Resorts and Nordic Centers
Some of Utah's ski resorts have commercial trails designated for snowshoeing, including beginner trails and tours.
Nordic Centers, which often have family-friendly tours available, can be found at several resorts, including:
- Cherry Peak Resort
- Sundance Mountain Resort (six miles of dedicated terrain)
- Solitude Mountain Resort
- Alta Ski Area
- Snowbasin Resort
- Park City Mountain
Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in the Wasatch Range was used during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and offers great snowshoeing, easy access and rentals.
Southern Utah
Utah's national parks offer scenic and otherworldly experiences in the winter.
Cedar Breaks National Monument offers some of the most renowned snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-county skiing terrain at a breathtaking 10,000 feet.
Bryce Canyon is an extraordinary national park to visit in the winter. Nearby Ruby's Inn accesses nearly 19 miles of groomed trails and stunning views. Your options include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, hikes, horseback rides, sleigh rides and an ice skating rink, all culminating in the Bryce Canyon Winter Festival in the middle of February.
Additional areas to explore include:
- Brian Head Resort (near Cedar Breaks National Monument)
- La Sal Mountains outside Moab
- Tushar Mountains near Eagle Point Resort
Northern Utah
A wide array of snowshoe trailheads can be accessed in under an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport. In addition to the resorts and nordic centers listed above, national forests and multiple state parks offer scenic snowshoeing, including:
Snowshoeing the Wasatch
Wondering where to go snowshoeing? Utah’s Wasatch Mountains are a popular destination. Learn more and plan your visit!
Explore the Tushars on Snowshoe
Ready to experience snowshoeing in Utah? Eagle Point is a Utah favorite location. Check out this snowshoe excursion then plan yours today for fun and adventure.
Five Great Utah Snowshoe Trails To Explore This Winter
For your snowshoeing pleasure here are five highly recommended trails. For all the details on each listed trail, as well as PDFs for 50+ other snowshoe trails along the Wasatch Front, go to SnowshoeUtah.com.
Trail 2: Wheeler Creek to Art Nord; Ogden Canyon
Distance: 3.5 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Easy
This quick trail makes for a pleasant jaunt that begins next to an enchanting half-frozen stream and ends with southern views of the steep mountains near Snowbasin Ski Resort.
Trail 40: White Pine Lake; Little Cottonwood Canyon
Distance: 10 miles round-trip
Difficulty: The length of the trail makes it difficult, but the terrain itself is moderate.
This favorite winter recreation trailhead leads to many a backcountry ski and snowshoe adventure.
Trail 21: The Pipeline Trail - From Burch Hollow to Elbow Fork; Mill Creek Canyon
Distance: 3.8 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Moderate
A nice easy climb up the hollow will hook you onto the Pipeline trail where you can partake of the south-facing slope and enjoy any winter sun you may find on your day in the mountains.
Trail 23: Spruces Campground; Big Cottonwood Canyon
Distance: Variable
Difficulty: Easy; great for a first-time foray or a trek with kids
Spruces Campground is covered with deep snow during the winter months and it's a perfect place to plan your own trip across the snow. This is a great place to find wildlife, beaver dams, blue grouse, snowshoe hare, coyote, ermine, bobcat, owl and other wildlife that can handle the deeper winter snow up canyon.
Trail 31: Guardsman Pass; Big Cottonwood Canyon
Distance: 3 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Guardsman Pass is one of the beautiful winter trails that has views beginning at the trailhead and culminating at the pass. There is an easy-to-follow groomed road or "short cuts" that add some difficult climbs.
—Contributed by Lori Lee, a Wasatch Front local and the author of The Best Snowshoe Trails of the Wasatch: SnowshoeUtah.com.
About Utah's Backcountry
Though these trails are generally very safe, snowshoeing is not without its risks. If you plan to recreate in avalanche terrain, you will need standard avalanche rescue gear and avalanche training. You should also regularly consult the Utah Avalanche Center website for critical avalanche safety information before venturing out. Many trails are well-trafficked and can be traveled safely, but check recent and current conditions before heading off the beaten path at UtahAvalancheCenter.org.
More Winter Activities
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Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding
Thousands of people each day enjoy Utah's famous backcountry — the areas outside of ski area boundaries.
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Cross Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing Utah is awesome! Find popular Nordic trailheads in the north, high altitude serenity in central Utah and miles of regularly groomed trails in the south.
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Ice Fishing
Utah’s award-winning waters hold some of the best ice fishing in the country, and with so many large lakes and reservoirs, it’s easy to grab your gear and join in.
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Ice Skating
Find the best ice skating rinks in Utah and plan the perfect skate night with your friends and family. Lace up and get skating!
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Skiing
Aside from having The Greatest Snow on Earth, what sets Utah apart from other skiing locations is the easy access. Of Utah's 15 resorts, 10 are within an hour of the Salt Lake City International Airport.
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Snow Tubing & Sledding
The classic, winter tradition of finding the perfect hill from which to launch a tube or sled is alive and well in Utah. Whether you’re looking for commercial parks with structured lanes or a local hill and your own thermos of hot cocoa, we’ve got it all.
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Snowboarding
To put it simply, the riding in Utah is epic. 15 ski resorts are positioned perfectly for dumps of fluffy powder all winter long, and 11 are within an hour of Salt Lake City International Airport.
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Snowmobiling
Snowmobile vacations are popular outdoor adventures. Utah’s 800+ miles of groomed trails offer winter snowmobiling fun for all — find out more!
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Winter Hiking
You might think the cold is unavoidable and the terrain impassable during the winter months, but if you can surpass these doubts you might just be rewarded with your best hike of the year.
