- Home
- Winter in Utah
Winter in Utah
Here in Utah, winter is a beloved season. As the snow falls, our spirits rise. We gleefully anticipate frost on our cheeks, powder on our ski runs and a blanket of white spread across the mountain ranges. The alpenglow of a rising sun ignites winter playtime; the warmth of a crackling fire celebrates the day’s well-earned calm. You don’t have to be from here to belong here. Welcome to Utah’s famous winter.
Winter Activities
-
Bobsledding
Feeling extra adventurous? For the ride of your life, speed down the same track the 2002 Olympians did with a pro at Utah Olympic Park.
-
Cross Country Skiing
Skip the lift lines and clip into a pair of skinny skis. Whether you’re a skate skier or prefer classic, take your pick of cardio-inducing groomed trail systems or scenic backcountry touring.
-
Fat Tire Biking
Utah is world-renowned for mountain biking with its alpine singletrack in the north and slickrock terrain down south, but people here don’t garage their bikes in winter. They just grab the one with the fattest, squishiest tires in the rack and ride on the snow.
-
Skiing and Snowboarding
Ski or ride Utah’s claim to fame: The Greatest Snow on Earth. Fifteen world-class ski resorts roll out sensational terrain, climate, weather, lodging and apres-ski action.
-
Snowmobiling
Vroom, vroom! Supercharge your backcountry explorations via snowmobile. Guided tours offer machines, helmets and routes. How fast you go is up to you.
-
Tubing & Ice Skating
Is there a wintertime activity more classic than ice skating, sledding or tubing? Kids and kids-at-heart can find winter bliss on vintage-style ice rinks and modern-day tubing resorts.
-
Winter Hiking
Hiking in Utah is a year-round activity. Winter enjoyment, however, requires swapping out the summer gear for Yaktraks and warm layers.

01
3 Days
Powder Dreams
A three-day ski vacation itinerary with quick access to some of Utah's best ski resorts for fresh powder.
Ski and Snowboard
Highlights
- Cottonwood Canyons Skiing
- Snowbird's Cliff Spa
- Ogden Valley
- Dream Ski Vacation

02
5 Days
Alpine, Après and Arches
Timed perfectly for winter, this journey takes you to some of the finest mountain resorts in the world, then to the most spectacular vistas of the scarlet-hued desert.
Hiking, Non-ski Winter Activities, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Ski and Snowboard
Highlights
- Ski Northern Utah
- Explore Southern Utah in Winter
- Alpine Mountains to Red Rock Expanses
- Ski Boots to Hiking Boots

03
4 Days
Ski City Downhill + Downtown
Big city amenities support 10 different resorts within an hour of SLC International, which means the best in downhill meets the best in downtown.
Community, Kid-Friendly, Non-ski Winter Activities, Ski and Snowboard, Urban Experiences
Highlights
- Craft coffee, dining and spirits
- Alta Ski Area or Snowbird Ski Resort
- Solitude Mountain Resort or Brighton Ski Resort
- Performing arts, après-ski and live music

04
4 Days
Weekender Ski Park City
So you've made the decision to ski Park City for a weekend. That decision alone will be rewarded with three resorts that eclipse over 9,000 acres of Utah's renowned skiing and riding.
Non-ski Winter Activities, Olympics, Ski and Snowboard, Solitude, Urban Experiences
Highlights
- Ski City Urban Lifestyle
- Park City Mountain
- Deer Valley Resort
- Park City Experiences

05
5 Days
Winter Aglow in Southeastern Utah
Find your sense of adventure and awe in the vast yet intricate swaths of desert from Arches National Park to Monument Valley. From delicate river-fed ecosystems to crimson-hued rock buttresses, this magical landscape is awash in history, dating back thousands of years to the original Native American settlers to whom these places were sacred.
Adventure, Hiking, History and Heritage, Native American, Non-ski Winter Activities, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Stargazing
Highlights
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Castle Valley
- Bears Ears National Monument
- Goosenecks State Park

06
4 Days
A Winter Trip Through the Heart of Utah’s Desert
Experience a world unlike anything you’ve ever imagined in the high desert mountains and plummeting canyons of south-central Utah. You’ll step into two national parks, three state parks, and all the scenic winding roads your heart could desire.
Camping & Backpacking, Hiking, History and Heritage, Non-ski Winter Activities, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Stargazing
Highlights
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Explore Goblin's Lair
- Wander Capitol Reef's Historic Fruita
- Journey through South-Central Utah
- Winter Hiking

07
5 Days
Ski Southern Utah: High Alpine Trails + Red Rock Wonder
Southern Utah is home to two high-elevation ski areas that contain generous helpings of what we call (with authority) The Greatest Snow on Earth®. Things can be a little quieter down here this time of year. Give yourself at least five days to combine the thrills of Southern Utah skiing and boarding with exploring the wintertime wonders to be found in Utah’s red rock country.
Non-ski Winter Activities, Ski and Snowboard
Highlights
- Brian Head Resort
- Eagle Point Resort
- Cedar Breaks National Monument
- Southern Utah Ski Vacation
- Winter Hiking in Southern Utah

08
5 Days
Winter's Summits and Rockscapes
There’s no better way to experience a bit of everything Utah offers. Ski its heavenly powder snow, then point your car southward to wind your way through the exquisite Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and a series of crimson-hued state park gems along the way.
Hiking, Non-ski Winter Activities, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Ski and Snowboard, Stargazing
Highlights
- Stargaze at Bryce Canyon National Park
- Ski Sundance Resort
- Hike in Zion National Park
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- Kodachrome Basin State Park
Winter in Southern Utah
-
National Parks in Winter
In the winter, Utah's five national parks and their surrounding country are full of solitude. Layer up and come prepared and you can count on having it all to yourself.
-
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.
-
Winter in Moab
Winter is the perfect time to experience Moab without the crowds. Revel in red rock paradise, find endless snow in the La Sal Mountains and save plenty of time for shopping and dining around town.
Showing 0 of 0
Winter in Northern Utah
-
Where to Stay
Utah's metropolitan areas are situated right by our snow-packed mountains, offering visitors unparalleled access. The only challenge is deciding if you want to stay in a slope-side lodge or a hotel in the city. Either choice is good, or even better, try out both.
-
Winter Activities
Winters in Utah may be known for having The Greatest Snow on Earth®, but there is so much more to explore off the slopes.
-
Winter in Salt Lake City
Winter in Salt Lake City means heavy coats, twinkling lights and crisp, snowy mornings. With multiple world-class ski resorts only 45-minutes from downtown, Salt Lake City is a popular winter basecamp. Even non-skiers will have plenty of restaurants, museums, attractions and fun activities to discover.
Showing 0 of 0
Northern Utah Winter Basecamps
-
Heber Valley
Heber Valley, UT
Between the destination towns of Heber and Midway, Heber Valley astonishes with its alpine splendor and access to endless outdoor recreation.
-
Logan
Logan, UT
The Logan area hosted the Shoshone tribe’s ancestral hunting for thousands of years and is still home to great examples of early Mormon pioneer architecture, including the Temple and Tabernacle.
-
Ogden
Ogden, UT
Ogden is an outdoor recreation mecca. It has also worked to restore its historic art deco architecture and buildings and blend in new development toward a charming and vibrant downtown.
-
Park City
Park City, UT
Park City is the perfect mountain town. The winter slopes were once featured in the Olympics, and in summer the mountains and nearby state parks and reservoirs transform into a hiking, mountain biking, fishing and camping mecca.
-
Provo & Utah Valley
Provo / Utah Valley, UT
Provo and the larger Utah Valley sets itself a part as a place for innovation in tech, health care, education, as well as place for easy access to Provo Canyon's offerings, including Sundance Mountain Resort.
-
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City makes a great gateway for travelers making a trip to Utah's ski resorts or southward to Utah’s renowned red rock country.
Showing 0 of 0
Read the Stories
-
11 Classy Ski Experiences That are Uniquely Utah
Written By Visit Utah
From sheer proximity and the biggest mountains to a ski-in distillery and a celebrity-owned resort, these are the reasons to ski Utah now.
-
11 More Utah Winter Experiences Outside the Ski Resorts
Written By Matador
8 minute read
No matter your level of adventure, you will find good reason to save some time for a day away from the resort.
-
8 Elevated Ski Experiences That are Uniquely Utah
Written By Matador
3 minute read
If you dream of the possibility of hitting six resorts in one day or carving your own lines from snow-covered summits served by helicopters, then this listicle is made for you.
-
8 Reasons Why Ski School Is Cool
Written By Paula Colman
4 minute read
Ski school is cool, and it’s where beginners to experts find the secrets to skiing (and Utah’s secret powder stashes). Learn to ski the entire resort.
-
A Utah Ski Vacation (or Two) for Less
Written By Paula Colman
6 minute read
Shop for ski gear like a local. Get discounts on lift tickets. Learn everything you need to know for a cheap luxury ski trip.
-
AndShesDopeToo's Insider's Guide to Ogden
Written By Visit Utah
5 minute read
AndShesDopeToo is a worldwide adventure community of women run by Jennifer and Taylor Killian from Ogden, Utah. This insider's guide video highlights their unparalleled access to both the outdoors and the city's "fun counterculture vibe" at the foot of the mighty Wasatch Mountains.
-
Another Day in Powadise
Written By Austen Diamond
4 minute read
Join ski cat driver Kevin Irons on a day's adventures to Lightning Ridge at Powder Mountain, complete with pizza bribery, remote access and lots of powder.
-
Best Hikes in St. George During Winter
Written By Matcha
5 minute read
While Utah's Greater Zion offers a few hundred trails, we’ve highlighted seven of the best hikes in the state's southwestern corner, from deep canyons to high peaks.
-
Best Spots to Get Olympic Spirit
Written By Visit Utah
Just because the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games are in the past doesn’t mean that the Utah Olympic spirit is has been snuffed out. Athletes still train here, and ski schools in Utah resorts might be the start of a future Olympian’s career.
-
Beyond the Lake
Written By Ben Whisenant
4 minute read
From snowmobiling to skiing, snowshoeing to sledding and fishing, Bear Lake in the winter is everything you’ll want from your next winter vacation.
-
Everything in its Right Place
Written By Austen Diamond
5 minute read
Bring your snowboard on your Brighton Ski Resort trip. Visit the six terrain parks – with new designs each week – to add some exhilaration to your ski vacation.
-
Explore the Tushars on Snowshoe
Written By Jeremy Pugh
3 minute read
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.
-
How to Camp on Utah’s BLM Lands
Written By Sara Hobbs
Read these insights and tips gathered from a novice’s first-ever camping trip on BLM and public lands to gain the confidence you need to recreate happily and respectfully on Utah’s public lands.
-
Ice and rock, snow and splendor: Winter in Southern Utah
Written By Jeremy Pugh
10 minute read
For an extraordinary adventure, plan winter hikes in Utah’s Zion National Park. Winter rewards hikers with stunning sights of stalactites and snow covered mountains.
-
More than Downhill Skiing
Written By Matcha
4 minute read
Winter in the Ogden Valley showcases some of the best of Northern Utah, from backcountry trails to downtown eats and events. No matter what kind of winter adventure you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it in Ogden.
-
Music of the Cottonwoods
Written By Visit Utah
Discover the sound of two iconic Utah bands — Talia Keys and the Love and Pixie and the Partygrass Boys — whose music is inspired by their love of life and nature.
-
Planning Your Big Snow Trip
Written By Paula Colman
Let’s plan a powder ski trip to Utah and even help you save some time and money while you’re there. Just answer these three questions: Who? When? How much?
-
Red Rock, Rock ’n’ Roll and Ribs
Written By Jeremy Pugh
3 minute read
Planning a great weekend getaway? Utah’s Brian Head Resort is smokin’. Come play in the snow, party like a local, and chow down on Big John’s KC-style BBQ.
-
Snowfield and Stream
Written By Brett Prettyman
7 minute read
The ski lift may be closer, but the Provo River, one of the best fisheries in Utah and the country, is mere minutes down the road from Sundance Mountain Resort.
-
Snowshoeing the Wasatch
Written By Lori J. Lee
4 minute read
Wondering where to go snowshoeing? Utah’s Wasatch Mountains are a popular destination. Learn more and plan your visit!
-
The Best Skiing in Utah
5 minute read
Out of 15 ski resorts, here's where families, friends groups, experts, luxury seekers and even night owls find their groove in Utah.
-
Utah’s Factory-to-Slope Culture
Utah’s gear scene benefits from being able to use its backyard as a testing ground, making the complete ski and snowboard cycle uniquely Utah
-
Walking The Line Between Risk and Responsibility
Written By Chelsea Yamase
Why a Hawaii-based highliner and influencer hasn't returned to Utah — yet.
-
Winter in Southeastern Utah: Arches and Canyonlands
Written By Jeremy Pugh
3 minute read
Want to avoid the Utah national park crowds? Plan a winter Southeastern Utah trip. Experience more peace, quiet and solitude.
-
Winter Wonders in Greater Zion
Written By Matcha
As you’re mapping out your winter trip through southeastern Utah, consider adding the following parks and natural wonders to your itinerary.