Find a Winter Refresh in a Utah State Park

Find the beauty and intrigue of the winter season on a Utah state park adventure — from ice fishing and snowmobiling to eagle watching and cozying up in a yurt.

Written By Rosie Gochnour Serago

Dead Horse Point State Park | Utah State Parks

Winter demands a change of pace. Aside from the burst of exhilaration it provides when you’re high-tailing it down a ski slope or pushing your skating skills on the ice, it’s generally a time to cozy up and reflect. But maybe it’s also time to add something new this winter.

When snow shoveling has you dreaming of white sand getaways, pause and consider the "Caribbean of the Rockies" at Bear Lake State Park, or the solitude of a cast-iron stove-warmed yurt in Dead Horse Point State Park. Let a Utah state park adventure refresh your perspective. (Read: Take Advantage of Southern Utah’s Off-Season with Winter Glamping)

Key Winter Highlights in Utah State Parks

Snow-Capped Red Rock: Experience red rock canyons lightly dusted in white snow at Dead Horse Point.
Stargazing from Yurts: Cozy up in heated yurts under gold-tier dark skies at Goblin Valley.
Remote Winter Trails: Snowshoe, cross-country ski, or ice skate on frozen reservoirs in Steinaker State Park.
Wildlife & Eagle Watching: Spot migrating bald eagles along Willard Bay’s winter shorelines.
Trophy Ice Fishing: Jig for trophy cutthroat trout and unique endemic species at Bear Lake.
Olympic Nordic Trails: Cross-country ski and snow tube at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center.
Mild-Weather Off-Roading: Ride 6,000 acres of coral pink sand dunes in 50–60°F weather at Sand Hollow.
Saunas: Step into a traditional Nordic sauna nestled high up in the Wasatch Mountains.

Within Dead Horse Point State Park, there are five yurts available for rent that can sleep up to six people each.

Photo: Utah State Parks

Dead Horse Point State Park

The snowy La Sal Mountains rise 12,721 feet above sea level beyond the frosty overlooks of Deadhorse Point.

Photo: Emily Sierra

Dead Horse Point State Park

Snow-Capped Vistas at Dead Horse Point

If you think of Dead Horse Point State Park, you'll likely think of overlooks—many as captivating as the Grand Canyon. There are few sites in Utah more beautiful than a light white dusting on red rock canyons towering 2,000 feet over the meandering Colorado River (Read: How To Visit Southern Utah in Winter). Park Manager Megan Blackwelder’s favorite view is the visitor center’s deck, saying “the alpenglow before sunset is particularly spectacular.” And at this time of year, you’ll have the yurts, views and trails — mountain biking, hiking, and even fat tire mountain biking — to yourself. This park is also an internationally certified gold-tier dark sky park, one of the best Utah state parks for magnificent dark. And Blackwelder is quick to point out another bonus: heated restrooms. This winter destination has got it all.

"There are few sites in Utah more beautiful than a light white dusting on red rock canyons towering 2,000 feet over the meandering Colorado River."

Winter multiplies the magic of stargazing thanks to prolonged nights and crisp clean air.

Photo: Angie Payne

Stargazing and Heated Yurts

Always a place of geological whimsy, Goblin Valley State Park might be even more fascinating in the winter. Covered with sandstone goblins and fascinating formations, it’s kind of like trying out winter on Mars. This state park is also an internationally-certified, gold-tier dark sky park, so step out of the warmth of your yurt for a moment of stargazing. (Read: Yurt Camping in Utah: How To Have a Wintertime Yurt Excursion)

Remote Exploration

Located in northeast Utah near Ashley National Forest and Dinosaur National Monument, Steinaker State Park is built for off-the-beaten-path winter discovery. Most years, locals pack down their own two-mile loops for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, or clear snow off the lake for ice skating on 20 inches of solid ice. Use Vernal or the heated cabin at Steinaker as your base camp to snowmobile national forest land or visit the nearby Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum.

Willard Bay and the surrounding Bear River delta that feed water to the Great Salt Lake are crucial environments for migratory birds who fly there for sustenance in the winter months.

Photo: Marc Piscotty

Bald Eagle Viewing

Though the weather is crisp, it’s not the wind chill that catches your breath and momentarily forces a full-body flutter. It’s the site of an eagle — a bald eagle — spreading its seven-foot-long wingspan and jetting downwards to pull a fish from a crevice in the lake ice. When the water freezes in Alaska, bald and golden eagles descend on Willard Bay State Park (about an hour north of Salt Lake City) from January to March. Park Manager James Morgan’s top viewing spots are along the mile-long hike on the Linda C. Higley Nature Trail or the dike near Pelican Beach. “What’s really cool is seeing eagles sit right on the ice surrounding an open hole.” Along the nature trail two heated cabins are available to rent, and RV hook-ups are accessible year-round. Don’t forget your binoculars.

Each sauna session allows visitors to unplug in a Finnish sauna with stunning views.

Photo: Jo Savage

Mountain Sauna Refresh

For the ultimate post-slopes recovery, Wasatch Mountain State Park offers saunas to warm up after a chilly day on the snow. Combining the heat of a traditional Nordic sauna with crisp mountain air relaxes tired muscles, boosts circulation, and provides a peaceful alpine wellness experience right in the heart of the Wasatch Front.

Winter at Bear Lake State park is nothing short of a wonderland.

Photo: Bear Lake Visitors Bureau

Bear Lake State Park

Ice Fishing

Lined with snowy white shores, Bear Lake State Park offers scenic ice fishing for trophy cutthroat trout (10+ lbs) and lake trout (up to 20 lbs). Some prefer solitude, but for many ice fishing is a communal activity — anglers gather with family and friends to jig for trout and whitefish. You can also ice fish for two species of fish that cannot be found anywhere else in the world: the Bonneville Whitefish and Cisco. The Cisco can be dip netted, or as Scott Tolentino, a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Fisheries Biologist at Bear Lake suggests, try jigging your pole at “the ‘rock pile’ area near Ideal Beach Resort or off of the artificial rock piles just north of the Utah State Park Marina.” Grab your thermos, kick your feet up in your shanty shelter and enjoy a freshly caught double-digit pound trout served up with a view. Learn more about fishing at Bear Lake.

Event Tip: The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual family friendly fundraising event held in January. Most activities typically take place in the Utah Bear Lake State Park Marina, and the park's entrance fee at the Marina is waived. Compete in the Cisco Disco and the Monster Plunge!

Cross-country skiing at Wasatch Mountain State Park.

Photo: Utah State Parks

Cross-Country Skiing & Snow Tubing

Soldier Hollow Nordic Center at Wasatch Mountain State Park was the Nordic skiing venue for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Now athletes of world-class ability and weekend recreationists enjoy the facility year-round. In addition to the beautifully manicured cross-country ski trails, Soldier Hollow has the longest snow tubing lanes in Utah, offering tow lifts and night tubing.

Having fun at the sand dunes in Sand Hollow State Park near St. George.

Off-Roading Sand Dunes

How about trading white snow for red sand beaches? With wintery mountain ranges visible in the distance, Sand Hollow State Park provides a winter experience and winter getaway simultaneously. Just under 20 miles from St. George, this park is easy to access and offers coral pink sand dunes, red rock formations and outstanding trails of all kinds. In particular, winter is a great time to visit for an off-road adventure in the mild 50 to 60 degrees temperatures. The park offers riders more than 6,000 acres of sand dunes that have open riding as well as technical trails where you can test your skills.

Find a Winter Refresh in a Utah State Park

About the Author – Rosie Gochnour Serago

Rosie worked at the Utah Office of Tourism until 2022. Though a Utah native, she spent a decade smelling creosote in the Sonoran Desert, comparing lobster rolls across New England and savoring thunderstorms outside of southern Appalachia. Now permanently back in Salt Lake City, she explores the expanse and rarely misses a Real Salt Lake or Utah Jazz game. See more of her work at rosieserago.com.