Snowshoeing in Ogden
Photo: Jay Dash
Snowshoeing
Sometimes an adrenaline pumping day on the slopes calls for an early morning hike along a peacefully quiet snowshoe track. It’s a relatively easy and affordable way to get outside and the perfect way to watch the sun rise over the Wasatch range. Best of all, you won’t need to worry about checking your snowshoeing gear at the airport (although it would be much easier now). Whether you’re in northern or southern Utah, as long as there is snow there is very likely an outfitter that can rent the gear you need; or better yet, guide you to their favorite spots. Explore snowshoeing.
Brian Head Resort
Photo: Jay Dash
Snow Tubing
What if you and/or the kids are caught somewhere between feeling confident on the slopes and too energetic to go snowshoeing? Tubing is the answer. From sliding down gentle slopes to racing down 1,200 foot lanes, there is tubing for everyone in Utah. Here are a few of the most popular places to go, from north to south:
- Cherry Peak Resort, Richmond
- Wasatch Parc, Eden
- Woodward, Park City
- Soldier Hollow, Midway
- Buckskin Hills Recreation Complex, Vernal
- Navajo and Giant Steps Tubing Parks, Brian Head
"City Slicker" trail at Soldier Hollow in Heber Valley
Photo: Steve Greenwood
Cross Country Skiing
Another winter activity with seemingly endless boundaries, cross country skiing is one of the best ways to soak up Utah’s wide open spaces. Ski tracks wind through millions of acres in the national forests across the state, and can even be found in the higher elevation regions of Southern Utah like Bryce Canyon and the Manti-La Sal Mountains. However, you don’t have to get too far out of town to get lost down a ski track. Park City is one of the most popular destinations for cross country skiers, although Nordic centers can be found all over Northern Utah. (Read: "Fresh Tracks in Kamas – Utah's Snowcountry")
"Another winter activity with seemingly endless boundaries, cross country skiing is one of the best ways to soak up Utah’s wide open spaces."
Wasatch Mountain State Park
Photo: Adam Clark
Snowmobiling
With more than 800 miles of groomed snowmobile trails from the red rock canyons of Southern Utah to the rugged mountains in the northern reaches of the state, Utah has plenty of options for snowmobile vacations, lodging and packages. You can spend a day or a whole week here exploring the myriad trails, each offering their own sights, sounds and adventures. Explore snowmobiling.
Midway’s Ice Castles
Photo: Valor Alvarado
Ice Castles
If you’re planning a family trip this year, consider Midway’s Ice Castles a must-see. Each year artists hand-place thousands of icicles to create magical castles, sculptures and playgrounds that shine bright in front of a rainbow of LED lights. It’s a contender for ultimate winter family photo, and a winter wonderland the kids won’t soon forget.
Dog sledding in Park City
Photo: Mike Schirf
Sled Dogs
Perhaps another activity you wouldn’t expect to be available in Utah, sled dog tours are available in Park City. When Maren and Racer Gibson started rescuing huskies and malamutes over 20 years ago their intention very likely wasn’t to make a profit or start a business. However, as more dogs joined the pack Team G Sled Dogs was born. Now those visiting Park City can experience the snowy wilderness like never before as they’re pulled on a sled behind a team of 10 energetic pups.
Located 25 minutes away from Park City, Bear Ridge Adventures also offers authentic dog sled tours on scenic private property. They believe dog sledding is a great way to dive in and get to know more about mushing, the hard-working huskies, and dog sledding. Visitors have to option to book a 1 hour, 2 hour, or half day dog sled tour from December (sometimes November) to March. You’ll get to see firsthand how much the dogs love being on the team and pulling guests on the sleds.
Homestead Crater
Photo: Adam Barker
Homestead Crater
Resting at the bottom of a 55 foot-tall crater in Midway, Utah there is a warm pool of geothermal waters that is perfect for swimming, relaxing and even diving year round. In fact, it’s the only warm water scuba destination in the continental United States. So if you’re looking to warm up and slow down at the same time, be sure to pack your swimsuit on this winter trip.
"Homestead Crater is the only warm scuba diving destination in the continental United States."
Jump in. Hold on.
Photo: Utah Olympic Park
Utah Olympic Park
The 2002 Winter Olympics helped put Utah on the map, and the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, proved that Utah is a hub for Winter Olympic glory with Utahns collecting 11 medals. At the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, you can learn all about our Olympic heritage, watch future Olympians train for competition and reach over 60 mph on the Comet Bobsled Ride. Learn more about Utah's Olympic legacy and best spots to relive the games.
Sundance Film Festival in Park City
Photo: Jay Dash
Sundance Film Festival
Since 1984, filmmakers and audiences have been traveling to Utah to see some of the most innovative storytelling in cinema at the Sundance Film Festival. Park City is the epicenter, but Sundance venues can also be found in Salt Lake City, Ogden and at Sundance Mountain Resort. A Sundance ski vacation is the perfect blend of Utah ski bliss and the year's most promising films.
The Spa at Sundance Mountain Resort
Unwind at the Spas
After an adventure packed vacation of skiing, sliding, exploring and marvelling, the only thing left to do is relax and recount your favorite moments. However, the tough choices aren’t over yet. Discover Utah’s Wellness Retreats.
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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Fat Tire Biking
Fat tire biking has become the latest rage among cycling enthusiasts and newbies. Find out tips for riding and the best places to explore in Utah.
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Heli Ski & Snowboarding
Utah heli skiing and snowboarding are perfect for those who want to ride some of the best backcountry in the world. Find your next ride here.
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Ice Castles
When winter blasts its arctic forcefield, the Utah ice castles — a frozen fairytale of ice and snow — emerge on an acre of land at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway.
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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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Kite Skiing
Kite skiing (snow kiting) is attracting freestyle adventure seekers to Utah. Learn about the cool places to kite ski in Utah, grab your equipment and go!
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Night Skiing
Nighttime is the right time for skiers and boarders seeking solitude on the piste. As daytime shredders check-out between 3 and 4 p.m., a new ski shift begins.
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Skiing
Skiing in Utah? Choose from 15 resorts — 10 within an hour of the airport. Discover lively ski towns, best times to visit and tips for booking lessons and rentals.
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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. Thirteen snowboarding resorts are positioned perfectly for dumps of fluffy powder all winter long.
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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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Snowshoeing
Experience snowshoeing the greatest snow on Earth.
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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.
Utah Is Your Easy Winter Vacation Destination (and We All Could Use Easy)
Whether you’re looking for a break, vacation or quest for fun this winter, Utah is the place, as always, for adventure — whatever you plan to do or wherever the trail takes you along the way.
Read the Stories
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11 More Utah Winter Experiences Outside the Ski Resorts
No matter your level of adventure, you will find good reason to save some time for a day away from the resort.
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A Cauldron of Continuing Olympic Fervor
Since hosting the 2002 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, in many ways the Olympic spirit and world-class athletes that seized Utah have never left.
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A Utah Ski Vacation (or Two) for Less
Shop for ski gear like a local. Get discounts on lift tickets. Learn everything you need to know for a cheap luxury ski trip.
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Best Hikes in St. George During Winter
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.
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Best Spots to Get Olympic Spirit
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.
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Beyond the Lake
From snowmobiling to skiing, snowshoeing to sledding and fishing, Bear Lake in the winter is everything you’ll want from your next winter vacation.
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Cozy Salt Lake Dining Spots
Find you perfect après-ski spots to fill up.
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Discovering the Quiet Beauty of Hyrum Lake State Park
Spend some time at Hyrum Reservoir and you’ll discover that crisp clear water and a spot on the grass are all you really need for a relaxing getaway. Throw in pristine mountain views and a shady spot to set up camp and consider your summer vacation plans as good as done.
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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.
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Harnessing Passion: The Arctic Rescue Sled Dog Team
Maren and Racer Gibson of All Seasons Adventures in Park City, Utah rescue "unadoptable" Huskies and Malamutes. The dogs participate in a dog sledding operation to help find their purpose. Book a dog sled tour with the pups and witness their story as they pull your sled through the area's snow blanketed open spaces.
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How to Camp on Utah’s BLM Lands
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.
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Ice and rock, snow and splendor: Winter in Southern Utah
Come along on a five-day expedition to see Southern Utah’s wintry face, explore national parks, ski its mountains and find ways to play in the snow.
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Insider's Guide to Park City
Kaylin Richardson, Olympic athlete, and a friend share their favorite Park City experiences to encourage you to add the city's culture-enriched valley, scenery, food, art and access to all-season adventure to your bucket list.
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More than Downhill Skiing
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.
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Off-Season Off-Roading in Ticaboo
Familiar freedoms in a new kind of winter wonderland.
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Park City Area: 1 Destination, 3 Resorts
Park City offers access to three state-of-the-art ski resorts, world-class dining, luxury lodging, music, film screenings and so much more.
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Planning Your Utah Desert Holiday
Where to find holiday lights, performances, farms and activities in Southern Utah.
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Powder Pups to the Rescue
Four furry friends help the Solitude Ski Patrol do their duties.
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Robert Redford Sets the Sundance Scene
Watch the story behind Robert Redford's founding of Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah, and learn what makes this Provo ski resort stand out.
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Ski and Golf Same Day Utah
Nowhere else in the world do individuals have the choices and proximity to ski and golf the same day as they have here in Utah.
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Snowfield and Stream
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.
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Sundance, Full Circle
When visiting the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, movies are only part of the experience.
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The Best Golf in Southern Utah
When the courses of Northern Utah are covered with snow, Southern Utah is ripe with elevated golf experiences that rival the best in the world.
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The Complete Winter Camping Packing List for Staying Warm in Southern Utah
For most travelers, Southern Utah winters prevent comfortable camping, and occasional snowfall can make outdoor adventure a little more challenging. With a little extra planning, good layers, and the right equipment, however, you can enjoy Utah's national parks in the solitude of winter.
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Where to Find the Best Snowmobiling in Heber Valley
Less than an hour's drive from Salt Lake City, Heber Valley is the perfect Utah snowmobile base camp for newbies and experienced riders alike.
