covered. If you like your winter activities fast-paced and thrilling, then you’ll want to pay a visit to lovely Soldier Hollow.
At Soldier Hollow, you’ll have the opportunity to hop on a rented inner tube and slide down a hill as many times as you’d like. Doesn’t sound extreme enough? How about the fact that the ‘hill’ is actually a 1,200-foot sliding lane that’s packed tightly with snow and lets you hit incredible top speeds on your way down the mountain?
Soldier Hollow also offers smaller hills for young ones and is available from December 21 to January 2. Two-hour sessions can be purchased for $26 for adults and $24 for children, with kids aged 3-5 receiving a discount at just $13 per session.
Take a Snow Biking Ride in Park City
Bicycle riding might be considered by many to be a summer activity, but it's also one of the best things to do in Utah in winter, too.
In Park City during the wintertime, you can rent yourself a fat-tire snow bike and head out on the snow for an adventure unlike any other. These super-charged bikes feature large, thick rubber tires that allow you to plow over and through snow. If you’ve been missing the bike trails while your favorite bike gathers dust in the garage all winter waiting for the sun to return, this can be a great activity to get your fix in a way you never thought possible.
Park City features plenty of paths designed especially for winter mountain biking, and bike tours run at regular intervals throughout the year. So don’t waste another second—throw on a helmet, hit the trails, and show the ice and snow who’s boss.
Warm Up in Some Hot Springs
You don’t have to stay inside all winter just to try to stay warm. What if we told you that Utah’s natural landscape is filled with places where you can feel warm and toasty even during the coldest days of January and February?
It’s all thanks to natural hot springs, which can be found in multiple locations around the state. One of our favorites is found at Homestead Crater in Midway, which offers a beautiful mountain setting and steamy-warm springs. This is the perfect place to heat up after doing other winter activities, like enjoying the ice castles in Midway. Getting warm is one of our favorite things to do in Utah in winter.
Spot Celebrities at the Sundance Film Festival
Each year, Sundance Film Festival runs from January 18thto 28th. Despite its name, only a few of the activities take place at Robert Redford’s Sundance resort. The biggest premiers, events, and celebrity-spotting opportunities are at nearby Park City.
The film festival also features a great deal of other activities, like booths, exhibits, and the chance to brush shoulders with the celebrities and actors who flock to the festival every year. If you aren’t able to get tickets to a premier ahead of time, you can always try putting your name on the day-of list.
Wondering whether the festival is family-friendly? There are plenty of activities that kids will love, and you can even try getting the family into a fun premier. Just make sure you know about the movie you’ll be seeing—Sundance screens all kinds of films, from the family-friendly to the more adult-focused options.
If you’re a film buff or just want to get a chance to see some famous faces, Sundance Film Festival from January 18-28 is the place to be and one of the best things to do in Park City Utah in winter.
Visit Magnificent Southern Utah
When people think of Utah, they often imagine the alpine heights of mountains and hills in the northern end of the state. But one of its greatest attractions is its magnificent southern region, and many don’t know that winter is the absolute best time of year to enjoy it.
Why? Because during summer, this desert-like region can experience temperatures topping out at over 100 degrees. Meanwhile, major crowds can leave the main roads in national parks absolutely packed with cars.
But in winter, parks like Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Zion National Park as well as beautiful St. George are cooler and dramatically less crowded. You can sometimes even enjoy some of their most splendid beauty with hardly any crowds at all. They also can often feature a light dusting of snow, which makes the unique landscapes stand out with even more stark and beautiful contrast. Photography buffs know that wintertime also offers the clearest night skies, which is also perfect for stargazing.
See the Christmas Lights at Temple Square
If you want a break from the natural beauty and want to see some impressive person-made options on our list of the best things to do in Utah in winter, then it’s time to head to downtown Salt Lake City’s Temple Square. This historic segment of Salt Lake City is home to the Salt Lake Temple, a large religious building constructed decades ago by the pioneers who settled the area. Each year, the city decorates the temple and surrounding area with (literally) millions of lights, creating a dazzling spectacle that people come from around the state to see.
Hungry? Head across the street to City Creek Mall, a recently revamped shopping center that features an artificial creek constructed on the exact path that a real creek once flowed through the burgeoning town. It’s even stocked with fish! Here you’ll find plenty of high-end shopping options, plus a food court and restaurants for every taste and preference and the chance to go ice skating. While you're in the city, why not check out the excellent Hogle Zoo?
Bobsled Like an Olympian
In 2002, Salt Lake City and the surrounding region hosted the Winter Olympics. This involved the construction of bobsled, skeleton, and luge tracks that are still standing to this day. So what are all of those tracks used for now? Anyone can sign up for tickets to try out these tracks themselves.
Have you always wanted to see what it would be like to be on a bobsled team a-la Cool Runnings? Well get a group together and try it for yourself. It’s the perfect winter activity, available from November 25 all the way to April 2, making it one of the best things to do in Utah in winter and spring.
Try Ice Fishing on Bear Lake
If you love fishing, you don’t have to fret now that the summer season is over and the fish are all seemingly hidden beneath a thick layer of ice. You don’t even have to wade into an icy river. How about sitting atop a frozen lake and fishing through a hole in the ice?
You might have seen ice fishing in movies and cartoons and thought, “Do people really do that?” It turns out, they do—and it can be a fun and enjoyable way to catch some fish year-round. Bear Lake is a great spot to do it, as it freezes early in the season and is filled with highly catchable whitefish. Starting in January, those fish come closer to the shore where they make perfect ice fishing targets. Just remember that you’ll need appropriate ice fishing gear to do the job, as well as a valid fishing license, which can be purchased at many local spots throughout Utah.
Watch NBA Stars Take to the Court
Not all winter activities are specific to the cold. One of the best parts about the onset of the season is that the NBA season begins, which means that you can catch basketball superstars taking the court at downtown Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena, home of the Utah Jazz. The Jazz has recently been on an upswing, reaching the playoffs and attracting promising young talent. Meanwhile, the NBA season brings in the biggest superstars from every team. Check out the team's schedule to see when your favorite star is coming into the area.
Thanks to Vivint Arena’s convenient location, you can make a night of it and catch dinner before the game, followed by drinks or dessert after the game finishes. Try nearby Gateway Mall or City Creek just up the street for some great dining options ranging from quick bites to fine dining and everything in-between.
Spot Bison on Antelope Island
Located smack-dab in the middle of Salt Lake City is a small island called Antelope Island. It’s packed with wildlife including birds, small mammals, antelope, and—believe it or not— bison. The island has isolated the bison and been turned into a sort of nature preserve. A simple drive across an artificial bridge onto the island can allow you to spot the bison from your car. And the white snow of winter helps their rich brown fur stand out with even more contrast.
Another benefit is that there are no mosquitos in winter and fewer tourists. You can even visit the historic Fielding Garr Ranch that gives you a glimpse into the fascinating history of the state of Utah.
If you’re looking for an escape from the same-old winter activities, give Antelope Island a try. The intriguing island environment is often overlooked but offers a unique day-trip adventure.
Get Your Ski On
We can’t let this article end without touching on one of Utah’s most famous winter activities. Skiing in the state has a long, rich history, with multiple resorts stretching from Park City to Sundance and then to Snowbird. Whether you love to ski or snowboard, or just spending time at the high-end resorts that accompany the slopes, you’ll find something that’s perfect for you and your loved ones to enjoy.
Park City has some of the best high-skill slopes, while Sundance offers a wide range of options. Snowbird is a bit off the beaten path, but is close to Salt Lake City for convenient access.
Escape the Cold in a Museum
Utah may not have the cultural reputation of places like New York City or Washington D.C., but it actually features a wide range of museums and cultural experiences. For example, did you know that the largest intact T-rex skeleton ever discovered was found in Utah? You’ll learn about that and more at Salt Lake City’s Natural History Museum.
Looking for some hands-on fun? Try out the Curiosity Museum at Lehi’s Thanksgiving Point, which offers a range of activities and learning opportunities for kids and adults of all ages. There are also plenty of places to grab a bite to eat in the area as well.
Utah has long been known as an outdoor state filled with adventures, but those adventures don’t have to stop once the cold and snow arrive thanks to all of the fun things to do in Utah during the winter. From hitting the slopes to watching world-class athletes, ice-fishing to ice castles, you’ll find something that you and the whole family can enjoy until the warm weather comes back again.
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